First Launched Autonomous Ship Across The Ocean
Avikus announced that for the first time in the world it has made autonomous navigation of a large ship across the ocean. The Prism Courage left Freeport in the Gulf of Mexico on May 1 and used the AI-powered HiNAS 2.0 system Avikus to guide the ship halfway through its roughly 20,000 km journey to the Boryeong LNG terminal in western Chungcheong, South Korea.
The autonomy of the ship saved the crew from some work, and it also helped the environment. Avikus reports that HiNAS’s optimal route planning improved Prism Courage’s fuel efficiency by about seven percent and reduced emissions by five percent.
However, the other half of the journey still required human navigation, and most of the route was on the high seas. It is difficult for an autonomous system to control the entire voyage, especially in ports where moorings and clogged waterways create additional obstacles.
The company plans to commercialize HiNAS 2.0 by the end of the year. Avikus hopes its level 2 autonomy will reduce crew shortages, improve safety and reduce the environmental impact of maritime transport. The firm also hopes to use this navigation on pleasure craft, not just giant merchant ships.
