Remote Ship Pilot Control for Safe Port Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods require a pilot to board a container ship to navigate it into port, exposing them to dangerous conditions and limiting efficiency due to the need for physical presence, especially in rough seas and when pilots are scarce.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system that allows a pilot to control a container ship from a remote location using a transmitter-receiver setup, with sensors on the ship providing real-time information and authentication protocols to ensure secure communication, enabling the ship to be maneuvered by a remote control centre without the pilot needing to board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pilot boards the container ship to navigate into port, then the ship can be maneuvered safely with expert local knowledge, but the pilot is exposed to dangerous conditions and the process is time-consuming due to physical travel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the ship's bridge environment in a remote control center, allowing the pilot to view real-time video feeds, sensor data, and ship status information remotely. This virtual representation enables the pilot to perform pilotage duties without physically boarding the ship, eliminating exposure to dangerous sea conditions while maintaining reliable control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical boardin g and direct human presence on the ship with an electronic communication system. Transmitters and receivers enable real-time data transmission between the ship and remote control center, substituting physical travel with electronic signal transmission for pilotage operations
2Reliability
If a pilot boards the container ship to navigate into port, then expert local knowledge can be applied, but the process is inefficient due to limited pilot availability and travel time
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a virtual bridge environment that replicates all necessary ship control functions and information displays, the pilot can perform expert navigation control from any remote location. This eliminates the need for physical travel while maintaining full access to ship status, sensor data, and maneuvering capabilities, thereby improving port entry efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control center is designed to be universally accessible and can serve multiple ships simultaneously. The system integrates various communication methods (video, audio, data transmission) and control functions into a single platform, allowing one pilot to efficiently manage multiple vessel arrivals without requiring physical presence on each ship
3Productivity
If a remote control system is implemented, then pilot safety is improved and efficiency increases, but the system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote control center as an intermediary between the pilot and the ship's control systems. This intermediary handles all complex communication protocols, data transmission, and control signal routing, simplifying the interface for the pilot while managing the underlying system complexity through dedicated communication infrastructure
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling a ship (1) comprises a ship (1) having one or more maneuvering units (316, 318, 320, 322, 324) for controlling the speed and direction of the ship (1). The ship (1) comprises a ship control unit (204) configured to send signals to the one or more maneuvering units (316, 318, 320, 322, 324) to maneuver the ship (1). The ship (1) also has a transmitter-receiver (12) connected to the ship control unit (204) and configured to transmit and receive information. The system comprises a remote control centre (8) remote from the ship (1). The remote control centre (18) comprises a transmitter-receiver (16) configured to receive situation information of the ship (1). The remote control centre (18) also comprises a remote control unit (202) configured to determine pilot-control information for maneuvering the ship (1) based on the situation information and configured to transmit the pilot-control information to the ship (1) via the transmitter-receiver (16) of the remote control centre (18). The transmitter-receiver (12) of the ship (1) is configured to receive the pilot-control information. The ship control unit (204) is configured to send signals, based on the pilot-control information, to the one or more maneuvering units (316, 318, 320, 322, 324) of the ship (1) to maneuver the ship (1).