Safe Implementation of Autonomous and Remote functions On Ships, SIMAROS 2

The SIMAROS 2 project has gathered several leading actors in the Norwegian maritime industry with an aim to be an international spearhead in the developments towards the commercial utilization of verified technology for automation of functions, and decision support on ships. The consortium is well positioned to develop and deliver the technology, the safety assessment and the rule-set needed to enable a safe implementation of such technologies. As a part of the SIMAROS 2 project, several technologies has been developed and implemented on the Bastø VI car-ferry, operated by Bastø Fosen, a company in the Torghatten group, and operating between Horten and Moss in the Oslofjord. The technologies implemented supports the crew to provide increased safety, efficiency and accuracy in operation. Results from the project ranges from revised concept of operations descriptions for several applications and prototype implementations of sensor processing. Results also include important inputs to DNV GLs class guidelines for autonomous and remotely operated ships published last year and a draft framework for test and assurance of systems for automated situation awareness for navigation.

Autonomous technology combined with remote monitoring and control is expected to have major impact on how we move goods and people around the worlds oceans in the future. However, there are still important steps to be made in order to ensure such systems can be applied in a safe and predictable manner. The SIMAROS project has focused on finding answers on how we can build trust into these novel and complex technologies and to ensure that they are safe to operate even when the consequences of failure is high. Only then can these technologies have true impact on the maritime industry. Results from the project ranges from revised concept of operations descriptions for several applications and prototype implementations of sensor processing. Results also include important inputs to DNV GLs class guidelines for autonomous and remotely operated ships published last year and a draft framework for test and assurance of systems for automated situation awareness for navigation.

The SIMAROS 2 project will gather several leading actors in the Norwegian maritime industry and aims to be an international spearhead in the developments towards the commercial utilization of autonomous and remote functions for ships. The consortium is well positioned to develop and deliver the technology, the safety assessment and the rule-set needed to enable a safe implementation of autonomous and remotely functions for vessel. The majority of the research within autonomous vehicle navigation focuses around the automotive industry, in the form of cars and trucks. The amount of test-data for such vehicles is becoming abundant and is considered to be an important foundation for the current state of the technology. The maritime industry lack experience-data from this type of technology and this is hampering the opportunities to bring the technology closer to commercial realisation. The SIMAROS 2 project is therefore unique and will exploit the experiences from full-scale trials and bring the concept of autonomous and remotefunctions on vessels important steps closer to reality. Up until now, almost all vessels are designed and built around the human crew, and optimized so that the humans on-board are able to execute the tasks of the ship as safe and efficiently as possible. In many ways, the presence of the crew comprises the foundation for most choices made within design, safety-philosophy, technology and operational functionality. Developing design and technology for a vessel, with automated functions for operator assistance, will therefore challenge a whole range of established standards for ship-building and maritime technology. The SIMAROS 2 project will address R&D challenges and the need for innovations within many different areas and aims to demonstrate the benefits of the concept in a commercially viable setting