Public Funding for Edda Supply Ships (UK) Limited

The MARINET - Mesh Networking for the Maritime Industry project aims to develop a universal wireless mesh network to create a step-change in maritime connectivity and communications. A low cost, "plug-and-play" Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform will be developed to support multiple ship systems, where signals can be sent and received between IoT devices and a centralised system, offering full situational awareness onboard and around the vessel. Key IoT-enabled applications include asset positioning and maintenance, personnel tracking and safety, and mesh-networking between ships for safer and more efficient operations. MARINET will leverage the expertise and capabilities of Rinicom Limited and System Loco Limited in developing state-of-the-art telecommunications and IoT-solutions for tracking, remote monitoring, logistics, supply chain and security applications. A prototype system will be developed alongside Edda Supply Ships (UK) Limited, as a vessel operator, to perform system trials and ensure the solution meets industry requirements. The partners will exploit results through an established network of ship owners and fleet operators, seeking IoT solutions for retrofitting of existing vessels and new builds, in an effort to reduce high operational costs. Outcomes can be rapidly scaled for commercialisation, creating a significant business opportunity through the sale of network infrastructure and application specific IoT devices and services enabled by the platform.

With global energy demand set to increase by 40% by 2030 and climate change issues mandating a reduction in non-renewable energy sources, wind energy has become the leading candidate for energy production. Offshore wind energy production offers the potential for wide-scale energy production due to its advantages over its onshore counterpart including less visual pollution, less competition with agricultural operations, more/stronger consistent winds. However, offshore wind generation suffers from an increased Levelized Cost Of Electricity due to a range of factors; increased operational, installation/maintenance costs, significant safety issues and limited operating conditions. A key focus of the UK government is to reduce the costs associated with offshore energy production mainly associated with operating in a marine environment, which includes the need for a recognised dynamic positioning solution for monitoring two objects in motion efficiently and safely. Rinicom aims to further develop and validate their Six-Axis Monitoring (SAM) technology in a relevant environment using existing video analytics and machine vision algorithms to a novel offshore wind use-case using off the shelf components to ensure ease of integration and a cost-effective solution. This project will also leverage the expertise of Edda Supply Ships (a subsidiary of Østensjø Rederi) to test and validate the SAM technology. This technology offers a step-change with respect to marine-based dynamic positioning and monitoring systems, with improved accuracy, low latency, lower costs and ease of retrofitting and integration into existing vessel systems, enabling the reduction of costs associated with operational and maintenance aspects of offshore wind energy generation, benefitting society as a whole. With market need validated (through discussions with end-users including Edda Supply Ships) and building upon previous proof of concept in-house laboratory studies that presented promising accuracy results (acceleration/velocity accuracy: <99%, displacement accuracy: 5cm at 50m), this project will further develop the SAM technology and validate a prototype in a relevant environment. This novel technology has the potential to completely revolutionise the way in which installations and maintenance is undertaken on offshore energy infrastructure in order to reduce the cost of operation, increase number of operational days and increase the safety of operating heavy machinery in challenging conditions. This innovative solution has the potential to be exploited across the globe in a range key sectors (including oil and gas, passenger ferries, etc.) and will reduce the overall Localised Cost of Electricity for offshore wind energy.