The SEAMLESS partners constitute a consortium capable of achieving the project objectives, committed to the tasks assigned to them.
The consortium comprises of 26 organizations from 12 EU countries.
NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS (NTUA)
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) was founded in 1837 and is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of Greece in the field of technology, and has contributed unceasingly to the country's scientific, technical and economic development since its foundation. In the academic community, apart from its high-level educational role, NTUA promotes high-standard scientific research. Through its various laboratories, NTUA has participated in various research programs funded either by its own resources, the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, other public bodies, the European Commission or by private institutions in several countries, under the necessary academic conditions.
DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (DUT)
Delft University of Technology (DUT) is a multifaceted institution offering education and research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. A key focus area involves the design and operation of transportation & logistics systems. DUT is a founding member of the PhD Research School on Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics (TRAIL) and the Transport Institute. The Department of Maritime & Transport Technology, part of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (650+ scientists, 240+ support staff, and 2,400+ students), leads the research on new concepts and solutions for design, building and operation of maritime, dredging, and transport systems with their equipment. The department has ample knowledge of dynamics and simulation of the physical processes involved in maritime systems, the logistics and the interaction between the equipment and control systems. Research is carried out within the framework of national and international (H2020) projects, often involving multi-disciplinary consortia comprised of academia, industry, and societal organizations.
BERGEN HAVN AS (BERGEN)
Port of Bergen has been one of Norway's most important cities for many hundred years for trade, fishing, petroleum activities, ship technology, cruise tourism and aquaculture. Today, Bergen is Norway's second-largest port and one of Northern Europe's most popular cruise destinations. The port's key focus areas are promoting sea transport and managing, operating, and developing port facilities, emphasising sustainable solutions.
TIC 4.0 (TIC4.0)
TIC4.0 is an international non-profit organisation with scientific, innovation and educational objectives focused on the port-logistics industry. TIC4.0 aims to develop and promote the adoption of process and technology standards through digitalisation for the cargo handling industry, with the view of facilitating the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies by companies active in the port terminal and logistics sectors. The general focus of TIC4.0 is on the terminal industry and more specifically on container terminal industry. The activities of TIC4.0 include the following: 1. To identify and define the technical vocabulary specific to the terminal industry, starting with the cargo handling industry. 2. To produce a comprehensive body of information on the definitions, terminologies, and their application to the operational dimension of the terminal industry. 3. To develop sample messages and communication protocols that may be used as templates by industry actors for seamless data communication. 4. To support the interoperability of different information sub-systems. 5. To enable the deployment of the TIC4.0 concepts by all interested industry actors. 6. To facilitate the adoption of new data driven technologies such as BigData, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Business Analytics, among others.
ZULU ASSOCIATES (ZULU)
ZULU Associates is active as initiator, developer and operator of innovations in the marine component of logistic chains. Its goal is to enable zero emission operation of commercial vessels on inland waterways, short sea and coastal routes through autonomous operation and alternative propulsion. ZULU Associates was established to regroup and exploit innovations in logistic chains with a marine content. The marine industry, whether seagoing or inland, is fiercely traditional and faces huge challenges and opportunities regarding emissions, alternative propulsion, digital revolution, autonomous operation and its role in logistic chains. ZULU Associates believes that these opportunities will result in disruptive innovations which will change radically the way a number of marine services will operate and this in a relative short period. By actively pursuing these innovations and creating the elements for their success, ZULU Associates is convinced important long-term value can be created for its stakeholders.
SINTEF OCEAN AS (SO)
SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest independent research organisations with experience in multiple sectors including land and maritime transport. SINTEF has more than 100 laboratories, and a range of software and simulation solutions for testing, development, and verification. SINTEF Ocean is a part of SINTEF with special focus on the ocean, from agriculture to the maritime sector. In the maritime sector SINTEF Ocean has broad and internationally recognized competence within areas from hydrodynamics to autonomous ships. The company has 400 employees and is an integrated part of SINTEF, but also minority owned by strong and motivated industry players.
CIAOTECH Srl (PNO)
The PNO Group (aka PNO Consultants), established in 1984, is a European group, made up of a pool of more than 400 professionals across 9 Member States. Every year, PNO supports more than 3.000 clients in their R&D processes, realizing original data-driven and expert-driven analysis and creating over 300 cutting-edge R&D projects – changing the world for the better. PNO has drafted and successfully executed dissemination and exploitation plans of a great number of European projects in various sectors. In this project, PNO is represented by CIAOTECH S.r.l., the Italian branch of PNO Consultants, specialized in R&D Advisory, Innovation Management and funding procurement, providing consultancy services to private and public organizations.
INNEN - INNOVATION ENGINEERING SRL
INNEN developed the Business Intelligence and Tech Mining platform and search tool Wheesbee, able to perform screening of the funded projects databases (i.e. databases of European projects as well as national projects) and of several patent databases such as European, US, WIPO, and Japanese patent offices to identify the major patents owners and potential investors to identify the Innovators in the fields of interest.
NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU (NTNU)
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is Norway’s largest university with approximately 44,000 students across 9 faculties and 55 departments. NTNU awards more than 400 PhD degrees yearly and was a major participant in Horizon 2020 with 263 signed projects. In the SEAMLESS-project, NTNU is represented by the Department of Engineering Cybernetics and the Department of Marine Technology. The Department of Engineering Cybernetics educates and conducts research within automatic control of dynamic systems like aircraft, marine craft, robots, automotive systems, electrical circuits, biological systems, process plants, etc. and their behavior. The Department of Marine Technology educates and conducts research about methods and techniques which facilitate the assessment and development of technical and operational solutions for Norway's biggest export industries: oil and gas extraction at sea, ship technology with corresponding equipment industry, fisheries technology, and aquaculture technology.
