Afbeelding
The main objective of this project is to determine the feasibility and added value of a Green & Autonomous Corridor between Norway and the Netherlands through which the logistics sector, technology suppliers, research institutions and governments can experiment and learn how to safely apply far-reaching forms of automation in a complex operational environment such as the North Sea. The intended result consists of a research agenda and a proposal for a living lab in which research and experiments can take place.
What is the motivation for the project?
The first autonomous ships are expected to arrive in Norway in 2024, examples are the Yara Birkeland and Asko Ferries which can operate autonomously in fjords. The ships sail on relative quiet waterways over short distances. The challenge is to use this technology in complex situations such as the North Sea. In June 2022 Samskip announced that it will develop ships for the Norway- Netherlands route that will be autonomous ready. This means that the design of the ship allows for the installation of modules for autonomous operation sail. This makes Samskip the first international shortsea operator that recognizes the added value of autonomous sailing and who has expressed the ambition to apply autonomy in ships were permitted when this economically and technically possible. How, when and under what conditions that will be is not clear. The Norwegian and Dutch Smart Shipping communities expressed the wish for a Green & Autonomous Corridor between the Netherlands and Norway to be explored. Such a corridor would encompass one sustainable short sea route operated by an efficient, low pollution ship that can operate autonomously on all aspects of the route. This would make a sustainable contribution to the modal shift from road to water.
What problem does the project solve?
To explore the potential of an autonomous corridor we need a clear picture as to what business case exists for increasing levels of automation, specific to the context of the intended corridor. Existing, generic studies and research in this area will tell us which legal, technical and security obstacles must be addressed in order to implement autonomous navigation for the first time on a ship sailing between Norway and the Netherlands, preferably in the form of a living lab. The design of the living lab must have maximum impact and scalability (other users, other corridors, other technology suppliers).
Projectpartners:
- Hogeschool Rotterdam
- Netherlands Maritime Technology Foundation,
- Damen Gorinchem
- Samskip
- TU Delft
- MARIN
- Sintef
- ITS Norway
- Norwegian Union of Marine Engineers
- Kongsberg
- University Oslo
- NTNU
The following companies have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the project:
- Hyke
- Port of Amsterdam
- Damen Naval Shipbuilding
- Shipping & Offshore Network
How does the project team approach this?
NHL Stenden mainly participates in the topics around legal aspects and the business case.
The objectives of the project are:
- Insight in the possibilities and limitations in current Dutch, Norwegian and IMO legislation to experiment with autonomous sailing between The Netherlands and Norway
- Insight in the relevant actors and their roles GAC Business cases
- Overview of the benefits (monetary, security and sustainability dimensions) and the extent to which these can be achieved for various progressive automation steps for ships the routes within the Green Autonomous Corridor.
This research is a combination of a desk study on applicable law to experiments with autonomously sailing ships and interviews with stakeholders.
Students from the programmes mentioned above participate in it, as do lecturers/researchers.
Main (or expected) results
- Overview of the relevant Dutch, Norwegian and IMO legislation for experiments with autonomous sailing between The Netherlands and Norway.
- Overview of the relevant actors (such as port state and flag state authorities and classification societies) and their expected roles.
