Unnoticed by the vigilant coastguard, Scotland's offshore waters host an increasing number of wind farms, in addition to the existing oil and gas rigs. However, working on these isolated structures comes with numerous hazards.
According to Sam Mayall, an experienced sailor and former maritime transport deck officer, accidents occur frequently and have severe consequences. A report from the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch in 2023 reveals that 40% of maritime incidents involving individuals falling overboard result in fatalities.
Mayall says that many of the technologies used in offshore operations today have remained unchanged for the past 40 or 50 years. Zelim, his company, is now focusing on adopting artificial intelligence and smart technology to revolutionize maritime safety. Among the three life-saving technologies being developed is an autonomous and unmanned lifeboat known as "Guardian."
Scottish Mayall founded the startup in 2017 at the age of 22. Currently, the company collaborates with the US Coastguard and numerous offshore energy firms to enhance its technology. Mayall's main objective is to expedite rescues for victims and increase safety for rescuers. Mayall emphasizes the need to eliminate the risk faced by mariners during rescue operations and aims to establish a new standard of safety.
While self-driving cars are not yet a reality, autonomous boats are gaining traction. In the Netherlands, electric and fully autonomous Roboats have been tested for passenger transportation and waste collection in the canals. These innovative boats, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, can also be connected to form floating docks and bridges. Explore the gallery below for more cutting-edge examples of autonomous boats.
MIT / AMS Institute
Equipped with six AI-enhanced cameras and 30 integrated sensors, the Mayflower 400, an autonomous research vessel built to honor the 400th anniversary of the historic Mayflower expedition, successfully embarked on a transatlantic journey from Plymouth, UK, to Massachusetts, US, reaching its destination in 2022.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in the UAE has recently tested a self-driving Abra ferry, a wooden boat that can accommodate up to eight passengers. This trial is part of the initiative to achieve 25% autonomous journeys in Dubai by the year 2030.
Dubai RTA
has announced that their vessel, the Prism Courage, made history by becoming the first autonomous ship to successfully navigate the Pacific Ocean. This impressive feat took place in 2022, when the 134,000-ton commercial tanker embarked on a remarkable journey from the Gulf of Mexico, passing through the Panama Canal, and ultimately arriving at South Korea's western Chungcheong Province after a remarkable 33-day voyage.
Hailed as the pioneer of emission-free maritime transport, the Yara Birkeland represents a groundbreaking achievement as the world's inaugural autonomous cargo vessel. It successfully completed its maiden voyage from Horten to Oslo, Norway in 2021, paving the way for its forthcoming crewless operations in the near future.
Knut Brevik Andersen
Trondheim, Norway is currently testing a revolutionary electric ferry known as Zeabuz. This innovative vessel has the capacity to transport up to 12 passengers and bicycles, all while recharging while it is docked. Additionally, there are future plans to introduce the Zeabuz ferry in Stockholm, Sweden.
The USV Maxlimer, developed by SEA-KIT International, is a semi-autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that can be remotely controlled. These vessels, designed for commercial, defense, and luxury purposes, are already in use for tasks such as mapping and surveying.
SEA-KIT International
announced in 2021 that it successfully accomplished the first-ever autonomous and remotely controlled tug boat expedition, covering over 1,000 nautical miles. The vessel, named "Nellie Bly," completed a full circumnavigation of Denmark.
Self-driving boats are already making a splash
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Autonomous lifeboats
The Guardian vessel uses Zelims AI detection system to identify and locate victims, along with its Swift conveyor belt to safely lift individuals out of the water. Equipped with two-way comms, rescued victims can communicate with a telemedicine team for immediate first-aid advice until they can be transferred to a larger vessel. Instead of replacing rescuers, this technology aims to eliminate the ethical dilemma faced during challenging rescue missions. Mayall explains, "In many situations globally, the decision to not initiate a rescue operation is made due to the potential risk to rescuers."
Zelim says its Swift system, pictured, can help people get out of the water in just 30 seconds.
Mayall states that Guardian can be utilized from an offshore location where manpower is limited and there may not be sufficient time to contact emergency services. Additionally, he highlights that numerous accidents occur at a considerable distance from lifeboats.
"(Around) 80% of the deaths happen in the first 30 minutes, so its critical that you have the ability to help yourself when you are offshore," he adds.
âSwiftâ rescues
The Guardian is currently in the developmental stage, but Zelims detection and conveyor belt technologies are already undergoing trials. In 2017, the team initially focused on identifying individuals in turbulent waters and severe weather conditions.
"Locating an individual in water is incredibly challenging," remarks Mayall. He further explains that human eyesight is imperfect and differs among individuals. "There is inconsistency in visual perception when initiating a search compared to after half an hour."
To address this issue, Mayall's team developed an advanced software program driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This program can be utilized with existing camera feeds, such as those from drones or closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems.
Zelims machine-learning model, trained on over five million real-life images of individuals in water, utilizes data provided by the US Coastguard. With a current accuracy of 90%, it effectively identifies casualties in the water. However, it is equally important to swiftly rescue and extract these individuals from the water during search and rescue operations.
In cold water, the body goes into shock within three minutes, leading to hyperventilation, restricted blood flow, and ultimately, hypothermia. According to a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, victims typically become unresponsive within 11 minutes of entering cold water. Zelims "Swift" conveyor belt is specially designed for the maritime environment, ensuring a fast and efficient rescue of individuals from the water.
Laura Tognarelli, a former army engineering officer who joined Zelim in 2022 and is responsible for implementing its technology, states that traditionally people have been rescued from the water using a davit winch, a process that typically takes around 10 minutes. However, with Swift, the rescue time is reduced to just 30 seconds.
"It's not only about achieving faster results or locating them more efficiently, but it also emphasizes the importance of consistency and speed while minimizing exhaustion and the need for rescue," remarks Tognarelli. "By doing so, it eliminates the notion that a particular level of strength or endurance is required to work offshore, making rescue accessible to everyone."
Sam Mayall, pictured, founded Zelim in 2017 to improve safety at sea.
CNN
âThe most hazardous jobsâ
The Swift conveyor system is currently undergoing trials, including with the Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA), one of the largest energy ports in the UK.
"We were astounded by the design's remarkable simplicity," states Gareth Phillips, MHPA's project manager. Given its user-friendliness, convenience in storage, and effortless maintenance, Phillips envisions multiple industries benefiting from Swift, including ports and offshore wind farms.
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Arch-Exist
The MHPA is considering implementing the Swift system on a pilot vessel used to navigate large ships in and out of the port. Typically, marine pilots have to climb up a ladder on the hull of the ship from their own vessel, making it a highly dangerous task in the maritime industry, as highlighted by Phillips.
Phillips states that despite the initial expenses involved in installing and developing Swift, its cost is similar to other safety equipment investments. He also mentions that if the trial proves successful, MHPA intends to implement the system in all its pilot vessels. According to Phillips, the maritime sector has been slow in adopting innovation and has relied on traditional rescue winches for many years. Nonetheless, Zelims solutions present a fresh and more intelligent approach to ensuring safety in the maritime industry.
"We have to ensure for our own people that we have the best possible life-saving equipment on our vessels," he adds.
