Two years after the groundbreaking 1,000 NM autonomous voyage, Peter Holm (center), the European Director of Sea Machines Robotics, shares his previously untold accounts of the tugboat that made history and the challenging seas that often accompany success.

Finding Nellie

The Machine Odyssey set sail on its remarkable journey in 2021, but Peter’s fascination with tugboats started much earlier, in 1997.

“Only 50 meters away from my old office in Esbjerg, there was always at least one prominent tug stationed. There’s just something about these vessels, around 30 odd meters long and powerful with 4,000 horsepower or more. Whenever the large ships would arrive, they would take us out on the tugs, allowing us to experience the intricate ballet choreography required to maneuver a vessel into a dock. It was truly impressive, and that’s where my fondness for tugboats began.” Peter recalls.

Fast forward to 2021. The concept for the Machine Odyssey project had been conceived—a daring plan to circumnavigate the coast of Denmark. There was only one vessel suitable for this audacious journey.

“We searched extensively for a suitable boat to collaborate with the international shipyard group, Damen. Initially, we considered a crew transfer boat, one of the smaller 12 pax, and were very close to acquiring one. Then, out of nowhere, came the Nellie Bly.”

During her transfer from Novorossiysk to Rotterdam, the vessel wasn’t yet named after the renowned American journalist. Instead, she was a humble tugboat that had seen better days.

Knowing that this tug will embark on an adventure that boldly pushes boundaries just like the journalist who broke the 1890 world record for solo global travel as a woman, the RN Temryuk then became the Nellie Bly.

Upon arriving in Hardingxveld, the team’s race against the clock to prepare Nellie for her journey began.

“By the time we bought her, there was only six weeks until the start of The Machine Odyssey. We then had her transferred from Rotterdam to the Damen Hardinxveld yard where our partners at Damen helped us equip her, pulling all the cables to the particular specification we had given. We, of course, installed and commissioned the SM300 Autonomous command and Control system which included a very large data collector media server and an early version of AI-ris, the SM400. From there, we had to bring her up to Cuxhaven where we started the tuning portion.“

Following rigorous testing and enhancements, the refurbished Nellie Bly, now proudly displaying the Sea Machines logo along her sides, was prepared to make history.

And We’re Off!

On the 30th of September, the Nellie Bly autonomously departed from Cuxhaven heading for her first port in Brunsbüttel with a captain aboard on standby to comply with maritime regulations. 

“We had a really good rapport with the Danish Maritime Authorities. We were some of the early ones that sat down with them in 2016 and we were the first ones to hand in the code of conduct for autonomous operations in Danish waters. The approval process then actually turned out to be fairly easy. The whole approval process of getting the DMA on board with this took 4 emails,” remarked Peter.

Navigating the tumultuous waters of Denmark, the vessel sailed with the SM300 controlled remotely from our headquarters in Boston.

“She’s not an easy lady to handle. You have to know what to do, but the system handles her perfectly.”

Even after Peter’s first interaction with Nellie, it became evident that the retrofitted SM300 was finely tuned and adept at controlling this specific vessel.

“So one of the things that you have to consider with this tug is that she has a draft of about 1.7 meters. Out of that 1.7 meters, 1.1 meters is the propeller. Considering how little of the vessel is on the water, most of its propeller. And so when this big propeller goes with rotation, that’s enough centrifugal force to force a boat into a turn. Even if you keep the rudder straight, the centrifugal force of the propeller itself puts her into a turn, which means that you’re gonna have to counter steer to to bring her over again just to go in a straight line. But with the SM300, you don’t have to worry about it because she just goes in a straight line while maintaining autonomy, collision avoidance, etc.”

From Denmark to the World

Apart from the SM300, the Nellie Bly was equipped with cameras for live streaming, enabling viewers worldwide to tune in via Vodafone 4G.

“The number of cameras on the vessel was not insignificant. There were quite a few cameras: forward-looking, aft-looking, 180 degrees FOV 90 degrees FOV and also included infrared. So there were, I think, six cameras on board.”

However, the response from viewers surpassed all expectations.

