Wartsila will
build a zero-emission, autonomous intra-port, intra-terminal container barge
for the Port of Rotterdam to alleviate container traffic bottlenecks and
congestion.
The company said
it will use several of its latest solutions as part of the barge installation,
including the SmartMove Suite, which provides sensor technology with navigation
systems for safe, automated ship movement.
Hendrik Busshoff,
Business Development Engineer, Wärtsilä Voyage, said overland transport models
will not be able to absorb future container bottlenecks.
We will be delivering an autonomous e-barge concept that can greatly
enhance efficiency in the Port of Rotterdam
“So, we will be
delivering an autonomous e-barge concept that can greatly enhance efficiency in
the Port of Rotterdam through automated seaborne cargo transhipment,” Busshoff
said.
“Our ambition is
to see these container shuttles introduced into a smart logistics network
within the next few years.”
The installation
will be part of a $30 million EU project to make port and logistics operations smarter and more
sustainable.
This involves the
development of a grand plan that sets out how transport within, to and from
ports can be made carbon-free by 2050.
The research
project, nicknamed MAGPIE (sMArt Green Ports as Integrated Efficient multimodal
hubs) was borne out of a collaboration between the port authorities of
Rotterdam, DeltaPort (Germany), HAROPA (France: La Havre, Rouen, Paris) and
Sines (Portugal), in partnership with 10 research institutions and over 30
companies in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Portugal and Denmark.
Ori Marom,
Director of Smart Mobility & 5G, Port of Rotterdam, said, “We are proud to
partner with Wärtsilä Voyage and Zero Emission Services (ZES) in the
development of autonomous solutions for intra-port container transshipment.
Future of port logistics belongs to the autonomous e-barge system
“The future of
port logistics belongs to intelligent connected and sustainable systems such as
the autonomous e-barge system that we now set to develop together. We very much
look forward to this highly promising collaboration.” |