Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2020)

AUTONOMY

Cavotec and ASKO –

Taking a Giant Leap

Towards the Future of Shipping

All photos courtesy of Cavotec

By Mikael Norin, CEO, Cavotec he future of shipping is here, and it will not surprise industry observers to see Norway in the pole posi- tion as autonomous vessels enter commercial opera- tions. Norway has long been on the bleeding edge of

T shipping innovation. In 2015, the world’s ? rst bat- tery electric car ferry entered operation in Norway’s deepest and longest fjord, Sognefjord.

The ferry, MV Ampere, resulted from a government initia- tive and was a catalyst for innovation in the industry. Now,

Norway is expected to equip some 200 additional berths with zero emission technologies before 2025. Cavotec were part of this development, supplying MoorMaster automated mooring to 50 berths and automated charging to around 20 berths to date – in Norway alone.

Today, we are on the verge of the next step change in creat- ing a fully autonomous maritime supply chain and a safe and sustainable future. ASKO Maritime, the shipping arm of Nor- way’s largest grocery chain, is looking to launch the world’s ? rst fully autonomous, electric, carbon-free ships, a move that would replace two million kilometers of truck transport and reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes every year.

A key component in ASKO’s plan was a system that could 32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2020

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