ABS Grants AiP for Autonomous System on Harbor Tug
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) said Tuesday it has collaborated with Sea Machines and Foss Maritime to advance the adoption of autonomous operations at sea by issuing approval in principle (AIP) to their vessel autonomy system, the SM300, that provides autonomous navigation and collision detection and collision avoidance (CDCA).Foss is to install Sea Machines’ SM300 system on board its harbor tug Rachael Allen to enhance safety and efficiency of operations. Overall, the…
Sea Machines’ SM300 System On Board Foss Tug Earns ABS Approval
A Foss Maritime harbor tug outfitted with the Sea Machines SM300 autonomy system has been verified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The tug, Rachael Allen, is deployed in California, where it provides tanker escort and ship assists for Foss’ customers. The vessel will first leverage the Sea Machines’ autonomy system for routine transit and stand-by operations, and then trial remote piloting from a shore-based command center. The SM300 transit autonomy and station keeping…
Foss is Upbeat on the Arctic
Foss Maritime Builds New Ice-Class Tugs as it embarks on a new Arctic Challenge. To support growing Arctic business, Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company is building three ocean-going tugs at its Rainier Shipyard in Oregon on the Columbia River. These 132 feet-long, Ice Class vessels will have strengthened hulls designed to withstand the harsh, Arctic climate conditions into which they will eventually be deployed. Work on the tugs began in July, and the first in the series will be delivered in December 2014.
New Pilot Boat Soon to Launch in Oregon
Seattle - The pilot boat Connor Foss is currently under construction at the Foss Maritime Company's Shipyard in Rainier, Oregon, and will replace the Arrow 2 in June, 2012. The Arrow 2 will be taken out of service after fifty years transporting River and Bar pilots on the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon. The Arrow 2 began service on the Columbia River in 1962. The steel hull launch boat with a single 700 horsepower engine has made thousands of pilot transfers in its long career. "It's just time to upgrade our equipment," said Foss project manager Dan Cole.
