Cons.A.R. - Italian Shipowner's Research Consortium

Project title
AZIPILOT

Duration
36 months (3 years)

Date of Start Project
November 2008

From the thrusters on smaller, but numerous, harbour support vessels through to the pod-drives on cruise ships and ocean going liners, azimuthing control has rapidly established itself in the maritime industry. While the industry has risen to meet the demand, this rapid evolution has not allowed sufficient time for the propagation of knowledge throughout the different disciplines. Though the various sectors of the industry each have their own expertise, a lack of communication is both restricting progress and compromising safety. In addition, much work is being repeated unnecessarily.
AZIPILOT project brings together the industrial sectors responsible for the design and the testing, for the simulation and the training, the operators (shipowners) and port pilots who operate onboard and regulatory authorities. The project intends to promote a wider comprehension among all sectors involved and interested, with the primary objective of an harmonization of operations and with the scope to provide recommendations for both regulatory entities and training of the pilots; specifically for ships equipped with propulsive and manoeuvring azimuthing control devices.
The project will provide a forum for cross-disciplinary discussion between the key
industry sectors; specifically:
- The specialist in HYDRODYNAMIC MODELLING and testing, both theoretical and experimental, and expert in the understanding of azimuthing control devices.
- The designers and manufacturers of MARINE SIMULATION software, hardware and physical models that are used for the training of marine pilots. Including, the designers, human factors specialists and manufactures of automation and control systems, joystick systems and graphical user interfaces.
- The MARITIME TRAINING facilities using both numerical and physical simulation tools and specialist in the theory and practice of human factors (physical and behavioural components) and specialist in the training of bridge-crews and pilots.
- Practitioners in OPERATIONAL PRACTICE including maritime pilots, ship operators/managers, pilot association and end-users. And including, Maritime Authorities and Regulators specifically interested in policy and regulation.

The AZIPILOT project addresses the problems and seek solutions for the optimal and secure use of control systems and propulsion azimuthing devices by the pilots and officers involved in the conduction of merchant ships. The commitment and interest of CONS.A.R. focuses on matters relating to merchant vessels. Activities focus on the issues for training and reviewing the practices related to the use of such devices, according to the latest technological innovations in power and control, emphasizing the current deficiencies and consequences in order to improve conducting and piloting operations.

Last 31st May-1st June 2011, the M30 project advancement meeting was held in Rome. CONS.A.R. host the project partners @ Confitarma premises in Palazzo Colonna.
Aim of the meeting was to review the work done so far and to plan the remaining activities to be concluded within the end of the project, fixed for next 31st October 2011.
The meeting also was an opportunity to met the Deputy Director of the Federazione Italiana Piloti (Pilots Italian Federation), to discuss about interesting aspects related to the use of azimuthal propulsion systems and to the training modality of the maritime personnel.
Next meetings are fixed for 5th-6th September 2011 in London, on board the war-ship HMS Wellington, and on 19th-20th October 2011 in South Shields, England.

School of Marine Science and Technology - Newcastle University (UK),
BMT SeaTech Ltd. (UK),
Broström Aktiebolag (Sweden),
Cons.A.R. - Consorzio Armatori per la Ricerca s.r.l. (Italy),
CTO, Ship Design and Research Centre (Poland),
Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (Germany),
FORCE Technology (Denmark),
Foundation for Safety of Navigation and Environment Protection (Poland),
Mettle (France),
SOGREAH Consultants (France),
South Tyneside College (UK),
SSPA (Sweden),
AB (Sweden),
Scheepvaart en Transport College (Netherlands),
Transas Limited (Ireland),
United Kingdom Maritime Pilots Association (UK)