Page 17 - NORWAY EXPORTS Maritime 2017-18

Another key factor is the commercial “It is an example of disruptive technology represent a scaling up of the size of
aspect, says Bjørn-Johan Vartdal, DNV when you see you can build differently,” autonomous ships. Previously, the
GL programme director for maritime says Rødseth. “It’s not the shipowners, but Trondheim fjord has been used to test
group technology & research. Drone other parties that drive and develop new smaller boats, such as Maritime Robotics’
ships can be built smaller because business models for transport. This hasn’t small unmanned-surface vessels and a
there is less need for worker space, been done before. It’s not a revolution, but scale version of a passenger ferry called
saving construction and operational it represents a new way of thinking.” Milli Ampere developed by NTNU.
costs. Smaller ships also mean more
energy effi cient operations and lower Sizing Up As of May, the Trondheim fjord has opened
fuel consumption and emissions from The next sizeable, unmanned vessel for the two-year study ASTAT (Autonomous
reduced speed. could be Hrönn, a fully automated vessel Ship Transport at the Trondheim fjord) that
for offshore operations being built by will develop concepts for larger bulk and
“The main cost saving is most likely the Fjellstrand for the UK’s Automated Ships break bulk transport concepts that can
savings on crew costs,” says Vartdal. Ltd and Kongsberg Maritime for delivery by replace truck transport. One test with the
2019. The light-duty offshore utility ship will Norwegian forestry company Allskog will
One emerging trend has been that be used for the offshore energy, scientifi c, focus on transporting lumber in the region.
producers, rather than shipowners, are hydrograph and offshore fi sh farming
coming up with their own shipping concepts industries. The vessel could be tested in ASTAT is the one of the latest new projects
to reduce their carbon footprint. Yara took the the Trondheim fjord, one of two test beds by members of NFAS. The other current
initiative with Yara Birkeland. Rashpal Bhatti, in Norway for autonomous shipping that projects include Yara Birkeland, test area
BHP vice president freight, announced last now includes the recently added area of the Trondheim fjord, test area Grenland,
May that the Australian miner has similar Grenland off the coast of eastern Norway. NTNU AMOS Centre of Excellence
plans to use autonomous vessels carrying Research Advanced Autonomous
BHP cargo powered by BHP gas. Both the Yara Birkeland and Hrönn Waterborne Applications (AAWA),
AUTOSEA sensor fusion and collision
avoidance for advanced ships, and
ENABLE*3 shore-based bridge concept.

Norway’s NAVTOR is the only Norwegian
industrial partner in the EU project
ENBABLE*3 and owner of the maritime
demonstrator. The project will look to the
automotive industry for inspiration and test
the software element of a remote bridge
concept based on continuous data sharing
between vessels and shore.

Yara Birkeland could become the world’s
fi rst fully electric and autonomous
container ship with zero emissions.
© Yara

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