Port of Antwerp introduces innovative autonomous sounding boat with unique technology
The Port of Antwerp has reached a new milestone with the introduction of a fully automatic sounding boat that employs unique technology. The vessel, named the Echodrone, is a prototype that is currently being developed to supplement the other operational sounding boat, the Echo.
Both of these carry out measurements of the water depth everywhere in the port so as to guarantee safe passage for shipping. The cloud-based technology – a first – has been developed in partnership between the Port Authority and dotOcean and is only one of the many initiatives being taken by the Port Authority in the field of digital innovation.
In collaboration with the port community the Port Authority is constantly working to develop new technologies and methods and to incorporate them in its operations. “As a world-class player we as a port aim to be a leader in developing innovative concepts,” explained Piet Opstaele, Innovation Enablement Manager at Antwerp Port Authority. “In this way we are laying the foundations for the ‘smart port’ of the future in which digital technologies are used to make the land-based and water-based operations more flexible, responsive and efficient.”
One of the Port Authority’s responsibilities is inspection and maintenance of the maritime infrastructure, including the beds of the docks. Regular measurements of the water depths at the berths and at all other points are carried out, both to ensure safe passage and mooring for ships and to plan the necessary maintenance dredging work. So far this has been done using the Echo sounding boat, but now an innovative autonomous sister boat has been developed in collaboration with dotOcean in order to help with the work. The new vessel, named the Echodrone, is smaller than the Echo and is fully autonomous, operating on its own without anyone on board. This makes it more nimble and flexible so that it can even operate in heavy shipping traffic where the Echo would be unable to go.
For more information, visit: www.portofantwerp.com
13th August 2018
