To make the move towards automated sailing, ships’ internal systems will need to be digitalised, machine-readable and connected to navigation and guidance systems and/or remote control systems. Systems include, but are not limited to: power management, on-board hydraulics, mooring systems, rudder control and ballast water management systems. Often these systems are stand-alone and controlled by the crew, and need to be connected to the navigation and guidance systems in order to allow for automated sailing. In existing ships, these systems may be analogue. Another challenge is to connect systems built by different suppliers.
Safe automation of ship internal systems is possible to the extent which is required for short sea (coastal) ships operating with a reduced crew. The interaction of these systems and their data-sharing with the autonomous navigation functions will need to be developed further, and this will call for adjusted functional and technical requirements. This is mostly a technical and engineering challenge, for which the main obstacle will be to do this in a cost-effective manner.
Development Area
Ship Internal
Ship Internal
Systems
Any ship of reasonable size contains a multitude of systems for propulsion, crew safety and operations which are normally carried out by the ship's crew. For smart ships, several systems will have to be operated by digital systems or by remote operation, requiring changes in the design and operation of the systems.
2021
2030
Short sea (coastal) shipping is important to north-west Europe, and to the Netherlands in particular. Both regional transportation of goods in Europe and the redistribution of cargo from large ocean liners is performed by short sea ships. Many short sea ships are built at Dutch shipyards, and various large ship-owning companies own and operate large fleets of these vessels and operate them within European waters and beyond.
Functional requirements for integration of shipping systems
2021
2030
The Dutch ferries service sector is considered an important mode of passenger transport, mainly on inland waterways and at sea. Ferries are therefore an important link between the shore and the water for commuters, schoolchildren and recreational users. Most of these ferries are built at Dutch shipyards and are operated by public operators as well as private companies. The goal is to have an inland ferry fleet by 2030 for which autonomous sailing is no longer an unknown factor; a sector for which autonomous sailing is normalised and consequently safer and more efficient in its operations.
Functional requirements for integration of shipping systems
Limited market potential
2021
2030
Inland cargo shipping refers to the transport of goods on inland waterways in the Netherlands and across our borders. In 2030, inland shipping is to have reached a level of automation described as “Human-Assisted Autonomy” (stage 3 in IMO, level 4 in CCR). We expect 25% of the total Dutch fleet of inland ships to have reached this level of automation by 2030.
Functional requirements integration of shipping systems
2021
2030
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) are perhaps the most visible smart shipping applications to date in the Netherlands. Several developers of USVs and USV technology are commercially successful in the Netherlands, and various dredging and offshore instruction companies in the Netherlands are already starting to use USVs in their daily operation.
In the context of this roadmap, we define USVs as small vessels (<20 m for inland vessels, <24 m for seagoing vessels). Unmanned Surface Vessels are, as the name implies, not equipped for the carriage of people, so small autonomous ferries are not meant in this sense. Ferries have their own challenges and different market drivers, which are described in the inland ferry use case.
Although a lot of USV technology is developed and used in a military context, this roadmap focuses on civilian applications of USVs.
Functional requirements for monitoring and control of ship systems
Determine requirements for Rescue of USVs in case of risky situation and salvage of USV
2021
2030
Under construction