Smart buoys to boost major Baltic waterway

Maritime technological solutions provider Arctia has said it has installed 34 smart buoys on the busiest waterway in Finland, the Saimaa deep fairway, as part of the EMMA Extension Project, an EU-led initiative to improve inland sea navigation in the Baltic region.

In a statement Arctia said the smart buoys significantly improve navigational safety in the waterway as pilots and vessel tracking systems (VTS) can adjust the light output of beacons, as well as a the rhythm of lights to support the traffic of goods.

Furthermore, the company said the light output can be adjusted in real time centrally by the VTS center and, if necessary, even with a tablet used by the pilot.

Additionally, remote-controlled signs send information about, among other things, the functionality of the light, the condition of the power supply, and the actual location of the sign.

This information, Arctia said, improves the navigability of the fairway and increases maritime safety. Modern technology also reduces the carbon footprint, while location inspections of signs can be done more efficiently.

The EMMA Extension is led by the Port of Hamburg and will focus on next steps towards further market deployment of inland water transport by capitalizing on the results and partnership of project EMMA and implementing practical solutions.

It includes participants from Germany, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/smart-buoys-to-boost-major-baltic-waterway/