Connection and electrification solutions manufacturer Cavotec has launched its next-generation automated vacuum mooring solution, MoorMaster NxG, which it says will revolutionize the way ships enter and leave ports by enabling them to moor in as little as 30 seconds, drastically reducing docking times. This should have a knock-on effect on the efficiency of fully electric vessels.
According to Kai Just Olsen, CEO of ASKO Maritime, which will deploy the system at its planned fully autonomous and electric shipping operation in Oslo, Norway, “The MoorMaster system will save us huge amounts of energy and is a key enabler of autonomous operations. Since we won’t need to use the powerful bow and side thrusters in port, our electric vessels will use less energy and also extend the battery lifetime. The MoorMaster technology is perfect to complement to our new ships – using modern technology for a futuristic fleet.”
Furthermore, the system should create benefits for ports in terms of increased loading/offloading productivity and enabling future use cases such as fully automated ship-to-shore cranes.
Mikael Norin, Cavotec CEO, said, “In the next 10 years, with the introduction of smart shipping technology, we could finally see the end of the slow and dangerous use of ropes and chains at dockside. A modern shipping industry needs a mooring solution that meets and exceeds its high expectations of productivity and reduced environmental footprint at docks around the world.”