The 222-meter-long passenger ro-ro ship "SOLEIL" sailed about 240 kilometers at a high speed of 26 knots in an unmanned state, and the whole journey took about 7 hours to successfully reach the finish line, and Japanese shipbuilding companies jointly completed the world's first large-scale ferry autonomous navigation test. In the field of unmanned ship applications, Japan is leading the way at full speed.
Following the completion of the world's first autonomous test of small sightseeing boats last week, on January 17, the "Smart Ferry Development" alliance under the "MEGURI2040" project, an unmanned ship project supported by the Nippon Foundation, used the "SOLEIL" large car passenger ferry ship with an unmanned driving system to conduct a high-speed autonomous voyage from Shinmonji to Iyo Beach in Kitakyushu for about 7 hours. This is the first time in the world that advanced unmanned vessel technology for autonomous entry and exit and high-speed sailing (maximum speed of 26 knots) has been demonstrated on a large passenger ship with a total length of 222 meters.
Alliance partners for smart Coastal Ferry include Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and New Nihonkai Ferry, which was built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and delivered to Shin Nihonkai Ferry in July 2021. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and New Sea of Japan Ferries have developed a ship operation automation from offshore to navigation, object detection, avoidance, and shore,enhanced engine room monitoring technology, and a land surveillance system with high safety technology for this vessel, which can be operated unmanned while ensuring adequate safety.
According to the International Ship Network, the "SOLEIL" passenger ro-ro ship has a total length of 222.50 meters, a width of 25 meters, a draft of 7.40 meters, a total tonnage of 15515 tons, a maximum speed of 28.3 knots, a Japanese flag, can accommodate 268 passengers, and is loaded with about 154 trucks / about 30 cars.
Since its delivery in July 2021, soleil has been accumulating data on autonomous navigation tests. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, which has extensive experience in developing navigational assistance systems that automate and reduce efforts for ships, is responsible for the development of the entire autonomous navigation system, while New Japan Sea Ferries is responsible for setting the system requirements for live ships and the navigation of empirical tests. This new technology helps to improve safety, reduce crew compliance, and reduce operating costs, all of which are challenges for domestic shipping in Japan.
Infrared camera
Automatic off-shore maneuvering system (left) and vessel maneuver monitoring (right)
During the voyage, the SOLEIL departed from Shinmonji and sailed at a speed of about 240 kilometers at a height of 26 knots (about 48 km/h) to Iyo Beach. The ship is equipped with a target image analysis system that can detect other ships at night through infrared cameras, super BRIDGE-X, an automatic driving system that includes automatic avoidance functions, and a ship automatic docking control system. In response to the failure prediction of the main problems in unmanned driving, the partners have also developed equipment monitoring enhancement technologies such as motor condition monitoring, and are verifying the effect. The project also develops the technologies necessary for the adoption of a variety of unmanned vessels, including a platform with advanced data security features for monitoring and supporting navigation information from land.
It is understood that the "MEGURI2040" project of the Japanese foundation began to advance in February 2020, including 5 cooperation alliances, bringing together more than 40 Japanese companies such as shipping, shipbuilding, and ship equipment manufacturers, covering the theme of different ship types such as large ferries, container ships, passenger ships, etc., with the goal of realizing the practical use of unmanned ships by 2025, and 50% of domestic ships can achieve unmanned navigation by 2040.
The five alliances of the project include "Smart Ferry Development", "Unmanned Navigation Ship @ Ape Island in Yokosuka City", "Demonstration Experiment of Unmanned Technology Based on Domestic Navigation Container Ships and Ferries", "Future Creation of Unmanned Navigation Ships", and "Development of Amphibious Unmanned Technology". From January to March 2022, the five alliances will conduct demonstration tests of autonomous navigation of various ship types.
Previously, the unmanned vessel @ Ape Island in Yokosuka City completed its first test on January 11, using autonomous ship handling technology developed by Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding to apply the small passenger ship "Sea Friend Zero" operated by Try Angle, which is unmanned on a 1.7-kilometer route (10-minute voyage) between Mikasa Pier and Ape Island in Yokosuka City, including offshore and berthing.