Although more and more trials are being carried out with autonomous ships without crew, for the time being people are still needed to moor the ships. But even that could soon change thanks to a new suction-based automated mooring system.
Normally, ships are tied to piers with thick ropes or mooring lines. One end of these is attached to an attachment point on the ship's deck, while the other end is tied to the quay or pier. This requires workers to release and tie and untie the mooring lines. A new system from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is intended as an alternative to this type of team. It would further automate work on shore.
Mooring ships actually starts with a tug that guides the ship into the harbour. There, the ship comes to a stop against a row of shock-absorbing bumpers along the side of the pier. Once the ship has done so, it is secured to bollards along the length of the ship with mooring lines.
Rubber suction cups
The platform developed by KIMM contains a series of rubber suction cups that press against the ship's hull. Once they do, an integrated hydraulic system creates a vacuum in each of the naps, causing them to 'stick' to the ship.
The assembly can move vertically and horizontally relative to the pier, allowing the system to adjust to each ship's hull angle and move with the ship with the tides. To maintain a good seal, the hydraulic system re-suctions the vacuum once an hour. When it is time for the ship to depart, the suction is lifted and the system withdrawn.
The automated mooring system is a major advance in the safe mooring of autonomous ships and will play a central role in the development of smart port infrastructure. KIMM expects this solution to become the new standard for operational safety and efficiency across the maritime world.
