Wärtsilä has tested remote guidance service on-board TT-Line's ferry Huckleberry Finn.

Specifically, real-time communication using voice-controlled Augmented Reality (AR) wearables and remote guidance software was put to the test. The solution, according to the company, makes it possible for ship crew members, field service engineers, and shipyard personnel to communicate with shore-based experts anywhere in the world.

In the case of the Huckleberry Finn pilot testing, simulated remote guidance service situations were carried out on the ship's navigation equipment on the bridge and on the shaft line seals and bearings in the engine room.

The on-board simulations were monitored in real-time by expert Wärtsilä personnel located in Gothenburg and Hamburg. The WiFi signal for the video sessions was facilitated by a portable on-deck LTE antenna.

The tests verified the effectiveness of the AR wearables as a means of communication, while the portable WiFi antenna provided a strong signal wherever needed.

In addition, Wärtsilä's solution was also trialled in the office of TT-Line, during which the use of remote guidance in dockings and shipyard overhauls was discussed.

"Regardless of where the equipment is located on the vessel, it shows that we can provide rapid troubleshooting and technical advice, thus saving the customer both time and costs. It's like having a Wärtsilä service engineer onboard 24/7," Thomas Pauly, Future Technologies Product Manager, Seals & Bearings, Wärtsilä Marine, commented.

Thomas Busch, Superintendent at TT-Line, added, "This was a very impressive, professional, and pragmatic demonstration of the technology. The connectivity, when operating at sea, was remarkable and the hands-free equipment meets our onboard safety standards."

"We value the feedback from TT-Line as this was an excellent example of co-creation with a key customer, and one more important step towards realisation of Wärtsilä's Smart Marine vision," Pauly summed up.

Photo: Wärtsilä