On this page you can find various reports and articles relevant for the project.
This document reports the seminar on “Intermodal Autonomous Green terminal in medium ports”, which was held on April 18th, 2023, in Aalborg, Denmark. The seminar in Aalborg was attended by 60 participants including 16 from the AEGIS consortium and summarized the general findings from the AEGIS logistical system and those related directly to WP10 and the Port of Aalborg use case. The seminar was organised under the following Agenda:
- Port of Aalborg: Presentation of the results on cargo-volumes with emphasis on Port of Aalborg.
- SINTEF Ocean: Introduction to the more general findings regarding the AEGIS logistical system.
- AAU: Presentation Presentation of the regulatory challenges for Short Sea Shipping in Denmark and around the Limfjord.
- ISE: Presentation of vessel designs that are applicable to the Aalborg Case
- Kalmar: Presentation of the concept of an automatic Green Intermodal Container terminal with interface to Rail and Ro-ro in Port of Aalborg.
- DFDS, NCL and SINTEF: Short Q&A “How do we make it happen” – Moderated by Port of Aalborg.
It should be noted that this report only summarizes the seminar in Aalborg. Therefore, more specific details concerning the presented findings and material should be found in the public deliverables, which can be found the on the project webpage: https://aegis.autonomous-ship.org/
This document reports the seminar on “Multipurpose terminals in small ports” which was held on April 19th, 2023, in Vordingborg, Denmark.
The seminar was attended by 12 participants and summarized the general findings from the AEGIS logistical system and those related directly to WP10 and the Port of Vordingborg use case. The seminar was organised under the following agenda:
- ISE: Presentation of vessel designs that are applicable to the Vordingborg Case
- Port of Vordingborg: Presentation Port of Vordingborg, introduction to interactive session.
- Port of Vordingborg: Guided tour on the Port of Vordingborg including the AEGIS pier
It should be noted that this report only summarizes the seminar in Vordingborg. Therefore, more specific details concerning the presented findings and material should be found in the public deliverables, which can be found the at the project webpage: https://aegis.autonomous-ship.org/
This report is part of the cost benefit analysis work package in AEGIS and serves the social part of the analysis, where the two others are economic and environmental. All the three AEGIS use cases are covered in this report. The main objectives of Work Package 7 (Cost benefit analysis) in AEGIS are to:
- Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to do a quantitative Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
- Perform analyses of economic, environmental, and social effects of AEGIS proposals
- Combine to overall CBA, covering all three factors, and compare it with today’s solutions
- Identify “win-win” solutions that give the best overall benefits at the lowest possible cost
The win-win solutions report will soon be published.
This report is part of the cost benefit analysis work package in AEGIS and serves the environmental part of the analysis, where the two others are economic and social. All the three AEGIS use cases are covered in this report. The main objectives of Work Package 7 (Cost benefit analysis) in AEGIS are to:
- Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to do a quantitative Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
- Perform analyses of economic, environmental, and social effects of AEGIS proposals
- Combine to overall CBA, covering all three factors, and compare it with today’s solutions
- Identify “win-win” solutions that give the best overall benefits at the lowest possible cost
The win-win solutions report will soon be published.
This report is part of the cost benefit analysis work package in AEGIS and serves the economic part of the analysis, where the two others are environmental and social. All the three AEGIS use cases are covered in this report. The main objectives of Work Package 7 (Cost benefit analysis) in AEGIS are to:
- Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to do a quantitative Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
- Perform analyses of economic, environmental, and social effects of AEGIS proposals
- Combine to overall CBA, covering all three factors, and compare it with today’s solutions
- Identify “win-win” solutions that give the best overall benefits at the lowest possible cost
The win-win solutions report will soon be published.
This report describes a refinement and further development of a safety and security analysis method developed in AEGIS, and is documented in the modelling tool Enterprise Architect, employing UML diagrams to describe the target system and mission, which is based on methods described in the H2020 AUTOSHIP and Seatonomy projects.
This report illustrates the refined methodology by applying it to an example mission based on AEGIS Use Case B, specifically a RoRo barge route between Rotterdam and Ghent. Based on this example mission, a set of System Control Tasks and Mission Phases have been defined, and these are subject to a generic safety and security analysis where activities, threats and risks are described and assessed with the help of various UML diagrams. The analysis is not exhaustive, but rather an example of how the methodology can be used.
