The ferry “General Chernyakhovsky” has become the first Russian vessel to start operating in a remote control mode using autonomous navigation technology. Last week, the vessel left the port of Ust-Luga for Kaliningrad, the press office of the RF Ministry of Transport has reported.
The ceremony to mark the event was held during the Digital Transportation Forum in Moscow. According to Andrey Belousov, First Deputy Vice Premier of the Russian Federation, it was not a test voyage, but the start of commercial operations.
Deputy transport minister Alexander Poshivay noted that developing autonomous shipping technologies is not a one-off project but the policy o the Government. He added that using autonomous shipping technologies will help reduce the operating costs of ship owners and improve the work conditions for vessel crews.
The task for the “General Chernyakhovsky” was to sail some 500 nautical miles in the autonomous mode to arrive at Kaliningrad on December 21 delivering socially important cargo.
Photo: RF Ministry of Transport