The GSAB2 project, a continuation of the previous GSAB initiative assigned to the Grimaldi Group by the European Space Agency (ESA), commenced on 14 May 2024. The project falls under the Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP) initiated in 2022, with the goal of developing and validating an assisted guidance system using satellite technology for docking manoeuvres of large PCTC vessels.
Building on the success of GSAB, GSAB2 aims to achieve Autonomy Level 2 as defined by Lloyd’s Register, where human operators on board the vessel make decisions with the support of decision-making tools. Additionally, the project will explore the prerequisites for reaching Autonomy Level 3, where ship-level decisions and actions are performed autonomously with human supervision.
Coordinated by Grimaldi Deep Sea S.p.A., the project involves collaboration with technology corporation Kongsberg and certification expert RINA Services, along with contributions from RINA Germany and Italy’s Radiolabs Consortium. GSAB2 will leverage satellite-based multi-sensor technologies to enhance port manoeuvres’ efficiency and safety while reducing CO2 emissions, aligning with the Grimaldi Group’s commitment to greener and safer maritime transport. The project will also focus on developing advanced algorithms based on Artificial Intelligence and an interface for Ship Automation system functions.
