Program testing the ability to pilot remotely. How far away are we from AI pilots ??
Hopefully 30 years.
yea - a bit tongue in cheek of course. But in some seriousness - as electronic sensors get better and better - in a semi controlled environment - like a specific channel I can see this being perfectly doable. I could easily see this done for Ambrose channel in New York and pilots board inbound ships under the VZ bridge at some point.
An AI Chatbox chick that I’ve been dating online told there’s nothing to worry about concerning AI taking over pilotage duties.
It would appear that our intention is to design the future human generations into a state of irrelevance and oblivion……..but it will be supposedly “safer” and far more economical. I do believe that I have witnessed and experienced the good years.
The sooner this kind of operations become unnecessary the better:
No I’m NOT talking about AI but remote pilotage until the ship is inside the bar/breakwater or whatever and in calmer waters.
It is feasible already today and have been tested in many location for years.
It my be done simply by the pilot giving instruction by VHF when the weather makes boarding outside too dangerous.
Next step is the Danish way.
I’d start by looking to DP. DP systems are taking myriad inputs from gps, sonar, mru, wind and speed instruments, Doppler, as well as known figures on vessel particulars, sail area, horsepower, thrust, reaction time, etc., all to make constant and continuous decisions. It’s basically AI station keeping.
Why can’t a similar theory be evolved and engaged for pilotage on traditionally propelled vessels? If all of the required vessel data is available, add local charts and tide/current, the appropriate prompts entered for the desired outcome, and the model taught, I don’t think it’s so hard to fathom.
Hate to throw cold water on this but “Remote Pilotage” ( it had another name which escapes me at the moment) was available at my port in 1999 when I started training.
Due to legal and practical constraints it was NEVER put into practice.
I can see it operating in an area like The Kattegat but never in a channel where ships have to pass each other closely.
A DP ship has bags of thrust available in all directions and also a degree of redundancy but in
A conventional ship with a stop start low powered engine and single rudder ?
I have used some of the latest PPU s and they are far from faultless.
I don’t think the information available from the Pilot plug is anywhere near accurate enough for any close quarter work. I have seen many errors in information coming out of the pilot plugs hence the use of PPU s on the most critical of ships. Before PPU s it was conventional boring navigation with lines drawn on radar screens. These skills have to still be available when the technology fails.
Once again quite possible in open water with little traffic but I can’t see even Danpilot using it in congested waters
It must be remembered that pilotage operates around the world under various legal regimes so “remote pilotage” might be legally feasible in one area, might be tricky in another.
Undoubtedly with today’s technology it would be possible to remotely pilot a vessel in to a port area safely by giving instructions to ships crew, you also have to say “what could possibly go wrong”. Not all yachts and fishing boats have AIS or radar reflectors for example.
However they are still building new ships with one rudder and propeller and maybe a bow thruster. These ships are never getting alongside without direct human intervention onboard and these ships have a life span of approximately 20 years plus.
The article says this is the first “official” test of remote pilotage. It’s already been happening unofficially for some time now. It’s also standard practice in some ports in bad weather for the pilot not to get on until inside or get off early on departure. It’s better in some cases to get a little advice from a local pilot by radio than piloting into an unfamiliar port without advice.
In my experience remote pilotage by radio doesn’t work the way shown in this photo:
Instead the full bridge team is in place, navigating as usual but with the pilot, observing by shore-based radar, relaying courses to be steered by VHF radio.
The full bridge team is still operating the ship, hopefully also looking out the windows.
With Input from a remote pilot that also have own means to watch traffic and position of the vessel under pilotage
That is not the intention. Remote pilotage is for the approach to and departure from the port, not the docking.
PS> “Auto docking”: https://ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/handle/11250/2564153
and “Auto crossing”: https://www.kongsberg.com/contentassets/a29d336e3a7949b094a181ae05308ff6/fact-sheet_auto-crossing_110-0096682_reva_draft.pdf
is already in use on ferries and “autonomouse ships” on short inshore routes in Scandinavia. (Although still with manned bridge due to regulations)
:
There are also coastal pilotage over long distances where remote pilotages are considered, like the inshore fairway along the Norwegian coast, from
Kvitsøy (N: 59.06191 E: 5.39875) to Lødingen (N: 68.40790 E: 16.01143) :
Pilot dispatch | Kystverket - tar ansvar for sjøveien
or never?
In a perfect world…but I only need 30 more years 
i might wish i had 30 more !!
Undoubtedly with today’s technology it would be possible to remotely pilot a vessel in to a port area safely by giving instructions to ships crew, you also have
What? Shore based radar?
The unreported truth is that you cannot rely on ships systems or ships crews.
Sorry it’s a fact.
If anyone has experienced the “ Phew it’s ok now The Pilot is here” moment they will know what I am talking about.
Gyro error. What do you mean Mr Pilot
Can you ground stabilise this radar please. Blank look or it’s not company policy
How much under keel clearance Mr Pilot? 0.9 m Sir . Oh we need a minimum of 4 m. Best you go to another port then cos you will never he that here.
What is that ship doing? F£££d if I know Captain I only just walked on to your bridge. But don’t worry I will deal with it
Unfortunately it’s etc etc etc
And if the pilots on here are brutally honest they will all say the same thing.
We tend to be diplomatic.
So now you want your oil tanker running through your waters guided by VHF
Danpilots are idiots.
Sorry had to be said
And that is not just my opinion but collectively from any Scandinavian or European pilot organisations.
And well said. This nonsense Is fanciful.
Someone had to say it Aus.
Unfortunately it’s this gobby bastard.
Both of us plus the other pilots in the room know how good it is to find a well found ship coupled with a well trained crew.
Unfortunately we all know how rare this is as well.
We board expecting the worst and can on rare occasions be surprised by the best.