The world’s first smart ship has been revealed at the Smart Ship Development Forum & Smart Ship Demo “i-Dolphin” Release Meeting held on December 1st in Shanghai, China.
The entire ship will be run on smart systems, optimizing everything while maintaining safe operations.
The 38,800 dwt smart ship project is the first civilian program of CSSC Innovation , planed and led by Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute with participation from CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., CSSC Power Research Institute and Hudong Heavy Machinery .
As disclosed, the project is aimed at the shipbuilding of smart demo ship based on “Green Dolphin” a 38,800 dwt bulk carrier.
According to CSSC, the 38,800 dwt smart ship will be d esigned with the highest technical specifications , smart management and control systems. The o rdering s pecification s have been completed. S everal modules have been applied in trial assembly and use d on other ships , with the commercial plans for building a smart demo ship having been confirmed.
The companies involved plan to start construction September 2016 and deliver in 2017.
The smart ship is based on big data and applies up-to-date information technology including real-time data transmission and collection, large-capacity calculation s , digital modeling and remote control. The integration of these technologies is aimed to guarantee navigation al safety and improve operation al efficiency of ship.
As explained by Wei Muheng, an engineer working at the Intelligent Maintenance Laboratory for Platform System Research Institute under CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, the project will set up a w hole-ship information perception system and realize information integration and data sharing between all the systems and equipmen t on the ship.
The project will also utilize intelligent management and control system s , independent analysis, assessment and predictions. This will help with communication between the smart ship and shore as well as providing remo te maintenance and upgrades of ship systems .
Designed with remote monitoring, support, management and control by using onshore resources to improve the ship s oper ations and safety . With the ship s data analysis and optimizing ship design and shipbuilding techniques, the project can provide the ship o wner with life cycle value of the ship .
Key smart function s by the s mart ship include the overall performance and status monitoring ; ship status safety assessment ; ship energy efficiency monitoring, analysis, assessment and optimization ; engine room e quipment and system operation, status and monitoring ; engine room e quipment operation , safety and performance analysis ; engine room equipment maintenance including prediction and reliability , status assessment and maintenance o ptimization ; sea route ; ship navigation ; navigational operation and control information analysis ; e nvironmental impact analysis ; navigational o ptimization .
As a h igh-tech ship, the smart ship is highlighted as the top priority development in Made in China 2025, announced in May this year by the country’s State Council.
China has accelerated smart ship research in recent years. Under the guidance of CSSC, CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute launched the “Intelligent Information Management and Practical Technology Innovation Center for Marine Equipment” with NSF IMS in 2013, with the aim of boosting relevant core technology and product R&D.