A Belfast Harbour consortium receives £400k for a feasibility study on autonomous port technology.
- The funding is granted by the Department for Transport’s Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund.
- The project focuses on optimizing fleet operations at Belfast Harbour’s Victoria Terminal 3.
- The initiative aims to boost sustainability and efficiency while reducing greenhouse emissions.
- This effort highlights the potential for autonomous solutions to revolutionize the shipping industry.
Belfast Harbour has secured almost £400,000 from the Department for Transport’s Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund, marking a significant step toward integrating autonomous technology into port operations. The funding will support a comprehensive study to explore the feasibility of using autonomous software and hardware to enhance the efficiency of fleet operations at Victoria Terminal 3. This study is crucial in assessing how these technologies can be scaled effectively and affordably across port facilities.
Laura O’Neill, Belfast Harbour’s digital transformation manager, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative which targets a critical aspect of the shipping supply chain. By addressing inefficiencies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the project underscores Belfast Harbour’s commitment to sustainability. The study also anticipates increasing container throughput and examining the creation of higher-skilled job opportunities.
The five-month study, commencing in November, aims to demonstrate a regulatory-compliant autonomous solution for Terminal Trucks (TTs) that could be applied across regional ports in the UK and beyond. Sadaf Ghani, chief marketing communication officer at Aidrivers Ltd, emphasizes the potential for this initiative to set new benchmarks in global port operations. By showcasing the capabilities of autonomous TTs in smaller ports, the project aims to position UK companies as pioneers in autonomous port technology.
The historical significance of Belfast’s shipbuilding industry, which once thrived, adds context to the harbour’s current efforts to adapt and innovate in challenging economic circumstances. The £206 million program, of which the Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund is a part, aims to develop decarbonizing technology across the British maritime sector.
In a parallel development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology recently announced £2 million in prizes for AI projects that foster clean energy usage. These efforts collectively reflect a broader governmental push towards sustainability and technological advancement in the maritime domain.
Belfast Harbour’s project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to improving port logistics and environmental impact through autonomous technology.
