The retrofitting of the Kamsarmax bulk carrier, Pyxis Ocean, with WindWings wind sails marked a significant milestone in the maritime industry. Developed by Bar Technologies and Yara Marine Technologies, the sails were installed on the 80,962dwt vessel at the Cosco yard in China. However, they partially restricted visibility, so Groke Pro situational awareness system from Groke Technologies in Finland was also installed and approved by DNV.
After several successful voyages monitored by Groke, Bar Technologies and Groke have plans to collaborate on additional autonomous navigation systems to improve safety at sea and port operations for ships using WindWings. The Groke Pro system provides images to bridge personnel from various locations on the vessel, using sensor fusion technology to continuously track the ship’s surroundings and combine data from sensors, radar, AIS, and cameras for real-time risk analysis and decision support.
John Cooper, CEO of Bar Technologies, sees this partnership as a crucial step towards integrating low carbon propulsion and the latest automation technologies in the maritime industry. He emphasizes the importance of innovation and collaboration with industry specialists to overcome operational challenges. Juha Rokka, CEO of Groke Technologies shares this vision, stating that Groke is dedicated to leading the way in the evolving shipping industry and supporting higher safety standards and a cleaner future through their technology and expertise.
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