HGK Shipping receives approval for remote control

HGK Shipping has received a permit for the remote control of a hazardous goods vessel in Flanders, marking a significant step in optimizing operational processes, the company reports. The Flemish Waterways Company (De Vlaamse Waterweg nv) granted the company, as the first shipping company, permission to operate the hazardous goods vessel „Walcheren“ from a Remote Operations Center (ROC). This permit is initially valid for one year and allows HGK to reduce the crew on board.

The permit allows for the navigation of vessels on the waterways east of Antwerp with only one shipmaster and one sailor, instead of the previously required two shipmasters. This is part of HGK Shipping’s approach to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in inland shipping. Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group, emphasizes that the permit represents an important advancement in making personnel deployment more efficient.

The technology provided by project partner SEAFAR has convinced the authorities in previous testing phases, the company states. In the second phase of the test operation, which is already being conducted in the Netherlands and Germany, shipmasters navigated the vessels from the ROC but remained on board. With the new permit in Flanders, this is no longer necessary, as the technology has been recognized as reliable and compliant with regulations.

In the third phase of operations, the ROC operator will now remotely control the vessel for four hours. Meanwhile, the sailor will monitor operations in the wheelhouse while the second shipmaster takes their rest period. This new operational form requires careful training and close collaboration between the involved partners to ensure smooth operations.

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