Remote-Controlled Inland Navigation Center Opens In Duisburg, Germany
SEAFAR, a Belgian tech and service provider specializing in remote-controlled and crew-reduced inland navigation, announced that it has established Germany’s inaugural Remote Operations Center in collaboration with project partners HGK Shipping and Reederei Deymann. The center in Duisburg was officially inaugurated on February 28, with key figures from politics, authorities and industry in attendance. Germany’s first remote control center allows inland waterway vessels to be controlled from shore.
This center will facilitate the remote control of vessels on inland waterways, addressing the shortage of skilled personnel. Efforts are underway to leverage existing permits for the Lower Rhine trial and to designate additional waterways for use. These could include sections of the canal in northwest Germany as well as the Mittellandkanal and other sections of the Rhine.
In Belgium and the Netherlands, similar crew-reduced concepts are already in successful operation for various types of inland waterway vessels. Some of these will now be managed from the new SEAFAR site in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
“Expanding into the inland waterways of Europe’s largest economy marks a significant milestone for our company,” said Janis Bargsten, chief commercial officer at SEAFAR. “In collaboration with our partners HGK Shipping and Reederei Deymann, who have collectively equipped five vessels for this project so far, we aim to contribute substantially to modernizing transportation and the profession.”
“As a leading inland shipping company in Europe, we consider ourselves catalysts for industry development, whether in constructing new, eco-friendly vessels or adopting innovative solutions that align with the digitalization trend,” said Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK Shipping. “Meeting ambitious climate targets in the coming years and decades necessitates a significant shift towards inland shipping and waterway freight transport. Under the banner of ‘More climate protection despite a shortage of skilled workers,’ this technological advancement, enabling partial ship control from shore-based operations centers, is poised to secure long-term transport solutions via this vital mode of transit.”
Martin Deymann, managing director of Reederei Deymann, said, “Remote control from shore can greatly enhance the appeal of the profession. The improved work-life balance afforded by working closer to home serves as a compelling incentive to either remain or enter the field of inland navigation. The Remote Operations Center, coupled with increased digitalization, will inject much-needed vitality into this longstanding profession.”
