Revolution on the water: remote-controlled ship tests new technology!

Revolution on the water: remote-controlled ship tests new technology!

The “Niedersachsen 2” is the first remotely controlled inland waterway vessel to navigate through the Elbe Lateral Canal with a load of 2,500 tons of coal. The captain controls the ship from Duisburg from a distance of 400 kilometers, while a six-month test is intended to check the efficiency and reliability of this innovative remote control technology. This test was initiated and approved by the Cologne shipping company HGK Shipping, which is the largest inland shipping company in Europe with around 350 units and pursues a digital strategy that focuses on automation and alternative control concepts. Details about this project were provided by t-online.de provided.

The use of remote control technology is seen as a promising solution to the acute shortage of personnel in the shipping industry. Traditionally, inland boatmen are often on the road for at least 14 days at a time, while long-distance pilots have the opportunity to work in a regular office job. Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK Shipping, emphasizes that this technology could increase the attractiveness of the job profile. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) supports this initiative and emphasizes the importance of inland waterways as a source of relief in the transport system.

Technological progress

At the beginning of May, a successful test drive of the “Niedersachsen 2” and “Hannover” coupling was carried out on a section of the route. Federal Minister of Transport Dr. Patrick Schnieder personally handed over the approval for the test operation to Steffen Bauer, while Eric Oehlmann, head of the GDWS, attended this important appointment. Schnieder argued that the skills shortage is significantly impacting the industry and pilot projects like this could act as a “game changer” if implemented successfully.

The security of the project as well as the advances in technology were also highlighted by Eric Oehlmann. The test operation is monitored from a remote operations center in Duisburg, while a full crew remains on board to intervene if necessary. In the long term, the aim is to operate with reduced crew numbers.

Outlook for the future

The technology used comes from the Belgian technology partner Seafar, where initial experience was gained on the Rhine. The experiences from Belgium and the Netherlands show the practical suitability of the technology, which now marks a new step in inland shipping on the German canal network. The shipping company Rhenus also plans to develop its own control center for remote control by 2030 and to equip more ships with this technology.

In summary, remote-controlled ship operations represent a technological signal for freight transport companies and are a touchstone for digital control concepts to combat personnel shortages. transport-online.de reports that these developments could have a significant impact on the future of inland shipping.