IN a bid to remain relevant in the global shipping industry, the  Singaporean Ports Authority, SPA, is considering to run its port system with Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles, UAVs.

Delivery by drones…could this be regulated in the near future?

The idea to deploy a robot to operate its ports are at the centre of this transformation agenda initiated by the management of the port.

They have the potential to reduce manual labour; handle more dangerous tasks; and increase surveillance for detection of threats.

Drones and robots are able to access places where humans cannot. “We used to tear down the ship to survey the whole tanker. How much time is spent doing this whole survey?” With drones, Lim says, they are able to scan the ship much quicker and easier.

The Port Authority now has a “drone estate” on Marina South where they test out how they can be used in the maritime industry. Airbus and Willhemsen, a global maritime group, are already testing the use of drones to deliver goods from shore to ship without docking.

Lim reveals that the MPA is also looking at using automated tug boats equipped with sensors to detect and collect garbage at sea. This way, a previously time consuming and the manual task can be controlled from a single command centre with the touch of a pedal.

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Robots are creating jobs

While there are worries that jobs may become irrelevant due to automation, artificial intelligence is not ready to take over port operations just yet. Lim points out that digitalisation will, in fact, give experienced older workers the ability to keep contributing to the industry.

An example is for sea-weary captains, seafarers, and engineers to work from a command centre instead of being out at sea. “Now we just have dashboard monitor on, and with their seafaring experience, you can tell these engines don’t sound right, don’t look right”. This is only made possible because of digitalisation, he says.

Another area where older workers can contribute is by mentoring tech startups who want to solve problems in the maritime industry, Lim says. “We see a lot of senior workers who actually come forward to become mentors because they have a lot of domain, they have a lot of scenarios that they can tell you a different type of requirements.”

Even as automation replaces manual roles in the maritime industry, industry experience still matters in rolling out solutions which work. This is the kind of tech ecosystem which MPA wants to create.

Changing business models with startups

The port industry has a traditional structure, but the tech is turning this upside down. Officers can now work with fintech applications to reduce the amount of paperwork required, and partner with healthcare startups to keep tabs on the wellbeing of the crew who have spent a long time away from home.

Lim wants to look outside the maritime sector in providing solutions, such as in the use of UAVs. “Drones seem to be very mature on land. But in the sea actually they face a different problem; they cannot land autonomously because of the sea state,” explains the chief technology officer.

Local Startups can help tackle this problem. “What are the other solutions that are used in other sectors? Or can I have a very niche kind of solutions that can be used for specific problems?” These are the kind of questions Lim wants industry players to start asking.