Halifax Port Authority And Marine Thinking To Test New Capabilities In A Live Marine Environment
August 24, 2023, Halifax, NS – On Friday, August 25, 2023, the Halifax Port Authority (HPA) will partner with Marine Thinking, a member company at The PIER, to test new technology at the Port of Halifax. Marine Thinking will undertake an autonomous sonar survey of Piers 20, 21 and 22 using their electric Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), Acadia. The scans will collect data on the current condition of seawall infrastructure and seabed elevation to support planning for future maintenance and projects.
The vessel – a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) is fully electric, reducing both noise and air emissions at the source. Responsible and pro-active management of HPA’s infrastructure in an environmentally sustainable manner allows HPA to meet infrastructure requirements while continuing to move toward Net-Zero operations.
“This trial will improve the understanding of emerging USV capabilities and will prepare HPA for the application and future use of autonomous vessels in the Halifax Harbour,” said Govinda Jagdeo, Project Manager, Marine Thinking. “Our autonomous technology solutions are helping the industry advance further and faster while ensuring a safer and more sustainable future.”
“The PIER is where HPA and its members come to co-create, test and demonstrate emerging technologies,” said David Thomas, Executive Director, The PIER. “This is a great example of how we can leverage what PIER members are doing and test it in a real environment. Adopting solutions for infrastructure surveying could bring down deployment time and enable HPA to perform more surveys, including after major weather events.”
For members of the media who would like to attend this event, please contact Emily Richardson to arrange shoreside access. For those who cannot attend, The PIER will provide photos to social media channels following the event.
About Marine Thinking
Marine Thinking is an autonomous technology company transforming the way we understand and interact with the ocean. Empowering crewed and uncrewed surface vessels (USV) with autonomous performance capabilities, Marine Thinking is creating new possibilities and opportunities for a wide variety of marine applications.
About The PIER
The PIER (Port Innovation, Engagement and Research) is Canada’s first living lab dedicated to enabling collaborative problem solving between tech companies, local and global supply chain partners, researchers, SMEs, and startups to support innovation and uncover new commercial opportunities within the transportation, supply chain and logistics industries. The PIER provides a landing space for developing companies with expertise in maritime and landside transportation and logistics who want to create solutions alongside global industrial leaders.
About the Port of Halifax:
The Port of Halifax meets the needs of today’s shipping, cargo and cruise operations, while building for the future. Initiatives are underway to enhance the flow of goods and people through the Port of Halifax, improve efficiency and identify future opportunities.
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Emily Richardson
Communications Coordinator
Halifax Port Authority
Ph. (902) 229-8011
[email protected]