Rolls-Royce has conducted sea trials of its situational awareness technologies on board a vessel belonging to Japanese transport company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
The project partners explored the navigational safety benefits that ‘Intelligent Awareness’ and machine-learning technologies provided aboard the 165-metre-long Sunflower Gold passenger ferry.
To improve the decision-making capabilities of the bridge team, Rolls-Royce installed several of its Intelligent Awareness sensors, thermal imaging cameras and its light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
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Results from the sea trials found that navigating officers were better equipped to detect objects at night.
During the trials, Sunflower Gold navigated Akashi Kaikyo, Bisan Seto and Kurushima Straits — some of the most challenging shipping routes in the world.
Iiro Lindborg, General Manager of Remote & Autonomous Solutions, Rolls Royce, said: “During the trials the Intelligent Awareness system was able to detect all potential navigational obstacles, allowing the crew to mitigate against any safety risks during night crossings.”
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