of Finland in Eurajoki, northwest of Olki- ent types of unmanned vessels at the test SHORE CONTROL CENTRES WILL
luoto. This test area would cover approx- range. NEED RELIABLE DATA
imately 200 square kilometres and would ”Before remote-control centres are Research Scientist Hannu Karvonen from
be in use until 2025, with periodic restric- built, it will be necessary to test the tech- VTT Technical Research Centre of Fin-
tions for non-related maritime traffic. nologies in controlled conditions.” land notes that Rolls-Royce and VTT have
Seaborne tests for remote-controlled ”Unmanned vessels will not become worked together for the development of
ships would be carried out in this area, operational overnight. Ships will have on- future ship command bridge concepts for
with the aim of further developing their board crews for a long time to come. Prob- tugboats, cargo ships, and platform supply
technologies. Apart from Rolls-Royce, sev- ably ship automation will be increased vessels already in the FIMECC UXUS pro-
eral other companies are involved in the gradually, but crews will still be required to gram that started five years ago.
development projects of remotely con- bypass automated systems and take con- trolled vessels. trol if needed,” Eloranta says.
”More recently, e.g. the AAWA ini-
tiative and Design for Value projects have
The test area is to become opera- ”Nowadays, shipping companies are included more detailed research of remote-
tional later in the year 2017, subject to taking an interest in these concepts. One control systems and control centres for
permits from local officials. should remember that when better on- unmanned ships,” he says.
According to Mr. Eloranta, Rolls-
Royce will probably test various differ-
“
board sensors are developed, they will also
benefit traditional ships.”
”However, the building of fully auto-
mated ships for international maritime
Ships will have on-board
crews for a long time to come.
With less need for crew quarters, ships
would have more space for transporting
commercial cargo.
14
seatec 2/2017