Autonomous vessel systems company Sea Machines Robotics has announced that the US Coast Guard (USCG) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) have approved the company’s SM200 commercial wireless helm system for installation aboard a class of US-flagged tugboats that support articulated tug-barge (ATB) sets.
The SM200 allows the primary vessel operator to move away from their fixed control station by providing wireless helm and propulsion control, as well as remote control of auxiliaries and payload equipment.
Along with vessel manoeuvring, the SM200 beltpack also allows for wireless remote control of vessel equipment, including connection pins, pumps, winches and anchor windlasses.
“This approval will unquestionably be the first of many to come for a wide variety of vessel types and is already fostering greater industry acceptance for this new realm of marine technology that boosts the capability, productivity, and safety of vessel operations,” said Michael Johnson, CEO, Sea Machines.
Sea Machines’ series of products provides a range of remote and computer-guided vessel control options, with its perception and situational awareness technology currently being tested aboard one of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s newbuild ice-class container ships.
