Maersk has selected Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics to trial perception and situational awareness technology aboard one of the company’s newbuild containerships.
The companies claim that the installation marks the first time computer vision, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and perception software will be utilised aboard a container vessel to augment and upgrade transit operations.
The solution chosen by Maersk uses artificial intelligence to improve at-sea situational awareness, object identification and tracking capabilities similar to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) commonly found in automobiles.
“For this containership situational awareness program, we aim to prove the technology increases our safety, efficiency, and reliability. Autonomous vessels are not an end goal for Maersk nor is unmanned vessels, what is more of interest is the technology along the journey and the value it brings,” said P. Michael A. Rodey, senior innovation manager, A.P. Moller-Maersk.
