China Classification Society (CCS) and Tianjin Port have partnered with Wärtsilä Voyage to co-develop an ‘intelligent tug’ alongside an updated set of CCS intelligent ship standards, expected to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The project’s scope includes delivery of situational awareness technology and digital simulators to enhance vessel concept testing, including autonomous algorithm testing, as part of a larger goal of improving efficiency in China’s busy ports.
Wärtsilä Voyage will conduct systematic and human-centric user research to help optimise workflows and improve overall work performance and safety, and cooperate with CCS to develop its intelligent ship standards through knowledge exchange on safety standards and best practices.
“CCS has already published the Intelligent Ship Rules and Guidelines to drive smart technology adoption in the ocean-going vessels. But with more than 120,000 domestic vessels in service in China, there is a need for creating similar technological set-ups and standards for the inland segment as well,” said Sun Feng, Vice President, CCS.
“Wärtsilä Voyage was one of the only global vendors to offer a full suite of on vessel and onshore solutions such as propulsion, smart sensors, automation, navigation, and simulators. More importantly, with successful projects in the past, like IntelliTug and Folgefonn, they offered proven solutions and a clear roadmap for future expansion.”
China and Finland have jointly endorsed the project under the China-Finland Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation MoU, and the China-Finland Flagship Project on Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Strategy, 2019-2023. The MoU was virtually signed on 25 November 2021 in the presence of the Ambassador of Finland to China and the Ministry of Transportation, People’s Republic of China.
