Stepwise to autonomy

ABB leverages its electric, automated and digital technologies to enable safer, smarter and more sustainable marine and ports industries

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Making a world of difference in the marine industry

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As vessels become more electric, automated and digital than ever before, ABB equips seafarers with existing solutions that augment their skillsets and enhance the overall safety and efficiency of operations.

Autonomous solutions are expected to transform international shipping in the coming decades. Recent development in sensor technology, data analytics and computing power enable to increase the level of automation in ship navigation, steering and control. As a basic definition an autonomous vessel is not necessarily unmanned but an unmanned vessel is, by default, autonomous to a high degree.

Autonomous does not mean unmanned. Human remote control and supervision are required in order to allow ships to operate more autonomously, and ABB systems make that possible.

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Highlights

Web story

Regulators check in on the autonomous ship

An International Maritime Organization seminar recently heard about re-imagining a ship as a "system of systems" which work towards a common purpose. This could help in developing regulations for the challenges and opportunities brought by the autonomous ship.
Press release

ABB and Royal Caribbean Group collaborate to make emergency stops safer and more efficient

ABB Ability™ Marine Braking Assistance helps ships minimize stopping time and distance, without compromising steering capability
Press release

ABB’s integrated ship operating systems receive key cyber security certification from DNV

Leading classification society DNV has awarded ABB the Cyber Secure Essential SP1 certification for its ship automation, propulsion and power systems, fully integrated with the remote access system.
Generations: Business insight

Preparing for autonomy – the importance of class guidelines for future autonomous operations

ClassNK’s Corporate Officer Mr. Fujinami, and Manager Mr. Yamada share insights on recently released class guidelines for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).

Generations: Business insight

Like minds sparkle on San Diego Bay – at the forefront of tug electrification

With delivery of the first all-electric U.S. tugboat – Crowley’s eWolf – in 2023, the Port of San Diego will realize their vision of a zero-emission workboat, ensuring cleaner air from day one of operations, and taking an important step toward a sustainable future for port residents.

Press release

ABB to power first fully electric U.S. tugboat for maximum efficiency and zero-emission operations

ABB will deliver an integrated electric propulsion system and advanced vessel control technology for Crowley’s pioneering eWolf tug, built for sustainable and safe operations at the Port of San Diego.

Press release

ABB and Keppel O&M reach key autonomy milestone with remote vessel operation trial in Port of Singapore

ABB, together with Singaporean shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), has successfully carried out South Asia’s first remote joystick control of a tugboat in the busy Port of Singapore.

Generations: Business insight

The digital journey to autonomy: taking smarter steps

Leading maritime industry voices taking part in ABB Marine & Ports roundtable confirm that insight gained from experience is allowing the industry to take increasingly smarter steps along the way to autonomy, aided by rapidly evolving digital technologies.

Web story and Whitepaper

Electronic lookout for increased ship safety

Maritime safety regulations have, for valid reasons, traditionally been strict and have often developed in ways that could hold up innovation. Almost two decades after the remedy of ‘goal-based’ standards and ‘technical equivalence’ arrived at the IMO, rules based on risk assessment and functionality continue to face an uphill battle to redefine a safety culture based on ‘dos and don’ts’.

Press release

ABB Marine & Ports opens new lab to stress-test cyber threats to shipping

ABB Marine & Ports’ cyber security laboratory opens at key moment in shipping’s digital development as stricter maritime cyber security rules enter force on January 1, 2021

Generations - Business insight

The steps to autonomy: safety first

In only a few years, the discussion of autonomy in shipping has matured from headline-grabbing visions to pragmatic realism. Stakeholders now generally agree that autonomy will not be implemented in a grand sweep, but rather by increments. What should be the first benefits realized through the stepwise implementation of autonomous technologies?

Story

A guiding hand for the autonomous ship: we have the technologies, now we need regulations

Eero Lehtovaara talks about ABB’s digital initiatives in shipping and his priorities as the new Chairman of One Sea, a 12-member alliance of ship automation technology companies

Generations - Business insight

Defining autonomy – or not

Asked to provide his definition of autonomy, Pierre Sames, Group Technology and Research Director at DNV GL, one of the global bastions of technical knowledge, politely declines.

Navigating the future

As a global leader in advanced digital and auto­mation technology supporting the shipping industry to achieve safe and efficient operation, ABB posed the question: How can recent developments in sensor technology, data analytics and computing power be used to provide seafarers with better situational awareness and improved vessel control?

ABB’s answer is to introduce digital, autonomous and remote control capabilities to enable machines and humans to work together for superior performance.

Learn more here

Featured technical articles

Generations: Technical insight

Cooperative Vessel Operations enabled through autonomous systems

Previous discussions related to autonomous shipping operations have often focused on technological challenges. With the roll-out of pilot projects, the focus needs to shift towards identifying commercially viable and scalable applications for autonomous technologies.

Generations: Technical Insight

Automated excellence: driving efficiency with ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot

Automated docking saves time, money, fuel and emissions. The ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot product family is key to unlocking benefits, enabling enhanced efficiency, safety and optimal operations – every time.

Generations: Technical Insight

GNSS-free navigation: Resilient and accurate vessel positioning with radar and digital elevation models

Today’s vessels rely heavily on satellite-based navigation systems for safe operations. These systems, however, are vulnerable to interference, jamming and spoofing. There is another solution: providing absolute positioning of the vessel based on marine radar scans.

Generations: Technical Insight

Detecting obstacles from camera images in open seas

While self-driving cars are currently a hot topic, fewer people know that the same level of automation is being developed in the maritime industry. To enhance safety on board and ensure the optimal utilization of crew members, automated assistant solutions are being implemented on cargo ships and vessels.

Generations - Technical insight

The Bridge Zero concept and the lookout requirements

Lookout requirements for Bridge Zero (B0) – a conditionally and periodically unattended bridge – can be met by technology. 

Generations - Technical insight

Nonlinear MPC for combined motion control and thrust allocation of ships

For future autonomous marine vessels, better understanding of the ship’s behavior and control performance will be essential. 

Generations - Technical insight

Autonomous docking and navigation using Voronoi diagrams and model predictive control

Autonomous shipping is an emerging field where it will be important to operate a ship without manual intervention.

Generations - Technical insight

Tube-based model predictive control for dynamic positioning of marine vessels

This paper focuses on the design of a robust model predictive control (MPC) law for dynamic positioning (DP) of marine vessels in the presence of actuator saturation and environmental disturbances.

Generations - Technical insight

B0 – a conditionally and periodically unmanned bridge

This paper presents a concept of B0 – conditionally and periodically unmanned bridge – which enables more efficient utilization of vessel crew, reduction in fatigue and increases safety by enabling an unmanned bridge provided that certain conditions are met.

Generations - Technical insight

Autonomy requires fault tolerant, reconfigurable and connected electrical grid for propulsion

The vision of autonomous shipping may be closer than many may think. Some of the key technologies are already available today, and pioneering shipowners are gearing up to put them to the test in commercial applications.

Making history in Helsinki

ABB has enabled the world’s first remote control trial of an existing passenger ferry using off-the-shelf technology that can be fitted to virtually any sailing vessel. See how it went in the video.

"This remote control ferry demonstration is a significant milestone in the development of more autonomous shipping systems.", said Division President for ABB Marine & Ports, Juha Koskela during the trial.


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