ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control

 
Pilot Control is a new way to control your vessel during all operational modes, including maneuvering, transit, and position-keeping. Designed for autonomous and remote operations, the system enables optimal and complete all-speed vessel control from one operator position, using only one joystick and touch screen.
 

Benefits of ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control

Operational assistance

  • Predicts the future behaviour of the vessel
  • Automation of traditional manual sequences

Fewer systems to operate

  • Control the whole voyage from the same system
  • One joystick and touch screen for all navigation control

Automated maneuvering

  • Enabled for autonomous or remote control
  • Ensure optimal and predictable operation

One system for the whole journey

With one system to control the whole voyage, operations simply become easier. Enjoy the smoothness of working from one operator position only, for position keeping, at speed, in transit, with the assistance of collision avoidance advisory, automated braking assistance and autodocking to increase safety and reduce risk.

The illustration shows a typical voyage by a WTIV, highlighting where ABB Marine Pilot Control solution will be beneficial. The solution is modular and can be built to suit any vessel from ferries to cruise vessels.

    

 

      

ABB Ability™ Marine Braking Assistance 

Automates pod-way emergency stops, allowing the operator to focus on the situation rather than on performing the procedure

  • Performs emergency stops better than what is possible manually
  • Balances the loads on propulsion system
  • Retains control over steering
  • Lowers risk to the propulsion system

The Marine Braking Assistance is a Marine Pilot Control module that can be installed as a stand alone system.

 

Related highlights

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 & video

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.

Group press release

ABB powers P&O super-ferries towards new sustainable transport era

ABB to supply electric, digital and connected solutions for P&O Ferries’ two new vessels, including Azipod® propulsion and energy storage, cutting fuel consumption by one ton per return trip across the English Channel

Press release

ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control integrates DP2 to increase safety across entire vessel operating profile

ABB adds dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) functionality to ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control, the solution that enhances vessel command execution and enables operators to focus on safer maneuvering

Classification letter

Approval in Principle

ABB Dynamic Positioning control system ABB Marine Ability™ Pilot Control
(Class notation DP-CM, DP-AM, DP-AA) 

Focus topic

Stepwise to autonomy

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

Generations - Technical Insight

Paving the way towards autonomous shipping: ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control

Moving towards increasingly autonomous operations require a “sense-decide-act” cycle, where a captain receives information, then plans the next move and acts. This, in turn, requires a solution that is more than a regular dynamic positioning (DP) system.

Group press release

ABB enables groundbreaking trial of remotely operated passenger ferry

Ice-class passenger ferry Suomenlinna II was remotely piloted through test area near Helsinki harbor, proving that human oversight of vessels from anywhere is achievable with today’s technologies

Article

ABB and Raytheon Anschütz bring the benefits of electric, digital and connected bridge to Ritz-Carlton

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first “anti-cruise” luxury vessel will benefit from a full integration of ABB’s propulsion, automation and dynamic positioning package with Raytheon Anschütz’s navigation system.

 

Further benefits

ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control offers an intuitive and compact user experience where the whole system can be operated from a touchscreen and a joystick.

Emission reduction
The system balances the use of the thrusters for maximum efficiency, using less power and thereby less fuel

Area mode option
Pre-define an area to stay within for more relaxed position keeping, when pinpoint positioning is not needed, for less power demanding operation.

Safer operations
With braking assistance, allowing steering while braking. Autodocking gives safer and more efficient docking lowering the chance of incidents, auto crossing, releases the operator to focus on making good decisions, while Pilot control handles the maneuvering.
 
 

A stepping stone to autonomous shipping

ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control is a pioneering technology that is already in use by our customers today and that will act as a stepping stone into the future of autonomous shipping. Autonomous shipping requires a vessel management & control system that can replace traditional solutions designed for disconnected operations.
Stepwise to autonomy

ABB equips seafarers with existing solutions that augment their skillsets and enhance the overall safety and efficiency of operations. Discover more here.
Electric. Digital. Connected.

To read more about ABB Marine and Ports' vision of the next generation of vessels being electric, digital and connected, go this page.

 

 

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