Technology provider Wärtsilä has announced the opening of its Acceleration Centre, a Singapore-based innovation hub to strengthen and develop the local maritime ecosystem.
The facility was built as part of an agreement signed by Wärtsilä and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), to collaborate on intelligent vessels, connected smart port operations and cyber-physical security.
Dr Lam Pin Min, a senior minister in Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health, attended the opening ceremony, which also witnessed the launch of Wärtsilä’s Maritime Cyber Centre of Excellence.
Ong Kim Pong outlines the vision of PSA in a recent Port Technology technical paper
Discussing the project, Min said: “The setup of the Wärtsilä Acceleration Centre in Singapore will support our aim to be the global maritime hub for connectivity, innovation and talent, and add to the vibrancy of our maritime innovation eco-system.
“Such projects will enable us to develop new concepts and capabilities that support more efficient operation and regulation of our future port.”
The first project to be co-created at the Wärtsilä Acceleration Centre, in partnership with MPA and PSA Marine, is the Wärtsilä IntelliTug, a harbour tug with autonomous navigation.
According to a statement by Wärtsilä, the vessel will be capable of performing a range of routine missions designed to further improve tug safety and efficiencies, while reducing operator workload and pressures at the same time.
We've opened the first International Maritime Cyber Centre of Excellence in the world. The IMCCE is available for the entire maritime sector, from single vessels to large shipping and tankers to ports, authorities and suppliers. #cybersecurity #maritimehttps://t.co/asnrMIRaAv pic.twitter.com/5jPVEaQ4jm
— Wärtsilä Corporation (@wartsilacorp) October 16, 2018
Wärtsilä is planning to test-bed the IntelliTug concept in 2019 on an existing tugboat at the Port of Singapore.
Peter Chew, Managing Director of PSA Marine, commented: “We are always scouting for innovative ideas to enhance our Tug Masters’ situational awareness so that they can navigate the busy port waters in Singapore more safely.
Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President of Wärtsilä Corporation, added: “We want to help the industry improve by leveraging the use of automation technologies on ships to boost safety and efficiency, while at the same time augmenting the human’s role within the loop.
“This solution will empower Tug Masters by actively assisting the crew in different situations, allowing them to focus on critical tug operations whilst dynamically maintaining safe distances during navigation and preventing potential collisions.”
