Sesame Straits e-navigation project presented in Singapore
The Sesame Straits project utilizes e-navigation concepts to reduce maritime traffic congestion and hot spots, as well as improve traffic safety and efficiency. Leading up to the recent Singapore Maritime Technology Conference, the project conducted a successful demonstration in close collaboration with Maritime and Port Authority in Singapore, Kongsberg said in a press release.
The SESAME Straits project (Secure, Efficient, and Safe maritime traffic Management in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore) is a 3-year joint Singapore and Norway project, funded by the Norwegian Research Council and led by Kongsberg Norcontrol in close collaboration with project partners, including the Norwegian Coastal Administration, Navtor, University of South East Norway, SINTEF Ocean, Kongsberg Seatex, Kongsberg Maritime and Singaporean partners.
The technology legs of the project are ship systems, shore systems and AIS (Automatic Identification System) and VDES communications (VHF Data Exchange System). The involved parties utilize their unique expertise and experience to develop and validate shared situational awareness and cooperative decision making between the bridge team and shore side operators. The project's objective is to improve the safety of vessel traffic and enable "Just-in-time" arrival technology, improving the efficiency of existing port infrastructure, and reducing the environmental footprint by making it possible to predict possible vessel traffic hot-spots in congested waterways, as well as providing new strategies to avoid such congestions.
“The successful test in the Straits of Singapore proved the potential of utilizing e-Navigation and ship to shore communications in order to increase safety and efficiency of maritime operations. The results of the project prove that the technology has the potential of being a game changer,” says Geir Håøy, President and CEO of KONGSBERG.
The SESAME Straits partner consortium is already planning a follow-up project, one that will take the Just-in-time Arrival technology further by introducing automated ship-to-shore reporting, route optimization, and linking port services and logistics to the ship's arrival time, thereby further increasing efficiency and reducing waiting time.
“This project is a true collaboration, both between the two maritime nations of Norway and Singapore, as well as between the project partners. All participants have provided expertise and technology that has made this solution possible to develop, and now for the first time test in a full-scale. It's a team effort all the way, and looking at the potential, we are eager to continue the development,” says Håøy.
KONGSBERG (OSE-ticker: KOG) is an international, knowledge-based group delivering high technology systems and solutions to clients within the oil and gas industry, merchant marine, defence and aerospace. KONGSBERG has 7 000 employees located in more than 25 countries and total revenues of NOK 15.8 billion in 2016.
photo courtesy: Singapore Press Holding
