ClassNK Approves Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System

ClassNK has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for the Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System, a core technology for autonomous navigation developed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Japan Radio Co., Ltd., and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd. The system automatically generates routes to avoid collisions with other ships, based on a monitored route and collision predictions. It also assists operators in avoiding collisions by suggesting up to two avoidance routes that allow the ship to return to its original course within 1 hour. The system has been tested on the large RORO cargo ship “HOKUREN MARU No. 2” as part of the Joint Technological Development Program for the Demonstration test of Fully Autonomous Ships.

ClassNK reviewed the system’s conceptual design based on its “Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation on ships” and confirmed it complies with the prescribed requirements before issuing the AiP. The organization is committed to participating in various projects, establishing standards, and providing information to support the development and implementation of automated/autonomous operation technologies from a safety perspective.

The Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System has been tested in a sea demonstration of an autonomous navigation system, and ClassNK’s AiP confirms its compliance with safety requirements. The system is designed to automatically generate avoidance routes for collisions and has been tested on a large RORO cargo ship as part of a program for the demonstration of fully autonomous ships. ClassNK is dedicated to supporting the development and implementation of automated/autonomous operation technologies from a safety perspective.

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