Friday, March 18, 2016

MOL tests autopilot control function





Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced they have partnered with Tokyo Keiki to conduct a performance demonstration test of its autopilot route control function — called the Advanced Control for Ecology (ACE) — onboard a vessel in service. MOL said the results yielded energy savings of about 1.5 percent.

The ACE estimates disturbance effects such as wind and tide by setting the ship’s course direction, and optimally controls the helm to minimize route deviation and reduce the number of course changes required during a voyage. The company says this achieves significant reductions in fuel consumption compared to a similar vessel with a conventional

control system.

MOL says it centrally collects big data gathered from vessels in service, in order to build a comprehensive vessel operation support network that will improve operating safety, reduce a vessels' environmental impact, and boost overall efficiency.

During this demonstration test, MOL and Tokyo Keiki analyzed the data gained from "Fleet Monitor" installed on the vessel as a part of its big data initiative, and found that ACE resulted in about 1.5 percent energy savings.


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