"Tesla at Sea" - this is how the first fully autonomous container ship is called. The contract for its construction was signed last Wednesday, and its signatories were Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Svein Tore Holsether - president of the Vard group. The ship will be called "Yara Birkeland" and is to be fully ready in 2020, and its construction is to cost about NOK 250 million.
There has not been such a ship yet
According to Svein Tore Holsether, a boatman like Yara Birkeland has never been constructed. That is why he pays great attention to the selection of partners who will support the Vard group in the implementation of this project. Necessary conditions that must be met by associates are, above all, the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovative knowledge in the field of autonomous objects.
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Purpose of the project
According to the assurances of the president of the Vard group, the construction of Yara Birkeland is intended to reduce exhaust emissions into the atmosphere. It is to enable the transport of food, while protecting the planet Earth. For this purpose, the latest solutions in the field of autonomous technology will be used. The experience of the Vard group in the implementation of individual and personalized ship designs will also be useful.
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Vard and Kongsberg join forces
The project will be implemented by the Vard group, supported by Konsberg - a Norwegian company specializing in innovative technological solutions. According to the company's president, "The construction of Yary Birkeland is an important step in the development of the maritime industry." It also adds that the Norwegian shipbuilding industry is in a leading position thanks to modern technology, interior and shape design, as well as applicable legislation.
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Ecological production process
The very process of creating Yara will be based on the principles of sustainable development. During the delivery of the components, trucks with a diesel engine will be replaced by ships powered by electric motors. This will contribute not only to the reduction of exhaust emissions to the atmosphere - the use of the sea route instead of the road will reduce the risk of car accidents.
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Autonomous system - how will it work?
Yara Birkeland itself will be equipped with radars, sensors, cameras and a global guidance system. They are essential for the container ship to be able to leave the port, detect other ships and securely tether to its final destination. Initially, the ship will be controlled by one person on board. After a short time, the pilot's cabin will be removed from the ship and its control will be performed remotely.
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A step into the future?
The contract for the construction of the first autonomous ship in the world, signed on Wednesday, raises many question marks. The project will cost NOK 250 million, and will be implemented in cooperation with the Vard group and Kongsberg. According to the declarations, constructors will use pro-ecological solutions already during the construction of Yara Birkeland. The ship itself will be equipped with radars, sensors, cameras and a guidance system to ensure safe navigation on the seas. Launching is to take place in 2020.
