This is a "significant moment for the digitalisation of shipping," said Manuel Martin, Fleet Manager at Scandaline. The German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV) has issued a certificate of safety for a passenger ship. In September 2023, Stein Maritime Consulting had inspected its hull using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in Puttgarden. "The era of ROV has dawned in shipping," said Michael Stein, founder of Stein Maritime Consulting.
Stein Maritime Consulting to demonstrate potential of diving drones with artificial intelligence
The Hamburg-based Stein Maritime Consulting aims to carry out a feasibility study, funded by the Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB Hamburg), on the potential of diving drones to inspect biological fouling on ship and submarine hulls in combination with image-processing artificial intelligence. Efficient, cost-effective diving drones would replace divers, who have done these costly inspections hitherto. Such fouling causes ships and submarines to consume more fuel resulting in higher emissions.
Digitalisation of shipping
Data-driven risk assessment of marine fouling
Algae and pox increase the hull’s frictional resistance, resulting in 5 to 20 per cent higher fuel consumption and emissions depending on the route, type of ship and size of the organisms. Diving drones and AI would help counteract this situation. AI analyses the drones' images, identifies the vegetation on the ship's hull and its extent, and correlates the data with the ship's route and external biological and weather factors. The aim is to provide a data-driven risk assessment of marine fouling and to improve fleet management. The feasibility study should help determine the resulting savings potential. Specialist companies and scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Production Technologies (IAPT) in Hamburg-Bergedorf are on board.
IFB Bank funding initiative
IFB Hamburg lends financial backing to innovative technologies such as underwater drones, that can lead to new products and services and boost environmental and climate protection. Projects can receive grants of up to EUR 500,000 and collaborative projects up to EUR 1 million as part of the PROFI Environment scheme. Funding for feasibility studies under the Green Potential Screening call ends in September 2025. However, follow-up AI projects are already emerging. Stein is focusing on the automated labelling of test data, synthesis of underwater data, a neural radiation field, an AI method for 3D presentations of 2D images, 3D projections of surface roughness on 3D ship hulls, numerical fluid dynamics and the use of AI agents for data processing. Hopes are now high that the technology can be set up in the Port of Hamburg. "This is a global market. The city can become a pioneer and show that Hanseatic tradition and the use of cutting-edge technologies go hand in hand," he stressed.
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IFB Hamburg
The Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB Hamburg) is the main development bank in Hamburg. It focuses on housing and urban development as well as the economy, innovation and the environment. On behalf of the state, it supports investment projects in Hamburg by granting loans, subsidies, equity investments and guarantees.
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