Imagine a conveyor belt for cargo, but instead of a belt, it uses self-driving boats. These boats move goods 24/7 between ports without a crew on board, managed by people in a remote control center. It is like replacing long truck queues with a smart, automated water taxi service for containers.
Freight transport suffers from congested roads, administrative bottlenecks, and fragmented information. Current waterborne transport lacks the automation needed to make it a viable, 24/7 alternative to trucking.
The DockNLoad system, featuring autonomous cranes, mooring solutions, and cargo stowage software (VCOP). It also includes a Remote Operation Centre (ROC) communication protocol and a digital supply chain overview.
If you are an intermodal transport operator dealing with congested road infrastructure and administrative delays — this project developed autonomous cargo shuttles and remote operation centers that shift freight to waterways to improve efficiency.
If you are a port authority dealing with slow cargo handling and manual mooring — this project developed the DockNLoad system, including autonomous cranes and mooring solutions, to enable 24/7 automated operations.
If you are a maritime software provider dealing with a lack of standardized communication between ships and shore — this project developed vessel-to-ROC communication messages and automated stowage planning software.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not listed, but the project is developing sustainable business models to minimize investment risk for first movers.
The project is currently verifying solutions through two full-scale Demo Use Cases and six Transferability Use Cases across Europe to prove scalability.
Based on available project data, licensing details are not provided; however, the project focuses on creating building blocks for wider adoption and replication.
The project is identifying regulatory gaps and providing recommendations to policymakers to allow the safe deployment of fully automated services.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-12-31, suggesting the full validation phase concludes at the end of 2026.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 18 industry partners representing 56% of the 32 total members. This high ratio, combined with 7 SMEs and partners from 13 countries, indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and cross-border logistics rather than purely academic research.
Contact ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION in Greece
Contact us to connect with the SEAMLESS consortium for pilot integration.
