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Szczecińska Shipyard: almost PLN 60 million for autonomous technologies. Grant NCBiR
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
The project "Development, construction and verification under the conditions of a real prototype of a semi-autonomic cargo ship" will be implemented between 2019 and 2020 by SSN. The partners of Stocznia in the project are JPP Marine Sp. z o.o. S. k. and Nelton Sp. z o.o. The Szczecińska Shipyard Project received the highest amount of funding in the entire NCBiR competition. The number of applications submitted was 62 and the number of successful projects was 17. The project is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2019 and its duration is 24 months. The budget of the project is PLN 58,728,759.
SAC (Semi-Autonomous Coaster) is the first such comprehensive R & D project of the Polish sea ship with a high level of autonomy. Its implementation gives a real opportunity to build a strong scientific and industrial partnership in Poland in the area of highly innovative vessels.
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The direct result of the project will be a prototype semi-autonomic coaster SAC (Semi – Autonomous Coaster), enabling testing of selected highly innovative components in the field of marine technologies. The SAC prototype will be transformed into a complete product that already has potential customers.
SAC technology consists of four main components:
- Automatic control technology of selected components of operation and operation of ship systems, from the level of remote ICT system installed at the shipowner on land and advanced automation and sensors systems.
- Semi-autonomy technology of a marine navigation system that allows to perform anti-collision maneuvers in coastal waters and optimise these manoeuvres.
- Automatic fuel consumption optimization system in parking situations by using a battery set and photovoltaic system.
- Technology to take control of the ship in emergency and threat situations.
An additional effect of the project will be the innovative coaster hull ensuring over-standard fuel saving while increasing ship capacity.
Parallel to research work will be carried out pre-accession work, the most important of which will be the supervision of the Shipclassifier both over the design and construction of the prototype. This is necessary because the prototype must be allowed for marine tests and the final product must be certified. The project plans 8 research stages to be implemented by a multidisciplinary, experienced R & D and technical team using appropriate research and technological infrastructure.
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It should be noted that the implementation of the project results is not subject to the risk of lack of legal regulation related to sea autonomous ships as the built prototype will be semi-autonomic and the planned level of autonomy is AL3. The implementation of the project will strengthen the potential of SSN, The main effect of the project is the comprehensive design of the next generation ship, which can be used in mass production. A project such as SAC can be an important part of the development of the future R & D centre of the shipyard, which is part of its development strategy. It also allows to build its image as a modern, competitive manufacturer of semi-self-propelled ships.
Source: SSN. Photo: Elżbieta Kubowska, Kurier Szczeciński.
