The role of UKCM now and the future NAV18 Torres Strait use case omcinternational.com
Who is OMC International? Inventor (1993) and sole supplier of DUKC (>160,000 deep draft transits without incident) Australian owned and operated company with over 60 engineers, naval architects, oceanographers, software engineers, IT personnel and master mariners Focused on research, development, implementation and 24/7 support of DUKC systems DUKC has unrivalled level of full scale validation on over 600 vessels to accurately measure the movement of vessels in all six degrees of motion while transiting a waterway. Australasian Representative in: the IHO UKCM PT chaired by AMSA developing standards for UKC portrayal in 129 format development of PIANC guidelines for navigational channels with regard to horizontal and vertical navigation (PIANC Report No 121-2014)
Overview UKCM now: Torres UKCM system background & overview Deep draught trial A possible future for UKCM
What is UKC? Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
Where is Torres Strait? Torres Strait lies between Papua New Guinea and the northern tip of the Australian continent; it is a vital shipping route for the Asia- Pacific region.
Why a UKCM System? A remote, environmentallysensitive area Formally declared as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area by the IMO in 2005 Compulsory pilotage introduced 2006 Complex spatial and temporal variation of tides/currents No previously reliable means of validating vessels UKC
Why a UKCM System? (#2) Delivery of enhanced safety of navigation by: establishing mandatory arrangements for the transits of vessels with 8 m draught or greater validating the existing safety margin prescribed by Australian Law (Marine Order 54 Coastal Pilotage) minimum UKC of 1.0 m or 10% of draught in POWC for >11.9 m Draught limit of 12.2 m
UKCM System in Torres Strait E-Nav (web-based) system in place since 2011 >2,200 deep draught transits monitored by UKCM p.a. ~99.6% comply with UKCM limits Built and supported by OMC AMSA licensed Key functionality: Weather sensor data management Vessel data management Long range planning - Voyage Planning Short range planning - Transit planning Real-time transit monitoring Alerting / messaging
UKCMS vessel tracking Hammond Hill radar and AIS Radio link to Horn Island Booby Island AIS NextG Internet NextG Albany Rock AIS
UKCMS integration with bridge simulators Benefits Dynamic UKC part of pilot training Investigate what-if scenarios To become standard part of Coastal Pilot CPD
Deep draught trial Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
Deep draught trials Apr 2016 to Feb 2018 (OMC-RIO-AMSA-IXSURVEY Project) Why? Review draught regime in a controlled, staged, evidence based manner What? Onboard dedicated RTM vessels 3 x measured transits at 12.3 m, 12.4 m and 12.5 m 3 x measured Max Draught transits Concurrent tide and stream sensor deployment collaboration with IX Survey
Tide & stream monitoring Source: IX Survey
Temporary ADCP at Hammond Rock Source: IX Survey
GPS & SBAS campaign Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
Establishing datum relationships Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
GNSS observations at Mecca Reef Source: IX Survey
Key outcomes The UKCM system can accurately predict UKC in a very complex region 12 vessels with draughts up to 12.8m safety transited Torres Strait 9 months of RTM vessels transiting at >12.2m (3 months 12.3m, 3 months 12.4m, 3 months 12.5m) By transiting on average at 12.5m, this would enable Rio Tinto to ship the same volume but on 10 less vessels with significant productivity gain (> $10,000,000) and environmental gain through the Great Barrier Reef are significant. Agreement with AMSA & Maersk to proceed with container vessel trials
In the future Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
The road towards autonomous vessels We are here(ish) AL0 AL1 AL2 AL3 AL4 AL5 AL6 Manual - No autonomy On-board Decision Support On &Offboard Decision Support Active (onboard) human in the loop Human on the loop, Operator/ Supervisory Fully autonomous Rarely supervised Fully autonomous Unsupervised
Autonomous shipping Source: Maersk, Rolls Royce, Kongsberg
Situational awareness - shore based pilotage? Shore based pilotage at (REEF)VTS?
A possible scenario Safer Shipping Smarter Ports
An example I intend to travel to Auckland via Singapore. I have a draught of 12.5m. What are my options in the next 6 weeks? Rotterdam UKCM Suez Canal UKCM SOMS UKCM Torres Strait UKCM Auckland UKCM
An example Your options are: 1 May 09:00 10:00 1 May 21:00 22:00 Rotterdam UKCM Your options are: 14 May 00:00 04:00 14 May 20:00 22:00 Suez Canal UKCM SOMS UKCM Torres Strait UKCM Safer Shipping Smarter Ports Based on estimated weather & traffic conditions I am 95% confident that you can safely pass between 10 Jun 09:00 12:00 11 Jun 21:00 00:00 at your nominated draught by the time you arrive. I am 80% confident that you can safely pass between 9 Jun 06:00-12:00. Please advise. Your options are: 30 May 08:00 10:00 31 May 12:00 16:00 1 Jun 20:00 22:00 Your options are: 14 Jun 09:00 10:00 16 Jun 21:00 22:00 Auckland UKCM
Rotterdam UKCM Shipping HQ OK, based on the UKCM advice and my business constraints I believe my optimal plan is to use the earliest window in the SOMS and then steam faster to make the Torres Strait window on 9 Jun so I can reach Auckland early. Suez Canal UKCM UKCM Window Rotterdam 1 May 09:00 10:00 Suez 14 May 00:00 04:00 SOMS 31 May 12:00 16:00 SOMS UKCM Torres Strait UKCM Approved Auckland UKCM HQ do you approve? Torres Strait 9 Jun 06:00-12:00 Auckland 14 Jun 09:00 10:00
Torres Strait UKCM Hello Torres Strait UKCM, I am a few days away. My ETA is 0730. Can you give me an update based on the latest weather & traffic conditions? The weather has deteriorated beyond what you allowed for but if I slow you down at these waypoints then you can still sail at your nominated window.
I am ready to proceed. I confirm my draught is 12.45m and my ETA is 0800. Can you give an updated passage plan? Torres Strait UKCM Please proceed. Our shore pilot will take control at 0745. Here is your latest UKC/passage plan based on the prevalent weather conditions and traffic. Here is what I know about the weather and other vessels plans to transit the area. WPT Speed Course VRZ 6 90 GDS 8 70 OGR 8 90
In the UKCM area Torres Strait UKCM Hello Torres Strait UKCM, this is a live feed of my (vertical) position, cameras, log and motion data. Shore pilot Port 5.
Torres Strait UKCM Thank you for your visit. Your passage and motions characteristics have been recorded so I can give you better sailing advice next visit. Here are your records for your computer systems.
Torres Strait UKCM Thank you Torres Strait UKCM. Hello Auckland UKCM can you give me an update? By the way, here are my motion characteristics to help fine-tune your advice. Auckland UKCM Please stand by
But beware! All models are wrong, but some are useful George Box
In a world of autonomous shipping Relying on models or observations alone is insufficient
Conclusions The UKCMS is a proven, validated and accurate system The deep draught trial shows that the vessels can safely sail deeper than 12.2m The UKCMS a long way since 2011 In a world of autonomous shipping: The role of UKCM becomes more important Relying on models or observations alone is ill advised Continuous, real-time, validation and data assimilation is required
Far fetched? We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Bill Gates
Questions Safer Shipping Smarter Ports