The AUTOSHIP consortium is composed of 10 experienced partners with proved capability to develop and achieve the aims of the project covering a wide geographical representation from 5 European countries. The needed multidisciplinary roles were perfectly considered when the consortium was assembled, covering the essential parts of the developments (KET development,testing, manufacturing, environmental/cost/social life cycle analysis, logistics).
Ciaotech (PNO) is the Italian branch of the PNO Group which represents Europe’s largest independent public funding and innovation consultancy with 30 years of hands-on expertise with more than 500 funding programmes in most EU countries, annually raising approximately 1 Billion Euro for its clients.
PNO’s “Innovation Management” services deliver high quality support to large sized companies, SMEs, Universities, Research Institutes, Associations and clusters in the full cycle of the innovation process including analysis, definition and innovation processes planning building innovation networks, partnerships and projects and managing projects and driving innovation. PNO has relevant experience in the review, definition and preparation of potential business models associated to every technology; and managing dissemination, exploitation and IPR aspects, taking particularly care of the industrial liaison and transfer, being especially skilled in the organisation of dedicate events and workshops.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
PNO is the coordinator of the project and hence leader of WP1, Project Coordination and Risk Management. It is also the leader of WP9, where it is involved in the development of the Stakeholder and Market analyses, in the definition of the exploitation plans and in the facilitation of a successful dissemination and transfer of the project results to relevant stakeholders in Europe.
It will also support WP7 and WP8 where a Cost Benefit Analysis of the autonomous ship use case scenario will be completed according to the requested EU standards, along with the development of business cases and a roadmap for the implementation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships in maritime logistics.
Kongsberg Maritime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kongsberg Gruppen (KONGSBERG), which was founded on 20 March, 1814 and celebrated 200 years in business in 2014.
Kongsberg Maritime (KM) delivers systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, safety management, cargo handling, subsea survey and construction, maritime simulation and training, and satellite positioning. The solutions enhance efficiency and safety throughout the whole maritime technology spectrum and the company offers additional competence in providing turnkey engineering services within the shipbuilding and floating production sectors.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
KONGSBERG MARITIME AS will be a leader of WP5, Demonstration & Validation of Enabling technologies for Inland waterways. It will lead the design, commissioning and demonstration of the use case, integrating and upgrading Key Enabling Technologies.
Kongsberg Digital AS represents one of 3 business areas within the Kongsberg Group. It is the groupwide centre of digital expertise providing the next generation software and digital solutions to customers within the Renewables, Utilities, Oil and Gas and Maritime industries. The company consists of 500 employees with the leading competence within internet of things, smart data, artificial intelligence, and automation and autonomous operations.p operation.
To facilitate the digital journey of KONGSBERG and its customer, Kongsberg Digital has established Kognifai; an open platform ecosystem, that consists of a cross-industry digital platform and Kongsberg and 3rd party applications and services, and own technology teams with deep competence in internet of things, physical simulation, analytics, artificial intelligence, automation and optimisation of operations.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
Kongsberg Digital AS will have a key role providing and developing its simulator suites used for operator training, visualisation, operational evaluation & verification and virtual prototyping including algorithms and functionality for the autonomous vessel and shore control centres. Further, the company will provide Kognifai – a holistic digital platform as a foundation for operation of autonomous vessels, that will provide the infrastructure for advanced analytics and machine learning applications for the Shore Control Centre and other onshore stakeholders, to be able to get a real-time picture of the shi
Kongsberg Norcontrol is a subsidiary of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Norway’s premier supplier of defence and aerospace-related systems, including products and systems for command and control, weapons guidance and surveillance, communication solutions and missiles. KOGN has developed, designed and installed complex and effective maritime surveillance solutions for more than 40 years. Its maritime surveillance solutions (including coastal, offshore, port and river surveillance) are implemented to identify and proactively manage risk, improving safety, efficiency and security of maritime transportation and its infrastructure by providing optimal situational awareness throughout an organisation.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
KONGSBERG NORCONTROL main work in the project will be to develop and deliver situational awareness, plan, and provide communication technology for the Shore Control Centre (SCC) to have full situational awareness of the area in which their autonomous vessels operate.
SINTEF Ocean AS is a company constituted by the Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (MARINTEK), SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and the department for environmental technology in SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, which merged together on 1st January 2017. The company has 340 employees and is an integrated part of SINTEF, but also minority owned by strong and motivated industry players. For a long time, SINTEF has been a distinct and important partner for trade and industry and the authorities, aiming to be on the leading edge in developing future-oriented solutions. By joining its forces in this area, SINTEF aims to become an even better partner for authorities and customers in the ocean industries. The merger is also an important step in our work to realise a future Ocean Space Centre, a new research centre, which has been highlighted by the Norwegian government as a priority R&D area in the years ahead.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
SINTEF Ocean will be a WP leader for WP3 Common challenges, methodologies, standards and tools, WP6 Autonomous Ships public awareness and stakeholder engagement and WP8 Business perspective, Roadmapping and international shipping scale-up requirements. It will also take part as partner or task leader in several of the other WPs. SINTEF will be a relevant asset and know-how provider complementing the Industrial Partners and the Liaison Officer with the SAG (Stakeholder Advisory Group)
The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological institution ranking among
the top-20 research-intensive universities in the UK and has received the Entrepreneurial University award for four consecutive years. The Engineering Faculty is one of the largest in the UK and joint research of the Department of NAOME (Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering) with the other Faculty’s Departments is rated fourth in the UK. The Department currently has a strong workforce of 24 fulltime academic staff, 20 postdoctoral researchers and 80 PhD students, one of the largest research resources in the maritime field. The name of Strathclyde is synonymous with maritime safety research with more than five decades of sustained research and development at the highest of levels and with over 100 large-scale projects, instigated and/or led by NAOME.