“We didn’t know what kind of levels to expect in terms of people viewing this. So we set it up so that we are capable of streaming to 5,000 people at the same time and we quickly saw much higher numbers than that.”

With a global audience now in tow, it was crucial for operations to run seamlessly, ensuring an open line of communication between the Nellie Bly and Sea Machines headquarters in Boston, where the vessel was being remotely commanded.

“We set up a hotline from the boat directly to the Boston office. A Voice over IP phone that ran over the Vodafone connection, like the red phone from the Cold War, basically. You pick up the dial, you’d be in contact with the Boston people immediately.”

The Nellie Bly in City Sporthafen, Hamburg

Homebound

Returning to Hamburg marked the triumphant end of Nellie’s voyage.

“Arriving in Hamburg again, receiving her with the whole family and everyone that was there. That was a big moment. The relief of seeing her come into Hamburg knowing that now we actually did it, we’ve done what we set out to do, what we said we would do. Now we can sort of relax.”

Peter attributes the mission’s success to having a system rigorously tested and specifically designed for the real-life marine environment.

“When you build it properly, that is, building stable systems for a marine environment, you’re capable of doing these monumental things. We have gone through great lengths using components that are already used in the marine industry. And we’ve gone through the whole process of having the system certified and tested for marine environments, including rattling, shaking, and salt water spray. These are the factors that are necessary for practical use.”

When questioned about the future of autonomy, Peter emphasizes the need not to reinvent the wheel but to assess the current state and make improvements.

“I don’t necessarily think that you have to invent new rules, but accept the systems as an equivalent to a human lookout. The big takeaway from all this is that this mission, The Machine Odyssey, obviously shows that it’s possible, that it’s now, that it’s here with autonomy. It’s something you can touch and feel right now. It’s not something that is in the future, not hypothetical, it’s not a science project. And we have to adapt and accept this technology so that we can truly make significant forward strides in the maritime industry.”

The Machine Odyssey serves as a powerful reminder of our team’s expertise and determination. Since the voyage, the SM300 has evolved through multiple software and hardware iterations, each step a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement. Introducing new technology into mainstream maritime practices is no easy feat, but our confidence has only grown stronger.

Join us on our journey as we continue to expand the horizons of maritime technology on our social channels (@seamachines).

Until our next voyage!

The post The Machine Odyssey: Unveiling the Journey appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Sea Machines Increases the Productivity and Safety of Offshore Vessels

Read about how Sea Machines technologies support the offshore wind industry in our blog article on the subject: “Sea Machines Increases the Productivity and Safety of Offshore Vessels.”

The post Connect with Sea Machines at WindEurope Offshore 2019 in Copenhagen appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

FMI Industridag has expanded significantly in the number of participating companies and visitors over the last few years, and is now Denmark’s largest exhibition of equipment from the defense industry.

Opening remarks for FMI Industry Day 2019 in Demark

To learn more about how Sea Machines enables government vessels, click here. 

The post FMI Industry Day 2019 Generates Government Interest in Sea Machines appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

The Sea Machines team enjoyed meeting attendees of this year’s successful SeaWork and appreciate the opportunity to provide thought leadership. To learn more about Sea Machines products, click here.

The post Sea Machines Presents on Topic of Marine Autonomy & Advanced Perception at SeaWork appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Sea Machines will attend the BIMCO Autonomous Ships Seminar on Wed., March 27, in Copenhagen, to discuss the future of autonomous shipping with commercial marine industry leaders and ship owners. During this event, Sea Machines will contribute towards BIMCO’s goals of:

1. Prioritizing the five most important developments in order to make autonomous shipping a reality;
2. How best to prepare the industry and identify what the next steps should be; and
3. Capturing a realistic picture of the future with the help of some business cases, by providing information about Sea Machines’ trial of the world’s first A.I.-powered, situational awareness system aboard an A.P. Moller-Maersk containership.

To request time to meet with Sea Machines during the seminar, contact us here.

