Trelleborg Marine Systems
PIANC Congress 2018
Abstract submission
Theme: Ports
Topic: Ports of the future: technologies, automation, traceability
Name: Tommy Mikkelsen
Company: Trelleborg Marine Systems Denmark A/S
Business address: Sommervej 31b, DK - 8210 Aarhus, Denmark
Phone: +45 86 91 22 55
Email: tommy.mikkelsen@trelleborg.com
Statement
With so much talk about automation and data, and how they will impact ports, terminals and vessels in the future, this presentation will be of particular interest to attendees as it takes a more practical, sober look at the technologies that are available now, how they can be used in practice and how they might evolve going forward. It calls on real life case studies and examples to highlight how the future is already arriving, and could offer huge efficiencies and savings for ports and vessels alike.
TITLE: FUTURE PORTS AND PILOTING IN PANAMA
The ‘Port of the Future’ vision sees vessels, ports and hinterland transport becoming part of a connected eco-system. This will require collaboration throughout the supply chain, which necessitates a common platform for communication and data sharing, with shared standards and processes.
Trelleborg’s paper will discuss how ports and vessels will be shaped by data and smart technologies, through current case studies, while highlighting new technical innovations the company is evolving to support data-driven best practices.
Collaboration and the tech stack
This paper looks at the importance of an open system to help the industry achieve a standardized way to collect, store and thereby benefit from data in its myriad forms. To achieve exactly that, the technology platform must be built around an API structure that enables collaboration with third party systems and assets, a step towards achieving a common platform for the industry. This allows customers to make more effective decisions through deeper, accurate insights across all operations, irrespective of supplier.
To be truly collaborative, technology solutions must work across different aspects of the supply chain, whether that’s within ports and terminals, on board vessels or as they get into the landside logistics.
By adopting smart technology built around open system architecture, any port or terminal asset can be brought under one cloud based system. This enables the development of custom apps to access asset data, interrogate it and present it across a wider range of users, enabling more effective decision-making through deeper, accurate insights. Multi collaboration is at the heart of such systems as they use data from different suppliers of different equipment, to develop informative services that are as useful to the customer as possible. This requires all available data to be formatted, collected and stored in a common way, making it easier to analyze, identify and implement measures that enhance safety, efficiency and productivity.
The core tech stack framework consists of two layers. The cloud layer manages intelligent data collection, transfer and storage. While the application layer provides access to unique product functionality and data insights from within the cloud.
Smart navigation with AMP
The technology platform is designed to empower decision making and communication during port approach, docking and deberthing. A key part of this process is the piloting and navigation operation.
The Association of Maryland Pilots (AMP) are utilizing their Portable Pilot Units (PPUs) and a Port System server solution to facilitate consistent, real-time information sharing between almost 70 pilots.
The AMP serves the Chesapeake Bay, the longest pilotage route on the East Coast of the United States, with its nearly 200 miles of waters. The scale of the waters put demands on the operational battery time the piloting equipment requires. Vessels of almost 48 feet draft transit the narrow channels of the bay, which themselves are only 50 feet deep.
The PPU combines a Rate of Turn sensor with a GNSS high-accuracy positioning sensor. It is used in paired units, with one connected to the ship’s AIS pilot plug and power adaptor for continuous charging. The other is located on the bridge wing, running on a built-in battery. When the battery is flat, the pilot simply swaps the two units, allowing a continuous operation.
All data is visualized on an iPad overlaying a sea chart. The iPad is continuously in connection with the cloud to exchange vital data.
The technology platform system server solution synchronizes data between pilots. Updates to information are made on shore, and distributed in real time to ensure accurate decision making during the piloting operation. Recordings of all operations are stored for future review and pilot devices backed up in the data cloud, enabling the data storage and sharing that will offer real insight for future operations, a key element required within the Smart Port model.
Adaptive Under Keel Clearance (AUKC)
Adaptive Under Keel Clearance (AUKC) systems have been integrated into navigation systems to enable more productive ship and port operations. As ship sizes grow and many waterways become more constrained, the need for precision tools increases. AUKC systems are used to describe the amount of water between the ship’s keel and the seabed. This is mostly used to determine the optimum time for passing the constrained waterway, or the tidal window. There are a number of challenges associated with determining AUKC:
- Ship motion affecting displacement
- Accuracy of seabed survey
- Prediction of weather / tide / sea state
The AUKC system uses third party integrated data to overcome these challenges, by providing a planning tool to develop a Passage Plan that is specific to the vessel and its journey. It will then provide real-time measurement to ensure that the plan is still valid throughout the approach, updates when conditions change and alert if there is a risk that the AUKC will be too small further down the route. The paper will detail the three phases of AUKC: Plan, Monitor and Analyze, discussing why each has an important role to play in supporting real-time collaboration and decision making, and optimization. The paper will also discuss the customer benefits such as enabling ships to carry more cargo.
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