Dry Dock

AUTONOMY + WATER JETS = REDUCED MANUAL WORKLOAD

New Zealand-based jet drive manufacturer HamiltonJet has signed an agreement with Sea Machines Robotics to develop what it calls a new pilot-assist product

By combining the capabilities of Sea Machines’ autonomy platform with HamiltonJet propulsion systems and vessel controls, the partners will be able to offer a helmbased system that reduces manual workload, automates navigation control, increases safety and manages many aspects of routine while allowing crew to focus on the unique, complex and high-value activities.

“HamiltonJet and Sea Machines have developed a concept that utilizes on-board autonomy with enhanced situational awareness (through cameras, radar, AIS, GPS, etc.) in a way that is highly desirable in many manned applications. But we knew it had to be well integrated at the helm and easy for mariners to use. The skipper experience is foundational to our products, so we saw that by partnering, we could deliver a HamiltonJet-branded solution that feels like a native part of our controls,” said HamiltonJet’s Ben Reed, managing director. “We work with a variety of autonomy providers around the world, but we feel Sea Machines is the best partner for this product due to their commercial focus and rapidly expanding technical capabilities.”

“Sea Machines is pleased to again partner with HamiltonJet, the leader in water-jet propulsion systems for workboats and utility craft,” said Sea Machines’ CEO Michael G. Johnson. “We are joining forces to marry proven autonomous-command and situational-awareness technologies with front-running waterjet propulsion systems and vessel controls to ultimately enhance and modernize the pilot experience. Like other disruptive technologies, it won’t be too long before this becomes standard and we wonder how we lived without. We look forward to delivering it to market and elevating the total industry as a result alongside HamiltonJet.”

Currently under development, this innovative pilot-assist product is slated to be operational in 2022. In the near future it will be fully embedded in HamiltonJet’s Advanced Vessel Control (AVX) program.

In 2019, Sea Machines and HamiltonJet successfully commissioned an SM300 autonomous control system aboard a HamiltonJet-powered workboat in New Zealand. HamiltonJet continues to trial this marine technology and provides on-demand customer demonstrations in the Southern Hemisphere.

HamiltonJet’s commercial customers primarily operate in the marine security, survey, search and rescue, firefighting, ferry, aquaculture and pilot boat sectors, which the partners claim are all ideal candidates for this new Sea Machines technology.

8 In 2019, Sea

Machines and HamiltonJet successfully commissioned an SM300 autonomous control system aboard a HamiltonJetpowered workboat

Operational efficiency boost

An end-to-end management system for maritime operations has announced a significant update to its software platform.

CrewSmart’s ‘CrewSmart v2.0’ offers new tools that support compliant, effective maritime operations. These include an industry-first ‘Compliance Score’ system that gives managers and senior teams an instant view of compliance across vessel and equipment certification, inventory, planned maintenance and safety management.

Christian Adams, managing director of CrewSmart, said that the update will help businesses avoid issues with data quality and integration of different systems when digitalising their operations.

“CrewSmart 2.0 is designed to help the market take the leap, while helping operators

Photo: CrewSmart

prioritise the KPIs that are most important to their business and their customers. We’re not stopping here, and the system will stay ‘future-proof’ by continuing to evolve in line with the changing needs of the market.”

In response to market demand, CrewSmart v2.0 also adds an intuitive Planned

8 CrewSmart is designed to enable full

regulatory compliance for both personnel and fleets

Maintenance System that has been developed directly in conjunction with vessel operators. As demands on technical performance and availability increase, this helps maritime businesses improve equipment efficiency, cut costs and prevent breakdowns.

These new features are supported by a tablet app that provides a direct interface - both on- and offline - for crews on-site, ensuring that all data inputs into the system are both straightforward and consistent. The app streamlines the way incidents, defects and safety observations are recorded via the platform, supporting reliable reporting across the board.

The platform is now actively used by more than 6000 crew and 500 vessels worldwide.