Innovative Operator Training & Education in the Maritime EnvironmentCopy Link

Innovative Operator Training & Education in the Maritime Environment  

The EnSiX challenge competition, delivered by the Knowledge Transfer Network is supporting Associated British Ports to identify innovative solutions to significant challenges relating to Energy Systems that will lead to environmentally sustainable innovations being implemented across the business. The winning business(es) in this competition will be given a commercial opportunity to deliver their solution and receive support from Associated British Ports. 

Background 

 The Innovation Exchange programme is working alongside Associated British Ports (ABP) to assist them in reaching out to innovators to help them solve a significant challenge they are trying to overcome in relation to energy systems and the conversion of site equipment to environmentally future-proofed sustainable solutions. ABP are looking to identify transferable solutions to its innovation needs. 

Shipping, ports and logistics is a critical part of international import and export markets and supports the global distribution of goods. Concerns and legislative requirements about climate change and local air quality impacts require the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping and ports sector. It means that the industry must prepare for the new future. 

ABP is the UK's leading port operator with a network of 21 ports across Britain ABP handles around one-quarter of the nation's seaborne trade, contributing £7.5 billion to the economy every year and supporting 119,000 jobs. ABP also operates one of the UK's busiest rail terminals at Hams Hall in the Midlands. 

 Challenge 3: Enhancing efficiency through Operator Learning and Assisted Inspection Technologies 

ABP need to look at the way people are using their equipment and develop a learning for them so that they use them in both an environmentally friendly fashion and ensure care for equipment so that it runs at its most efficient. 

The equipment may also assist the people in their operation provided the operator can take full control at the appropriate time. 

ABP is looking for innovation to develop personal learning as well as data collection on equipment to build a picture of how it is being used. Telemetry may be an option to feed in usage data and then develop in to learning suites where people can analyse the data and use it to make a more efficient working environment. 

ABP are also looking for innovation for the collection of data as to where and how vessels and machinery are within the working area so that it can be analysed and training developed so people use their equipment in a safer and more carbon friendly manner, routes and best practices can be developed so that the port is more efficient and uses less Energy. These may include data collection that optimises the way that time and usage may be analysed for best fuel efficiency. 

ABP is looking to work with providers to develop these technologies and will seek an implementation program that progresses to advanced learning and monitoring systems in the future. 

Rationale: 

1. Increased focus on port related air quality and emissions
2. Rising fuel costs as a result of the escalating price of oil.
3. Environmental regulations introduced to mitigate the effects of climate change.
4. The potential introduction of carbon taxes.
5. Zero carbon for 2050 and city regions advancing clean air targets. 

ABP are actively looking for solutions that will; 

(i) lower the energy consumption 

(ii) Reduce fuel use 

(iii) Reduce emissions  

The challenge is focussed around enhancing operator learning and optimising the use of data and real time imaging in marine operations. This may involve enabling the increase of big data and data flows, which contribute to understanding how a vessel is operated and can therefore have significant areas for optimisation. 

Whilst not limiting the technologies from solution providers, it is expected that solutions would consider innovations from some of the following areas:

• Education/Learning
• Operator learning technologies from other sectors - AR/VR suites
• Analytics
• Telemetry - data collection and AI to analyse and suggest alternatives
• Learning systems on boat controls - cruise control
• Vision systems from other sectors such as transport
• Vehicle fleet management 

Anything proposed must not impact on the sea worthiness of the vessel. Solutions must not affect driver alertness and must factor in health and safety considerations.

Rewards and benefits

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to the Challenger. The package may also include:

• Support from the Catapult networks and the KTN
• Support in the development of a prototype or pilot
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at KTN or Catapult events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Review for any relevant Innovate competitions related to clean air to support

Solution Requirements

Functional Requirements (Depending on solution):

• Must be incremental and not revolutionary change
• Must not affect the sea worthiness of the vessel.
• Must not affect driver alertness and must factor in health and safety considerations.

Technical Characteristics:

• Technological behavioural influences: Scope and implement technology and processes that encourages operator efficiency (vessels, plant and equipment being immediate priorities)
• Operating Conditions Suitable for extreme maritime conditions
• Marine, Category 3 waters
• Operated 24/7
• 365 days a year

Deployment Timescale         Launch of the Competition: 2nd September 2019

                                            Deadline for applications: 31st October 2019

                                            Selection and notification of finalists: TBA

Solutions should be:

• Fully deployable for prototype for testing within 9- 12 months of competition win.
• Full commercial deployment by the end of 2021 (there are operational sites that a solution could start work on immediately if the system is already commercially available).

Cost requirement and market opportunity

• All solutions will be viewed with potential payback in the first year of use, as the fuel bill for plant and equipment (up to £1-2m across ABP for plant and equipment) is significant, both return on investment and reduction in carbon will be carefully considered.
• Investment will be in proportion to the saving.

Eligibility and assessment criteria

Entrants to this competition must be:

1. Established businesses, start-ups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs
2. UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the topic
• Innovative nature of the subject
• Coherence of the proposed business model
• Feasibility/ economic viability
• Development potential
• Maturity of project/solution
• Ability to launch project quickly/Ease of implementation
• Price/quality ratio
• Suitability for the UK and European Market

IP and Potential Commercial Route

• Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Any commercial deployment of transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger. This would be at the point of business engagement; pitches would expect to have key IP information removed and performance improvement described.
• Innovate UK and KTN do not take any share of IP ownership or enter into commercial venture through the EnSiX programme.