The next-level bridge: how artificial intelligence can support nautical officers in the future by temporarily taking over their watch.
Published on 17 Oct 2023
As one of the oldest industries in the world, the maritime sector has always relied heavily on human experience and presence. But this is changing. Digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the shipping industry as we know it. AI systems are increasingly being used to automate processes on board vessels. One example is autonomous navigation, where AI-driven software is constantly analysing the ship’s situation and responding appropriately to changes in traffic or weather. Such software has the potential to provide relief to bridge officers, who take on a monitoring role and can also focus on other tasks. Bernhard Schulte (BS), the Schulte Group’s shipowning arm, participates in the research and development project B ZERO, led by the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services CML and supported by public funding from the German government (BMWK). Further project partners are Hoppe Marine, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Wärtsilä and NautilusLog.
Lennart Swoboda, Head of Autonomy at Bernhard Schulte, explains the project: “The increasing volume of shipping traffic has led to a rise in complex traffic situations and tight vessel schedules leave only little room for resting and handling of the required administrative tasks. In cases of accidents, human error is frequently a contributing factor. The goal of the project is to develop a periodically watch-free bridge that can remain unmanned for up to eight hours under certain conditions, giving relief to nautical officers and more space to focus on other tasks during this time. So, B ZERO is not about unmanned ships, but a temporarily unmanned bridge to support the crew and make procedures on board more efficient and safer.”
This technology will be made possible through the use of sensors that record the ship’s environment, decision support systems that analyse the data and trigger appropriate responses, and a documentation system that stores the most important information. B ZERO aims to improve safety in the shipping industry by reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error, fatigue or lack of concentration. Once the technology is fully developed, it has the potential to transform the way ships are operated and managed.
The first tests of the B ZERO algorithm prototype started on one of BSM’s managed vessels in 2017. “Our goal is not to develop ‘ghost ships’, but to use technology where it makes sense, supports the crew, enhances safety and makes processes and voyage execution more efficient. In the future, such solutions will also be demanded by customers. To remain competitive, we need to be prepared for these demands,” says Swoboda.
Sohan Adrian, First Officer onboard the Bernhard Schulte pilot vessels, explains how B ZERO can help:
“There are still challenges to overcome when it comes to the implementation and training of AI,” Swoboda points out. “Currently, B ZERO is designed for use on the open sea where there is less traffic. The goal is to gradually expand to scenarios with more dense traffic, where the crew is in most need of relief. However, an internationally recognised framework of rules for autonomously driven ships does not yet exist. Additionally, the algorithm of B ZERO needs a large set of data to ‘train’ to be able to take over in various scenarios. So, it is a learning process and feeding the technology with this data will take time.”
Lennart Swoboda
Head of Autonomy at Bernhard Schulte
ContactLennart Swoboda
Head of Autonomy at Bernhard Schulte
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