Seafar previously conducted a test with one ship. “With positive results, so Seafar has now applied for a permit for several ships,” says Jur Janse of the GNA. Seafar now has a license for fifteen ships.
He explains how these tests work. A ship is controlled remotely by an operator from a ‘remote operation center’. “During steering, an operator must follow orders from the skipper or helmsman on board.”
So there is still someone on board the ship. “If that person thinks things are not going right, he can take control again by pressing a button.” A scenario in which there would be no one on board such a ship “is looking far ahead”, according to Janse. “We’re not there yet.”
He does not yet dare to say whether ships without a helmsman are really the future. “But I am convinced that something will change in that area. Airplanes also fly on autopilot and that can certainly change in the field of shipping.” He assumes that this test will help with that.
Tags: Fifteen remotecontrolled ships sail Western Scheldt test year