The post Meet Us at the BIMCO Autonomous Ships Seminar appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

The environmental benefits of removing more plastic from the ocean faster are clear, but Holm also pointed out the significant cost savings that autonomy adds to vessel operations. In particular, Sea Machines products significantly reduce workboats’ operational costs via saved time, resources and lowered crew expenses. With the company’s products installed on board, vessel routes are data-driven and can be pre-programmed for maximum productivity. Further, the well-being of crews must be considered: Sea Machines reduces operator risk, mitigates human error due to fatigue or distraction, and can eliminate crew exposure in dangerous environments.

Holm closed the presentation by discussing the functionality Sea Machines adds, including pre-programmed, waypoint following; methodical survey routes, which optimize clean-ups in large, open waterways; and collaborative following, which provides a force-multiplier effect as two or more vessels to work together autonomously or via remote control.

The Ocean Plastic Forum is a Danish initiative established in 2017 by a number of local companies and organizations. It gives Blue Denmark industry leaders, such as Sea Machines, the opportunity to periodically come together to discuss solutions that can remove plastic pollution from our seas in a financially viable way. Sea Machines is a proud member of the Ocean Plastic Forum.

The post Marine Autonomy Helps Operators Clean Up Ocean Plastics Faster, Cheaper appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Søfart is a maritime industry magazine that caters widely to readers with an interest in all aspects of the Danish maritime industry, known as The Blue Denmark.

The post Søfart: Remote Controlled Work Vessels are Spreading appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

While the presentation will primarily focus on the Maersk project, the speaking opportunity also gives Holm the chance to share the successes and trials from many of Sea Machines’ other “industry firsts.” These include the company’s demonstration of the first autonomous-command, remote-controlled fireboat, owned by TUCO Marine, and the recent operation of a workboat in Boston via a remote-command station located more than 1,500 miles away.

Planning to attend? Request time to meet with Holm here.

e-Navigation Underway International is a recurring event, scheduled this year from Feb. 6 through 9, 2019. The event brings together international experts from all over the world to discuss the implementation of e-navigation and new technologies.

The post Holm to Present at DMA’s e-Navigation Underway appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

The post Singularity Hub: These Smart Seafaring Robots Have a Whole New Set of Skills appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Sea Machines attended the event to strengthen its relationship with the Danish Defense Force, and because the company’s marine autonomy products can be installed aboard existing government, patrol and defense fleets — enabling them as “drone boats” with greater capability, productivity and safety.

UAS Denmark is an international drone test center and cluster, representing 160 members of the drone industry. With a mission of accelerating drone development and use, the organization is one of the only test centers in Europe, based in Hans Christian Andersen Airport, in Odense, Denmark.

The post Sea Machines Attends UAS Denmark Event to Discuss Drone Technology appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Click to read the magazine’s “2018: The Year’s Biggest Ship Technology Stories.”

The post Ship Technology: 2018’s Biggest Stories appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

(BOSTON; December 17, 2018) – Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announced today that it has closed a $10 million Series A investment led by Accomplice and Eniac Ventures, with participation from Toyota AI Ventures; Brunswick Corp., through investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative; NextGen VP, Geekdom Fund; LaunchCapital; LDV Capital and others. The investment marks one of the largest venture rounds for a marine- and maritime-focused technology company and brings the total capital Sea Machines has raised to $12.5M. Sea Machines will use the funds to expand the sales and global reach of its recently released line of products, grow the R&D and engineering teams, roll out new product feature sets, and further the company’s lead in developing advanced situational awareness systems for vessels.  

The industrial marine sector encompasses a broad domain of significant industries, such as maritime transportation, offshore energy, and commercial fishing and aquaculture. Though each are major contributors to the global economy, they commonly operate near or below break-even, in large part due to continued reliance on 20th-century methodologies and technologies. Today’s autonomous technology offers proven solutions to these challenges, and is already being used to retool and modernize the industry for the better.

“We are creating the technology that propels the future of the marine industries. This investment enables us to double down on our commitment to building advanced command and control products that make the industry more capable, productive and profitable,” said Michael Gordon Johnson, founder and CEO, Sea Machines. “This backing is another signal that Sea Machines is the unquestioned leader in the space and is playing an integral role in the revolution of marine and maritime operations driven by technology.”

