New EU project to enhance safer navigation at sea through digitalization
A new project, co-funded by the European Commission and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the SafeNav (Safer Navigation) project, officially launched in early September 2022 with the aim to enhance safer and more secure navigation at sea, moving towards remote-operated and autonomous shipping.
This 3-year maritime safety project, which is estimated to cost € 8 million, will be led by Offshore Monitoring Limited (OSM), who will oversee the project management, coordination, and overall technical development.
"The ambition and objective of the project is to develop and test a highly innovative collision-prevention solution that will significantly reduce the probability of collisions and groundings, thereby enhancing safer navigation for existing vessels and the new generation of ships designed for remote operations and autonomy in the future", capt. Jorgen Grindevoll, SafeNav inventor, highlighted
The system will consist of a module for automated collision prevention and avoidance, and another decision support module that uses data from state-of-the-art sensors and other relevant sources to provide an effective visual representation of the multi-source data to the navigators. At the solution’s core lies cutting-edge technology by consortium partner Ladar Limited, the LadarTM Sensor Suite, which uses an innovative combination of sensors and cameras to detect, classify, and track objects/targets and also partially submerged objects in the vessel’s path.
"With the support of a strong consortium, we foresee the next few years full of active collaboration and hands-on research and development work to tackle the issue of navigational accidents at sea with an innovative digital solution – the SafeNav system", Lance Savaria, Head of Projects at Offshore Monitoring Limited, said.
R&D and studies will also be carried out on how to avoid collisions with marine mammals. Consortium partner, SAYFR, will address the root causes of accidents, human behavior on the bridge (navigators), and a risk model related to navigation at sea.
The SafeNav (Safer Navigation) consortium comprises a geographically diverse and technically robust group of key partners. Naval Group, Sirehna, and Danaos Shipping Company belong to the maritime industry, while innovation-oriented SMEs include Offshore Monitoring Limited, Global Maritime Services, SAYFR, Greenov, and Ladar Limited.
In addition, research and development institutes and universities are represented by Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum (IMEC), the University of Rijeka (UNIRI), and the University of Genova (UNIGE) that will take part in the novel technical development of algorithms that will be used in the SafeNav solution.
Source: Safety4sea
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