Page 5 - GEIMS Chronicle 22nd Edition-July 2022

DEAR SEAFARERS,
The changing world of shipping ……..
Yara Birkeland (120-teu, 3,200-dwt, built 2021) crew to move onshore
one by one as autonomous trials begin..... the plan is to make the electric
containership an unmanned vessel by 2024. The world's rst electric
autonomous container ship, the Yara Birkeland is owned by ammonia producer
and LPG carrier owner Yara International. The ship will cut 1,000 tonnes of CO2
and replace 40,000 trips with diesel-powered trucks each year through battery From the Principal’s Desk
power.
The vice president of sales and marketing at autonomous vessel company
Massterly, said there is a crew on board now, but this will gradually change. The
rst step in its autonomy journey is to test the robotic mooring arm, “That should
be able to replace the two people who do that job.” After that, the chief engineer
will move to shore, then the two navigators, one at a time, and eventually, all jobs
will be moved onshore.
In other news, the Panama- agged Prism Courage passed through the Panama Canal and crossed the Paci c Ocean to arrive
at the Boryeong LNG Terminal in South Chungcheong Province, Korea. During the latter half of the journey, the ship was
under the control of the autonomous navigation system, which not only steered it but sought out the optimal routes and
best speeds based on arti cial intelligence. This provided navigation as well as compensation for weather and wave heights
and legally avoiding passing ships by steering in real-time, without anyone at the wheel and on a crowded lane with 100
other ships! The ship also achieved an increase in fuel efficiency of 7 per cent and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of
5 per cent. In addition, it was able to locate and avoid other ships over 100 times. During the voyage, Prism Courage was
monitored by the concerned classi cation societies to con rm performance and stability.
The above two excerpts from the recent news highlight the new and fast-paced developments in shipping. The changing
environment also brings up newer expectations from the present-day seafarers and from the administrators too. There is a
need for a skilled workforce to cater to upcoming technology and this will be in greater demand in the coming years.
According to International Maritime Organisation's maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS)working group, there is a
road map towards a 2025 completion date for mandatory regulations. There is the possibility of non-mandatory guidelines
for MASS in the meantime. The training and certi cation will need a change such that the present-day seafarers getting
ready for certi cation are geared up to face the challenges ahead. The industry is quite clearly changing fast and the
seafarers need to stay ahead of the learning curve to stay relevant in this changing environment.
As the old saying goes, “When the change outside is faster than the change within, you are falling behind”.
Thank you.
Bon Voyage!

Capt Atma Prakash Sethi
Principal, GEIMS

GEIMS CHRONICLE Twenty Second Edition July 2022 5
INDEX