“At Toyota AI Ventures, we believe that autonomous mobility can help improve people’s lives and create new capabilities – whether on land, in the air or at sea,” said Jim Adler, founding managing director, Toyota AI Ventures. “Sea Machines’ autonomous technology and advanced perception systems can reduce costs, improve efficiency and enhance safety in the multi-billion dollar commercial shipping industry. This marks our first investment in the maritime industry, and we’re excited to embark on this journey with Sea Machines.” 

“Eniac Ventures is excited to back Michael Johnson and the Sea Machines team – the leading maritime and robotics experts solving this industry’s most critical issues, including labor, safety, efficiency and cost,” said Vic Singh, founding general partner, Eniac Ventures. “The level of traction they have from the global maritime industry is a telltale sign that the industry is the next frontier for autonomy. We’re excited to support them as they scale in this important phase of their journey.”

“I think this investment sends a strong signal on the types of technologies that will come to define the maritime industry in the future,” said P. Michael A. Rodey, senior manager, A.P. Moller-Maersk.

Sea Machines is currently developing advanced perception and navigation assistance technology for a range of vessel types, including container ships. In the first quarter, the company will initiate testing of its perception and situational awareness technology aboard one of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s new-build ice-class container ships. 

In October, Sea Machines released its introductory line of autonomous command and remote control systems, developed for the demanding challenges of vessels serving the offshore commercial, scientific and government applications. The SM product series is available now and can be installed aboard existing or new-build commercial vessels with return on investment typically seen within a year.

About Sea Machines
Headquartered in the global tech hub of Boston with a second office in Hamburg, Germany, Sea Machines is a leader in pioneering autonomous control and advanced perception systems for the marine and maritime industries. Founded in 2015, the company builds autonomous vessel software and systems, with a purpose of increasing safety, capability, and performance of commercial vessels, including workboats, security craft, ferries and cargo vessels. Learn more about Sea Machines at www.sea-machines.com.  

# # #

The post Sea Machines Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

Sea Machines’ Peter Holm, European director, attended this week’s Ocean Plastics Forum, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to discuss how the company’s autonomous-command and remote-control products can be used to accelerate pollution clean-up at sea. Capabilities of Sea Machines products include autonomous route planning, survey grid management, collaborative work (shown below*) and obstacle avoidance, all of which increases the productivity, predictability and safety of marine plastic recovery operations. 

The post Sea Machines Attends Ocean Plastic Forum in Denmark, Discusses Solutions appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.

The world’s first autonomous, remote-controlled fireboat

Attendees of the event had the opportunity to learn about the technology and try their hand at operating the fireboat from shore via the remote-control joystick. While operating the workboat remotely was entertaining, participants also learned about the many applications such a product has in the marine industry, from spill prevention and response, to emergency response, hydrographic surveys, tugboat operations and more.

Sea Machines’ Peter Holm, European director, and Slagelse Mayor John Dyrby Paulsen

Sea Machines’ SM300 product – purpose-built for workboats, including patrol boats and ferries – will be released in Q3 2018. It provides direct remote command within a one-kilometer range and autonomous, computerized control for piloting missions with real-time, self-awareness to maintain plan and course, and avoid obstacles. For more information about this product, including pricing, click here.

Holm and DMA’s Charlotte Ahrendt Steen, deputy director
Following the Port of Korsør demonstration, Andreas Nordseth, director general of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), tweeted: “[Autonomus] tech developing faster than we think. Solution now ready for retrofit of any small craft … [Exciting] future ahead.”

Twitter user Don Douglas also shared, “You have to experience this in person to truly realize what @SeaMachines is doing in this space and how disruptive this may be for the industry.”

Slagelse Mayor John Dyrby Paulsen operates the autonomous fireboat via remote control

Sea Machines thanks Maritime Kulturdage for the opportunity to demonstrate its product during the event, as well as all of the attendees who took time to learn about this technology, which will revolutionize the marine industry in the very near future. Special credit also goes to the workboat’s firepump supplier, RK Brand & Teknik.

Top photo: Sea Machines’ Christopher Spagna, marine controls engineer, operates the world’s first autonomous-command, remote control fireboat.

The post Sea Machines Demonstrates Capabilities Aboard World’s First Autonomous, Remote-Controlled Fireboat appeared first on Sea Machines Robotics.