Press Releases

SeaClear: Successful use of robots to collect marine litter

European researchers have developed a functioning team of intelligent robots to clear the seabed of litter. The SeaClear system, which was developed as part of a four-year European research project that ended in December 2023, has successfully passed a series of tests in both clear and murky waters.

SeaClear press release

February 22, 2024

Transition to climate-friendly, flexible, and resilient transportation – New research project AUTOFLEX to introduce small, autonomous, zero-emission inland vessels

The increased use of inland waterway transport is hampered by changes in the cargo structure and fluctuating water levels due to climatic changes. On the other hand, a number of studies have shown that small, autonomous vessels can provide economically and ecologically sustainable new logistics services - even on previously underutilized waterways. The AUTOFLEX project partners want to evaluate and prove the feasibility of a newly designed transport system through tests on a model scale and with the help of a full-scale demonstrator.

AUTOFLEX press release

December 1, 2023

Reinventing VHF maritime traffic: Fintraffic and Fraunhofer CML put AI to work

Together with the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services (CML), the Vessel Traffic Service Center (VTS) Fintraffic has launched a research project in which VHF maritime radio traffic is to be further developed with the help of automatic speech recognition. In the future, a speech recognition system using artificial intelligence will convert and provide radio traffic into text form for Fintraffic's vessel traffic centers - in real time. This will support the correct interpretation of messages, especially in challenging situations.

Press release

April 5, 2023

The research project will analyse data collected from shipboard equipment and systems to accelerate the shipowners’ digitalisation efforts. Marlink, a network solutions company, has signed an agreement with leading research institute Fraunhofer CML (Center for Maritime Logistics and Services) to identify Key Performance Indicator data to accelerate digitalisation and define the Return on Investment (ROI) scenarios for longterm operational efficiency.

Press release 

January 18, 2023