AEGIS has developed innovative container ships and RoRo barges, all low- or zero emission. The smaller ships and barges are equipped with battery containers and the larger ships have combustion engines running on methanol.
The short-sea container shipping case has been validated through logistics and energy simulations with the SIMPACT tool developed in the project. Inland waterway RoRo transport, has been analysed and validated through comprehensive calculations. Furthermore, operational data and assumptions done based on the developed RoRo barge concepts and innovative cargo handling equipment were applied on the case. The two Danish ports have gained increased understanding of logistical flows, specific consideration on autonomy in yard and ship operations, new advanced vessels, digital connectivity and cybersecurity, policy support and impact, as well as assessments of impact.
The cost-benefit analysis has focused on the three sustainability pillars economy, environment and social and assessed the three use cases, where the results were positive both on emissions and cost. An assessment of the effects of the ETS scheme on the three use cases was also performed.
A methodology for safe and secure communication solutions to be used for inland waterways and short-sea shipping has been developed. The AEGIS project also developed the ISO 28005 standards for the ship-shore communication protocol and the data definitions, both for electronic port clearance and for the exchange of operational information between ship and shore. Grieg Connect has developed and extended their Port Community Systems with new services to cover requirements from small ports.
The investigation of policy support and measures unveiled that existing legal requirements in short-sea shipping often cause hindrance to fit the policy goals calling for a transition from land-based to maritime transport logistics. Regulatory and policy hurdles found in AEGIS were put into perspective with the background of the fit-for-55 package. Implementation measures for policy instruments were discussed from the standpoint of technological disruption; the main finding here is that policy support ought to consider the overall ongoing progressive introduction of newer technical solutions, both in automation and propulsion, leading to great societal change around port areas.
AEGIS had three demonstrators: 1. Autonomous crane, 2. Autonomous terminal tractors, and 3. Remotely-operated reach stackers. Automated terminal layout simulations, with a fleet of robotic reach stackers, were carried out for a specific terminal layout.
The project ensured high project visibility, with high collaboration efforts with other H2020 projects (i.e. AUTOSHIP, MOSES and NOVIMOVE), at conferences and fairs (i.e. SMM, TRA2022, ITS Congress 2023, ESREL and ICMASS).
Partly because of the AEGIS project, NCL decided to invest in mother ships and considers daughters, DFDS got inland barges high on the agenda and the collaboration between Port of Aalborg and Kalmar turned out to be very promising and the positive impacts from automation in terminal operations puts the AEGIS results high on the strategic agenda.
