NYK conducts second series of tests of autonomous tug

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and group sister companies MTI, Keihin Dock, and Japan Marine Science have conducted a second series of tests of a tug fitted with a remote navigation system.

Although the tug was crewed and sailing in Tokyo Bay, it was operated remotely from an operation centre in the city of Nishinomiya approximately 400 kilometres away.

In the previous test in January this year, the operator in the remote operation centre used sensors and cameras fitted on the tug to recognise surrounding conditions and created a route plan and action plan (collision avoidance route plan) for the remote control. The second test meanwhile focused on systems to be used to respond to malfunctions involving the tug’s onboard equipment or ship-shore communication.

The tests are being conducted as part of the Japanese government’s remote control navigation project that seeks to incorporate autonomous navigation technology on commercial ships by 2025.