Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2021)

AUTONOMY “In the next few years we would expect our road map to take us to one mariner supervising two of these vessels or maybe even three.”

Michael King,

Business Development

Manager at Ocean In? nity

Image Courtesy Ocean In? nity ing. In busier waters, a crewed pilot vessel would come out cleaner fuel options could also be considered in the future, and escort the USV into port. The company will also have as options mature. Even with the hybrid system could save a ? eld team, to go out and support berthing, says Hook. 90% emissions compared with a conventional 65m-long

Initially, operations will be in UK waters with work offshore vessel, at 644,182 kg CO2 versus 31,101 kg for already lined up in wind farm, oil and gas and the sub- an Armada vessel, based on trials assessing a typical 21-day sea cable sectors in the ? rst year, says Hook. These will offshore campaign, says King. be managed from a new operations center the company is As the company is breaking new ground (or water) in building in Southampton. Ocean In? nity, which currently this area, it’s going in ‘eyes wide open’, says Hook, from has of? ces in the UK and Austin, Texas, aims to open a the physical security to berthing and regulations. “We third in Asia, and is also actively looking where else to de- are working with as many different people as we can, the ploy its ? eet, from Australia to Taiwan and America. MCA, US Coast Guard and other international gover-

The Covid pandemic has helped generate interest, says nance bodies towards safe operation of larger uncrewed

Hook. “When looking at risk planning for the future of vessels,” adds King. “We’re working with DNV GL as class their business, future pandemics is now on everyone’s society and we’re particularly grateful for the support from lists,” he says. “The risk of moving crews around the world IMO and MSC meetings.” The company is also part of and on and off of ships means uncrewed operations have Maritime UK and IMCA working groups and other steer- de? nitely come to the fore.” ing groups. But, “what we need to get across is regulations

The initial British ? agged DNV GL class ? eet is being have to be ? t for purpose, but they also have to serve the built at the Grovfjord Mek. Verksted (GMV) yard in Nor- industry as well to allow for the advantages of systems to way. But Hook says future vessels are likely to also be built be utilized,” says King.

elsewhere and the company is already in talks with yards Meanwhile, the company is staf? ng up. That means in the US, where they would be Jones Act compliant. The recruiting people, from master mariners to specialists in vessels have a hybrid-electric propulsion system, with Vol- cyber awareness and remote engineering. It’s offering new vo Penta DC gensets and Danfoss DC grid control system, job opportunities says Hook. And it’ll soon be a norm, he with high battery capacity to enable more electric and even says. “Right now, it feels new and novel. But in 5-10 years all-electric operations where possible. Hook says other this is going to feel very normal,” he says.

40 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2021

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