Lakes Bulker Automates: Largest Ship to Perform Automatic Dock-to-Dock Operations

摘要

The M/V American Courage, a 636-foot, 10-inch long Great Lakes self-unloading bulker, is the largest ship ever to perform automatic dock-to-dock operation. This follows a decision by its owner-American Steamship Company, a subsidiary of Rand-ASC Holdings LLC- to fit the 1979-built ship with Wartsila SmartMove solutions for hands-off transit along the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. Dave Foster, CEO of Rand-ASC Holdings, says the company "strives to have a safer, more consistent operation across our entire fleet and entire organization." With the SmartMove solution, he says, "we don't see an empty wheelhouse, we see officers monitoring automated equipment that are navigating our vessels, all to a consistent standard."