EU Bankrolls e-Navigation Project
The European Union has approved and set aside EUR 10.8 million for a EUR 12.5 million ‘EfficienSea2’ maritime innovation project intended to enhance safety of navigation and increase efficiency at sea.
This triennial maritime project is scheduled to start on Friday, May 1, and will be led by the Danish Maritime Authority.
An important part of the project will be the development of the ‘Maritime Cloud’ – a communication tool that will strengthen the exchange of information in and around the maritime sector.
The project is also expected to develop a wide range of new digital services within the areas of navigation and automatic ship emission reporting and monitoring, which will increase efficiency.
Finally, the project focuses on the development of more inexpensive and more efficient communication channels at sea – such as intelligent use of the most inexpensive communication channel available and the development of an entirely new cost-effective communication channel referred to as VDES (VHF Data Exchange System).
The EU interest in the project consists, inter alia, in lifting e-Navigation from the prototype level to real implementation in the Baltic Sea and Arctic waters.
“There’s no doubt that this project is ground-breaking and holds a high potential for innovation. This will pave the way to, and fast track to, the introduction and use of modern communication, navigation and administrative systems that better match the companies’ requirements for efficiency and increased safety as well as improved usability,” the EU said in a statement.
The project consortium consists of 32 partners from 12 different EU countries.
Image: DMA
