Deadline: 20-Apr-23
The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for its Integrated real-time digital solutions to optimise navigation and port calls to reduce emissions from shipping.
Scope
Shipping is frequently subject to prolonged waiting periods offshore before birthing and offloading cargo. Vessels waiting at anchorage pending the availability of port capacity reduce operational efficiency as well as increasing emissions, either whilst waiting or due to faster sailing speeds to arrive at port in case of birth availability. To avoid these situations, port call optimisation systems have been developed and are now being piloted. However, these have been generally limited to specific services. More widely applicable navigation and port call optimisation tools which can address the entire voyage, promote the most efficient sailing speeds to reduce emissions and ensure direct berthing without delay could substantially improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Project outputs and results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Progressing beyond the state of the art, full-scale demonstration of an interoperable port call and voyage optimisation tool on existing routes and services involving at least three ports and two shipping companies and relevant stakeholders in port call operations.
- Improved operational efficiency of vessels when arriving to/departing from ports, towards elimination of waiting times during navigation and at the port. Develop and demonstrate in realistic environment, KPIS’s to quantify these gains.
- Increased navigational safety through improved sea traffic management from onshore which has been assessed with respect to the status quo considering also situational awareness during port entrance, manoeuvring, berthing, departure and potentially related skills issues.
- Optimised fuel efficiency and reduced vessel emissions through voyage, waiting at anchorage and port arrival optimisation to facilitate more efficient sailing speeds. Reductions in fuel consumption of 10 to 20% with corresponding reductions in greenhouse gas emission should be demonstrated, compared to business as usual during navigation and at port and port-to-port approach.
- Enable shipping companies to quantify their fuel savings and the GHG emissions avoided as a result of the optimisation system and the real-time information shared with ports during vessel voyage.
- Development of port call optimisation standards considering the on-going standardisation initiatives by IMO/ISO groups to facilitate a secure and resilient operational, real-time digital data sharing and decision support system for port and voyage optimisation; and develop operational roadmap(s) for standard technical committees.
- Assessment and quantification of the benefits of port and navigation optimisation for different types of maritime traffic, e.g. tramp and regular services for bulk, container, passenger, cruise ships, Ro-Pax, Ro-Ro, etc.
- Adaption to the existing and/or development of business models to prove the commercial viability of voyage and port call optimisation to facilitate take up and its wider application.
Eligibility Criteria
- To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
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To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions,
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States,
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- the following low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit European Commission.