Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (May 2026)

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Tech Feature

Thrusters

Thrusters Aid

ZF Marine the Advance of Autonomous

Nav Systems

By Keith Henderson,

Director of Robosys Automation Ltd.

he demand for “thrusters” on recreational and com- mercial vessels has increased rapidly in recent years,

T providing vessels with enhanced capabilities.

Increasing a vessel’s manoeuvrability, making its steering more precise, to accurately control course and position of- fers greater versatility. New markets are opening to take ad- vantage of new horizons with commercial opportunities. A similar alternative system allows the vessel to be pi-

Thruster operation may be manual by the helmsman or loted remotely under radio or satellite control, with the part of a Propulsion Management System (PMS). If in- ANS ensuring safe passage/return to base even if the re- tegrated with an autopilot, its operation relieves the con- mote control communications link is lost. stant hands-on duty for one crew member. Going one step There are many different types of thrusters on the mar- further, using an Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) ket, each one with speci? c attributes for each application, such as Robosys VOYAGER AI, provides a constant situ- be it for a newbuild or a vessel already in service.

ation awareness monitoring and by merging input from The purpose of the thruster determines the character- multiple sensors every second to evaluate approaching istics of the driving motor, be it mechanical, electrical or ? xed or moving hazards. hydraulic. If it is required for propulsion, moving the ves-

The system’s own intelligence allows appropriate control sel from A to B, then the ability to vary the speed is im- of the vessel’s propulsion system, thrusters and steering to portant, while for simple manoeuvring an on/off thruster be applied to create the required COLREGS compliant motor may be adequate. For more precise manoeuvring vessel movements, without human intervention. An op- to maintain station or position, exact control of speed is tional module can force the system to automatically take fundamental, which dictates the motor type and rating ex- command to steer a path that avoids a collision. pressed in hours rather than minutes.

40 | MN May 2026