Marine Link writes: Damen and Sea Machines Robotics today signed an alliance that has the promise to help fast track maritime autonomy, an agreement to further investigate the adoption of collision avoidance functionality on board of Damen vessels. Specifically, Damen will incorporate Sea Machine’s autonomous and wireless-helm technologies as standard features in Damen’s global vessel build catalog.

Damen Shipyards Group has been investing in autonomous shipping technologies, and this agreement signals the “next phase” by establishing a strategic alliance with the Boston-based company, an alliance that aims at speeding up the adoption of several navigating technologies to increase autonomy levels on Damen-built vessels.

In an exclusive interview with Maritime Reporter TV (video below) in advance of the announcement, Toine Cleophas, manager programs at Damen said:

“Damen started looking into autonomous sailing, because more and more clients were coming to us, asking for functions related to higher autonomy levels. Our eyes were on Sea Machines because their readiness level is, in my opinion, very high.”

Watch the full video interview, with Cleophas and Sea Machines’ Frank Relou, European business development manager, here: