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• Innovation Norway funds Kongsberg’s cloud-based simulator tech
  in Navigation, Autonomy & New Technologies

  Kongsberg Digital is developing cloud-based simulation technology to support advanced operational studies, research and education in the maritime industry. The use of increasingly advanced equipment and an elevated focus on safety and sustainability has raised the bar for innovative new solutions to collect, simulate and share data to assist in optimisation of vessel operations.

• Mackay acquires Dynamic Marine Systems
  in Software, Big Data & IoT

  Mackay Marine has opened its newest marine electronics sales and service centre in Cape Town, South Africa, following the acquisition of Dynamic Marine Systems (DMS).

• V. Group releases Life After Lockdown paper
  in Software, Big Data & IoT

  Ship management company V.Group has released its second discussion paper in the ‘Life After Lockdown’ series, examining the acceleration of digital engagement.

  Each paper focusses on a specific area of maritime operations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and sets out key lessons learned. 

  The first paper discussed crew engagement post Coronavirus whilst the second is entitled “The acceleration of digital engagement.”

  Each paper aims to challenge long-established ways the shipping industry operates by posing questions and inviting the views of others in the industry.

  The second paper, a 20-page document, explores whether the pandemic could be a catalyst for change, challenging entrenched ways of working in the maritime sector. It looks at the industry’s use of small data, the impact of digitalisation on crew wellbeing as well as digitalisation’s role as a tool to drive environmental change.  

  Stephen Macfarlane, Information Systems director at V.Group, said: “There’s no doubt the pandemic has been a catalyst for change and as we look to the future, this paper explores the extent to which it has accelerated the move towards digitalisation and digital engagement.  There’s no doubt the industry has taken great strides in recent years, but the pandemic and resulting lockdown has certainly had an impact and it’s vital we learn from this.

  “We’ve all been forced to change the way we work and communicate with each other and the paper discusses whether the move towards a more digital workforce could be a long-term change.”

  To download a copy of the second paper “The acceleration of digital engagement” click here https://vgrouplimited.com/life-after-lockdown-2-download-the-paper 

• Shipparts.com signs strategic partnership with ABS
  in Software, Big Data & IoT

  ShipParts.com and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) have signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement for delivery of Classification Services and development of Frontier Technologies to the companies’ mutual customer base.

• LR and the National Physical Laboratory partner on marine autonomy assurance
  in Navigation, Autonomy & New Technologies

  Lloyd's Register (LR) and the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have teamed up to collaborate on marine autonomy projects to ensure that appropriate levels of service and competence can be achieved within the maritime industry.

  As part of the framework agreement, the two organisations will collectively establish and enhance the current body of knowledge for marine autonomy. This combination of skills, expertise and experience will be built on to bring clarity to the requirements for the assurance of autonomy and assist stakeholders in realising the potential of these systems in the market.

  This will allow standards to be set and consistently applied and will therefore bring surety to risk management and certification for autonomous and unmanned systems and vessels.

  By partnering with NPL, LR will enhance the delivery of its services and assurance in marine autonomy and gain access to a wide range of knowledge and expertise developed in other aligned domains.

  LR and NPL are currently working together to deliver a scope of services to the THEMIS Project, to demonstrate the feasibility for the world’s largest ocean-going autonomous vessel, which is part funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) fund.

  NPL’s head of Digital, Neil Stansfield, said: “The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is excited by the opportunities presented in this collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, where the two organisations complementary capabilities are well suited to addressing the challenge of assuring marine autonomous systems. This work represents an important part of the UK’s national programme to deliver confidence in the intelligent and effective use of data, which is being conducted with a range of partners across sectors and with a specific focus on autonomous systems. NPL is applying a combination of measurement skills, expertise and experience, in areas as diverse as sensor characterisation, data quality and AI validation, to support partners in the development of new tests, standards and regulations for the safety of autonomous systems. This collaboration with Lloyd’s Register will help ensure the UK maintains its global leadership in the marine services Sector, where the autonomous shipping sector is expected to represent a global $52bn market opportunity by 2050.”

  Tim Kent, LR technical director for Marine and Offshore said: “This collaboration with the NPL will allow LR to improve our own processes, knowledge and competency to better support our clients with marine autonomy projects. We are delighted to be partnering with NPL given its domain knowledge on autonomy from the connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) domains.”