The European waterborne transport system faces challenges in shifting cargo from road to sea transport, despite the importance of the European maritime transport policy for sustainable growth. The implementation of the AEGIS project provides an opportunity to overcome these challenges and promote a more efficient and sustainable transport system. However, successful implementation and governance of AEGIS require addressing gaps, creating a supportive policy environment, and strengthening coordination and collaboration among stakeholders.
To address implementation failures, policymakers must identify and bridge gaps caused by inadequate resources, limited stakeholder involvement, and insufficient coordination. Comprehensive gap analyses can inform targeted strategies such as securing funding and establishing public-private partnerships to integrate AEGIS technologies into existing infrastructure. Engaging key stakeholders early in the policymaking process fosters collaborative problem-solving and proactive solution development.
To govern AEGIS's technological disruption, policymakers should address implementation gaps and technology traps. This involves fostering an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and adaptation within the logistics chain. Stakeholder engagement and alignment of interests through dialogue platforms are essential. Incentive structures tailored to stakeholder needs, such as financial support, regulatory exemptions, or preferential infrastructure access, can drive desired behaviours. Balancing incentives with measures like increased taxes and fees on road transport can encourage the shift to sustainable alternatives.
This report provides an overview of the legal and regulatory challenges associated with introducing a new European waterborne transport system, as developed under the AEGIS project. The report emphasizes the importance of transitioning to waterborne transport for sustainability, reducing CO2 emissions, improving energy efficiency, and mitigating road congestion. However, it also highlights the legal and regulatory hurdles that arise due to the technological and logistical innovations required for such a transition.
The AEGIS concept proposes a holistic approach to waterborne transportation, considering it as a system rather than independent modes. This approach presents challenges in terms of rulemaking, as it involves not only navigation laws but also regulations concerning ship design, terminal operations, and port development. Additionally, the differences in legal regimes between offshore and inland navigation further complicate establishing consistent communication between the two.
The focus of the report is primarily on advanced ships equipped with remote control or full autonomy for navigation and cargo handling, which are the core of the AEGIS project. It identifies the legal challenges associated with these advanced ships and discusses the various stages involved in implementing the new waterborne transport system, ranging from system design to cargo handling and terminal expansion. Special attention is given to the role of lawmakers and regulators in facilitating the transition of cargo from road to sea when autonomous vessels are involved.
The AEGIS project introduces a new European waterborne transport system aimed at revitalizing the role of waterborne transport in cargo transportation. The project consortium has developed concept designs that leverage innovations in connected and automated transport, including smaller and more flexible vessels, automated cargo handling, autonomous ships, standardized cargo units, and digital technologies. This proposed system necessitates policies at different levels to support its implementation and success.
Policies for advanced intermodal systems focus on technological advancements introduced by AEGIS, such as automation and autonomy in port handling and navigation. These policies require improvements in reporting and certification processes and should address administrative requirements, cybersecurity challenges, and workforce impacts. Additionally, policy support should facilitate the transition to a digitalized environment.
While this report provides recommendations for the overarching public policy framework, they must be complemented by legal work to reform rules and standards that perpetuate outdated policy paradigms. Separate reports will continue the analysis initiated here, focusing on the practical implementation of these policies. By providing an overview of the AEGIS project and analysing the relevant policy landscape, this report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in promoting sustainable, efficient, and innovative waterborne transport systems in Europe.
Conference paper published in cooperation between AUTOSHIP and AEGIS: A Critisicm of Proposed Levels of Autonomy for MASS, which was presented at the ESREL Conference in Southampton, September 2023.
The paper argues that autonomy must mean that the operator can trust the automation to do its assigned job and, hence, that no attention from the operator is needed during autonomous operation. The control responsibility is shared between operator and automation, where only one is in control at any given time. This, however, also requires that the automation, when in control, have sufficient situational awareness to alert the operator early enough to let the operator assess the situation and safely take over the controls. Thus, there are no degrees of autonomy: Autonomy should be seen as a binary property, either it is there, or it is not.