Role in AUTOSHIP
In AUTOSHIP, The University of Strathclyde will play a key-role as a leader of WP2 and WP7 whereas contribute to several tasks. It will have key contribution to the scenarios assessment for the 2 demonstrators, development of the framework for the safety and security assurance in Autonomous Shipping, regulatory framework mapping, development of the proposal on the required regulatory framework for submissions to IMO, liability analysis, socio-economic assessment of the autonomous shipping, and the scaling up of autonomous shipping in ocean going maritime transport. Further, through its extensive partners network will contribute to the dissemination of the project results, organisation of the conferences and publications in scientific journals.
Eidsvaag AS develops new innovative and sustainable businesses in the fish feed shipping industry: fish feed shipping and logistics are based on its extensive know-how and strong position in the fish feed sourcing and processing value chain. As part of the FjordFrende group, it manages the logistics suppliers to secure customer satisfaction and synergies within and with FjordFrende group.
Eidsvaag AS operates ship transport on the Norwegian coast, with the main emphasis on transport of fish feed. It employs 70 people. Eidsvaag AS has an agreement with Skretting AS for the shipping of all the company’s fish feed in Norway; further, in 2019 it signed a contract with Cargill AS, to oversee the planning and handling of shipping of fish feed: emissions from ships that may cause environmental damage are within the requirements of the authorities. Thus, a significant part of the environmental work concentrates on the establishment of systems for reducing emissions when operating the vessels: Eidsvaag AS focuses on environmental measures and devotes a lot of resources to the planning and introduction of new and improved technology on board its ships. Continuous efforts are being made to develop logistics, and it is expected that this work will contribute to the company also being competitive in the future.
Main Role and tasks in the project:
Eidsvaag AS (EAS) will have a key role in WP4, working with Kongsberg on the design, commissioning and demonstration of AUTOSHIP Short Sea Shipping use case and on its commercial introduction within 5 years from the project start (WP9). EAS will also support SINTEF in WP8 in the definition of functional requirements and KPIs for considering autonomous ships as part of a supply chain for establishing a generic business case and for producing the roadmap for successful introduction of autonomous vessels.
ZULU Associates is active as initiator, developer and operator of innovations in the marine component of logistic chains. Its goal is to enable zero emission operation of commercial vessels on inland waterways, short sea and coastal routes through autonomous operation and alternative propulsion. ZULU Associates was established to regroup and exploit innovations in logistic chains with a marine content. The marine industry, whether seagoing or inland, is fiercely traditional and faces huge challenges and opportunities regarding emissions, alternative propulsion, digital revolution, autonomous operation and its role in logistic chains. ZULU Associates believes that these opportunities will result in disruptive innovations which will change radically the way a number of marine services will operate and this in a relative short period. By actively pursuing these innovations and creating the elements for their success, ZULU Associates is convinced important long-term value can be created for its stakeholders.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
Zulu Associates will provide the operational platform to develop the equipment and practices for the transition of crewed operation to autonomous operation in a real-life situation. A PSB will be used as test bed, not only under test environments, but also in a commercially active environment over an extended period in WP5 to be ready for its commercial introduction within 5 years from the project start (WP9). This will not only enable the consortium to develop all necessary equipment, but will also be used for monitoring the development and operational practices in close cooperation with the relevant authorities and potential clients (WP6-WP7).
BUREAU VERITAS is a world leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification services and is a founding member of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies). It offers innovative solutions that go beyond simple compliance with regulations and standards, reducing risk, improving performance and promoting sustainable development.
BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE is one of the world’s leading classification societies and offshore safety and verification bodies. BV offers solutions for all types of ships, including Roll-on, roll-off ships, Inland navigation vessels, Container ships, Bulk carriers, Fishing vessels, etc. A diverse network of engineers and technical experts are dedicated to ship and offshore safety and efficiency. BV has more than 2,000 highly qualified marine surveyors operating in 180 survey stations in 90 countries.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
BUREAU VERITAS, as expert classification society, will have a key role in WP2, to map and analyse the existing regulations and rules to be considered for testing and developing the prototypes, also identifying gaps or need for revisions; in WP7 to assess liability scenarios and in WP8 to identify and formulate potential rules amendments and a proposal of the required regulatory framework for operating NGAS in national and international waters for submissions to IMO. Finally, it will be responsible for involving class in project activities (WP9).
De Vlaamse Waterweg nv (a merger of nv De Scheepvaart and Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV) manages and operates the waterways as a powerful network that contributes to the Flanders economy, prosperity and the livability of the area. De Vlaamse Waterweg nv supports transport via inland shipping, handles water management and increases the attractiveness of the waterways for recreation, tourism and natural experiences. From the registered office in Hasselt and departments in Willebroek, Brussels, Antwerp, Merelbeke and Mol, approximately 1,350 employees in this organisation are working on a smart, versatile and prosperous waterway network. DVW stimulates the use of the Flemish waterways and of its land, while taking into account the interests of all the stakeholders involved and paying additional attention to sustainable growth, flood protection and integrated water management. DVW considers its mission to be an important social project and implements a modern, innovative and future-oriented policy focusing on a prosperous, mobile, safe and green Flanders.
Role in AUTOSHIP:
As waterway manager, De Vlaamse Waterweg (DVW) is responsible for the regional legislation concerning inland shipping. In AUTOSHIP, DVW will provide permission to test the Barge in the relevant Flemish waterways environment (WP5), will have a key role in the research on future legal requirements for unmanned vessels on the inland waterways (WP7) and the current legal gaps to enable unmanned shipping on the inland waterways (WP2). DVW will also be crucial in the roadmapping (WP8), having tested the outcomes of the AUTOSHIP research in the relevant Flemish environment.
