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DFDS in exciting EU-funded green automation project

DFDS is part of an extremely exciting project that tests how autonomous ships and automation in port operations can make waterborne transport and cargo handling in ports and on vessels greener and more flexible. The high-profile project has just received a major EUR 7.5 million grant from the EU.

The ‘Advanced, Efficient and Green Intermodal Systems’ or, more simply, the ‘AEGIS’ project will run for three years. Project partners will use new technologies to develop automated solutions for trans-shipments of cargo.

Three cases
The project consists of three cases. “In one of the cases, DFDS’ role as lead is to shorten the time taken for transshipment and linking ro-ro services in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg to inland waterways. As an alternative to rail and road transport, small cargo vessels can link larger ships to rural and urban destinations. This will allow smaller ports and inland waterways, such as rivers and canals, to become an integrated part of the logistics infrastructure,” says Mads Bentzen Billesø, Senior Project Manager, Innovation & Partnerships. “It saves time for the larger ships, and adds flexibility and frequency to the shuttle services. It will also reduce the environmental impact, as the smaller vessels can be powered by electricity.”

Another case led by North Sea Container Line in cooperation with the Port of Trondheim, uses small cargo shuttles to link coastal container ships to rural and urban destinations. The last case is being led by Port of Aalborg, in cooperation with Port of Vordingborg, and will examine how existing small and medium-sized ports can be revitalised by automation to facilitate the transfer of cargo from trucks to sea.

Collaborating to make green transport attractive
“Creating the foundations to reach the full potential of the autonomous trucks and ships is vital for introducing financially-attractive, green transport. However, getting it right is very complex, and not something any of our companies can do on their own,” says Jakob Steffensen, Head of Innovation and Partnerships. “It is highly inspiring to experience how the EU is supporting this project by enabling multiple companies to learn together and draw on knowledge and skills from the universities.”

The consortium consists of technology providers Kalmar and MacGregor, Grieg Connect and DFDS, which will provide corresponding solutions for digital integration and automation. The consortium is led by SINTEF Ocean and includes research partners Institut für Strukturleichtbau und Energieeffizienz GmbH (ISE), Technical University of Denmark, (DTU) and Aalborg University.

Jun 04 2020


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