Page 20: of Marine News Magazine (July 2021)

19 21

Feature

Autonomous Workboats

MARINE

AUTONOMY: The Future is

Being Revealed

By Barry Parker

Kongsberg Maritime utomation, where routine tasks are han- in a well-publicized demonstration project in Copenha- dled by machines, has been talked about gen. This, and other earlier “proof of concept” exercises are throughout maritime sectors for much of now moving into true implementation phases.

the 21st Century. Initially touted by sup- Increasingly, automation of vessels is also tied into pliers of engine room and bridge manage- reduction of emissions (with sustainability a goal that

A ment systems for its cost savings (with reduced manning is now top of mind across the entire business), where levels), its value proposition was then infused with risk optimization—a machine and data based concept—is management (reduced human error) and remote opera- used to manage, and reduce, fuel consumption. Kevin tions, where vessels could be managed from a shoreside Humphreys, Americas president for marine and offshore control room. In early 2017, Rolls Royce —an early pro- at Lloyds Register’s Houston of? ce, told Marine News, ponent of unmanned operations—teamed with tug opera- “Autonomy will make a contribution to reduced emis- tor Svitzer on a remotely operated vessel, Svitzer Hermod sions by identifying what may appear to small gains 20 | MN July 2021