Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) tested, on April 29, the integration of the autonomous navigation system of the Elder Leader, a vehicle carrier, with the vessel traffic management systems of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). According to the company, the objective was to assess interoperability between the systems. NYK Line reported that the test was conducted following risk assessment and with the participation of the ship's master, the navigation team, and a marine pilot.
In it, remote pilotage was limited to navigation through the channel and waterways, the company explained. The operation was provided for in a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 by NYK with the MPA to promote decarbonization, digitalization, and human resources development in the maritime sector. In it, voyage planning data transmission from the vessel to prototypes of the port authority's next-generation traffic management system was tested.
During berthing, there was sharing of pilotage route information from the shore support system to the vessel, as well as real-time transmission of operational data and video from the ship. Additionally, the MPA's Just-in-Time (JIT) platform was used to ensure the vessel's arrival safely and efficiently.
The Elder Leader, the shipowner explained, is a next-generation vehicle carrier equipped with decarbonization technologies, including advanced autonomous navigation systems, large motion mitigation, and Wi-Fi coverage throughout the vessel. Additionally, it features a decarbonized design and uses liquefied natural gas as fuel, being designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
According to the company, the expectation is that the test results will be evaluated in a study of the MPA's next-generation vessel traffic management systems and shore support systems capable of interacting with autonomous ships. The objective is to advance the use of autonomous vessels in international maritime transport.
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