Wärtsilä and Singapore-based PSA Marine have agreed to collaborate in the co-creation of smart technologies for the marine sector.
The focus will be on solutions that are human-centric and deployable. The Letter of Intent was signed on November 14 as part of the events celebrating the anniversary of the opening of the Wärtsilä Acceleration Center in Singapore.
Specific collaboration areas envisioned include the use of electric or hybrid technologies that further the use of low-emissions energy and propulsion systems; the incorporation of next-generation smart vessel technologies; the adoption of secured connectivity to facilitate ship-to-shore data exchange; and marketing and branding activities that generate awareness.
With one dual-fuel harbor tug running on LNG already in service, and another joining the PSA Marine fleet by the end of this year, PSA Marine and Wärtsilä have pledged to design and develop more solutions for smart and low-emissions harbor craft. The intention is to integrate the deep capabilities developed in the IntelliTug project with new configurations and concepts of hybrid, electric, and other clean energy sources.
The Wärtsilä Acceleration Center has played an important role in the IntelliTug project, which is bringing an autonomously operated harbor tug concept to feasibility. The concept is undergoing testing aboard PSA Marine’s ‘PSA Polaris’ tug. Among the enabling technologies thus far employed are the joystick and digital control of the vessel’s azimuth thrusters, virtual anchoring to hold position, smart navigation with automatic path planning, and situational awareness for detecting and avoiding the risk of collisions.
The IntelliTug project has also been largely instrumental in the launch of Wärtsilä’s Smart Technology Lab in Singapore. It provides facilities for testing integrated technologies in close cooperation with customers and end-users in a co-creative and collaborative environment. The Lab also enables potential technological and holistic solutions that address the needs and challenges faced by customers, to be jointly explored.