THREE Japanese companies have agreed to develop a new safe berthing and unberthing assist system.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen (K Line Kinkai), and
Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have agreed to carry out research and development with the aim of advancing and improving safety and efficiency in berthing,
Unberthing, including mooring by combining expertise from K Line and K Line Kinkai with advanced technologies from KHI.
Currently, safe berthing/unberthing operations in ports are ensured by well experienced and knowledgeable shipboard crew about characteristics of ship specific manoeuvring and mooring equipment features.
For further improvement of safety, this system incorporates the latest technologies, including AI, to assist in safe berthing/unberthing operations.
According to the companies, it will be the first system in the world that provides integrated support for all necessary operations from manoeuvring in port, berthing/unberthing, mooring including mooring line monitoring.
The companies said they would install the system on domestic vessels operated by K Line Kinkai as a testing ground for this research and development and establish this system by (Northern Hemisphere) spring 2025.
