Imagine replacing heavy delivery trucks in city centers with small, self-driving electric boats. These boats act like floating conveyor belts that move cargo through canals and coasts without needing a full crew. It is like upgrading old river barges into smart, green shuttles that don't pollute the air.
Urban road networks are congested, and the inland waterway fleet is aging and expensive to crew. There is a lack of small, zero-emission, automated vessels to make water transport a viable alternative to trucking.
SFAZ vessel prototypes, a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tool, and a Digital Twin platform for operational optimization. It also includes a Next-generation Remote Control Centre and Automated Smart Terminals.
If you are a logistics provider dealing with road congestion in cities — this project developed SFAZ vessel prototypes that shift cargo to waterways. This reduces reliance on trucks and lowers carbon emissions using fuel cells and electric power.
If you are a shipbuilder dealing with an aging fleet and high crew costs — this project developed new Class I vessel designs and automation control systems. These allow for the creation of smaller, flexible boats that require fewer crew members.
If you are a port operator dealing with inefficient cargo handling in confined areas — this project developed Automated Smart Terminals. These integrate with automated vessels to optimize the flow of goods in urban regions.
Based on available project data, the project developed a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tool to evaluate the economic and environmental viability of SFAZ vessel deployment.
The project uses three Living Labs in Ghent, Caen, and Galati to demonstrate the technology in real and virtual urban regions, moving from TRL 3 toward TRL 5-6.
Based on available project data, the project involves a consortium of 18 partners, including 11 industry players, but specific licensing terms are not provided.
The project aims to contribute to regulatory evolution to lower barriers for the integration of automated vessels into logistics chains.
The project period runs from 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31, with current results already delivering validated automation and control systems.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 61% industry ratio, comprising 11 companies and 8 SMEs across 10 countries. This strong commercial presence, combined with 5 academic and research partners, suggests the project is focused on market application rather than pure theory.
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