The world's first demonstration experiment was conducted at a port in Ibaraki prefecture to test the function of automatically berthing a large ferry with a total length of 190 meters for the practical use of a large ship that operates automatically.
The demonstration experiment was conducted by a shipbuilding company commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the 26th at Oarai Port in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The large ferry with a total length of 190 meters, a width of 26.4 meters, and a total ton number of 11,410 tons was used in the experiment, and is equipped with a newly developed system that automatically determines the optimum movement.
The system determines the optimum movement while simulating nearly 1000 times per second based on information such as the direction and strength of the wind, the direction and height of the waves, in order to berth on the instructed route. is.
In an experiment, when switching to automatic operation, the ferry slowed down to the depths of the harbor, slowly stopped 10 meters away from the quay, demonstrating the ability to berth automatically.
According to Mitsui E & S Shipbuilding, which was in charge of system development, this is the first demonstration experiment in the world to test the function of automatically berthing using a large ship.
Mr. Akihito Hirayama said, "I would like to further refine my work to achieve the goals of safety of marine transportation and reduction of labor load."
Ships that operate remotely or automatically are being developed in each country, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is aiming for practical application by 2025 in order to establish an internationally superior field in technological development.