Norway-based classification society DNV and China’s intelligent shipping technology and equipment provider Navigation Brilliance (Brinav) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to ‘fast-track’ the development and regulatory approval of autonomous and remote-controlled shipping technologies.
As informed, Brinav has already started to work to obtain a type approval of its situational awareness system, with plans well underway to secure the type approvals needed for the company’s autonomous navigation, remote-control and navigation assistance products.
“As the number of autonomous vessel projects increases, we believe that there will be an uptick in the use of this kind of technology across the maritime industry as the merchant fleet seeks improved efficiency and safety. We believe that, as a first step, verifying and approving the external situational awareness system is key for this development,” said Jarle Coll Blomhoff, Head of Digital Ship Systems at DNV.
“An external situational awareness system will need to be as good or better than a human navigator and is one of the most important systems for realising autonomous vessel operation. We very much look forward to this cooperation with Brinav.”
Autonomous shipping, which ranges from remote control operation to fully unmanned vessels, has seen substantial developments over the years, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In fact, maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) have shown the potential to improve a number of spheres within the maritime sector.
As per the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), the technology has been said to improve safety by minimizing the possibility of human error or fatigue, improve efficiency and environmental performance by optimizing routes, speed, and fuel consumption, and cutting down on emissions and noise pollution.
“Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) have emerged as a key focus in the global maritime industry, driven by collaborative efforts across the sector,” highlighted Jiang HaiYing, CEO of Brinav.
“The development of MASS involves the integration of advanced technologies and interdisciplinary expertise, necessitating close cooperation between autonomous navigation system developers and classification societies. We look forward to actively exploring cooperation opportunities with DNV to jointly promote MASS technology development.”
As disclosed, the collaborative efforts will comprise developing assurance for new technologies with DNV’s knowledge, using the 220 NM² test-area around an island in Qingdao, China for autonomous ship testing as well as supporting Brinav with the approval of autonomous functions in newbuilding projects.
The projects will fully be supported with joint efforts from DNV, Qingdao Station, and Technical Center China, faciliated by Smart Center, an organization dedicated to collaboration with a wide array of customers from the sectors of digitalization and decarbonization.