Autonomous vessel consortium One Sea and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to promote the development of new space-enabled services in support of the maritime sector’s transition towards autonomous shipping.
Satellite communications and satellite navigation will play a key role in the adoption of autonomous operations, with ships often outside of terrestrial communications coverage during offshore passages. In ports and congested areas, high precision Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) provided by satellites is critical for safe operations.
This new partnership will see One Sea work in tandem with ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions programme to support the development and demonstration of space technologies to address user needs in the autonomous vessel sector.
“We are thrilled about the possibility to collaborate with ESA. We are looking forward to finding ways to jointly support the development of safe and sustainable maritime transport,” said Sinikka Hartonen, Secretary General of One Sea Association.