INSTITUT FUR SEEVERKEHRSWIRTSCHAFT UND LOGISTIK (ISL)
The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) based in Bremen and Bremerhaven (Germany) has positioned itself as one of Europe's leading institutions for research, consulting and know-how transfer in maritime logistics. ISL offers customized and innovative solutions in the maritime domain along seven competence areas which cover Maritime Markets, Maritime Security, Maritime Environment, Maritime Transport Chains, Simulation, Digital Innovations and Software Solutions.
INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE TECHNOLOGIQUE SYSTEMX (IRTSX)
IRT SYSTEMX is a French Research and Technology Organization dedicated to digital engineering, expert in the analysis, modeling, simulation and decision support for complex systems. SYSTEMX coordinates partnership-based research and development projects, bringing together academics and industrials in a multidisciplinary and cross-cutting perspective. Together, we strive to lift key scientific and technological barriers to the benefit of 5 priority fields of application: Mobility and Autonomous Transport, Industry 5.0, Defense and Security, Environment and Sustainable Development, Digital and Health. At the heart of Paris-Saclay since 2012 -French excellence R&D cluster- SYSTEMX has launched 62 research projects (38 ongoing), involving over 100 industrial partners and 55 academic laboratories.
FUNDACION DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA PARA LA INVESTIGACION, PROMOCION Y ESTUDIOS COMERCIALES DE VALENCIAPORT (VPF)
Fundación Valenciaport is an Applied Research, Innovation & Training center providing services to the port and logistics cluster. This initiative of the Port Authority of Valencia has enjoyed the collaboration of notable businesses, universities and institutions from the port community. Since its establishment, it has developed more than 300 projects in 60 countries, primarily Mediterranean nations, as well as from the rest of Europe, Asia and Latin America.
DUISBURGER HAFEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (PODU)
As a trimodal logistics hub and one of the main inland hubs in Europe, the Port of Duisburg (duisport) provides the optimal combination of advantageous geographical location and favorable location conditions with extensive logistics expertise. With a total handling of more than 4 million TEU, duisport is the world’s largest hinterland container port. With its well-connected network of logistics services, the port provides locally active enterprises with the best conditions for the European wide supply and disposal for trade and industry. Direct, multi-modal networking with international freight traffic underlines the port’s leading position as the gateway to European markets.
INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR TRANSPORT, LOGISTIC AND MOBILITY (IDIT)
Created in 1969 in Rouen to provide technical expertise and training in international transport law to local and international practitioners, IDIT is a non-profit research and training organisation. With the support of local and international members and contributors, the institute collaborate in European and national projects to advance the research in law surrounding innovation in transport, logistics and mobility.
DST - Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems
DST is an interdisciplinary research institute in Duisburg, Germany, with nearly 70 years of experience in the development and investigation of inland and coastal shipping and waterborne transport systems. Traffic engineering, transport economics and logistics issues are also intensively addressed. In its numerous test facilities, the DST conducts application-oriented research - often with a clear industrial reference - in the fields of hydrodynamics, ship development, nautical simulation, extremely-low-water navigability, alternative propulsion systems, autonomous driving as well as port processes and waterside handling. By (co-)initiating of its national research strategy ‘Autonomous Inland Navigation’, DST plays a leading role in automation topics in inland navigation including its interaction with the landside. Parallelly, DST works on the gradual automation of port and waterside transshipment processes
VOIES NAVIGABLES DE FRANCE (VNF)
Voies navigables de France (VNF) is a public entity dependant on the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, which gathers in one only operator the whole French inland waterways ambition. Strong of its 4 300 agents, VNF is acting on 6 700 km of the French inland waterways 8 500 km system. Pooling all the skills and technical expertise around inland waterways, VNF strengthens the ability of the sector to innovate and develop, creating optimisation and efficiency for the public service. VNF concentrates its ambitions in two networks: the transport network and the tourism network, to achieve its three missions: promoting sustainable inland waterway logistics; contributing to land use planning; and ensuring a comprehensive water management on its 2 networks.
ENGITEC SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (ESI)
ENGITEC Systems International (ESI) Limited is a dynamic company which has been founded by a group of experienced engineers and scientists. The company provides advanced inspection services, remote condition monitoring, development of customised data acquisition systems, advanced signal processing methods, software for industrial applications, and metallurgical expertise to its customers. The company also specialises in design and analysis of composite and metallic structures for various industries, including marine, offshore, underwater, wind and aerospace sector.
ASKO MARITIME AS (ASKO)
ASKO Maritime AS is a globally renowned player in the development and offer of zero-emission maritime transport to promote sustainable and innovative logistics solutions. Their products include electric autonomously powered vessels (sea drones) with connected port infrastructure that transport trailers and containers without cars and drivers. In the Seamless project, for the Short Sea Shipping use case, ASKO will provide highly automated, fully electric RORO vessels for demonstration, crew for manning the vessel, operators for the ROC, agree on port services in Bergen/Ågotnes including shore connection, mooring and (un)loading.
ALLIANCE FOR LOGISTICS INNOVATION THROUGH COLLABORATION IN EUROPE (ALICE)
ALICE is a non-for-profit industry led association based in Brussels with 160+ members reaching the full stakeholders’ groups within freight transport, logistics and supply chain. ALICE is the alliance of European leading companies and experts in implementing logistics and supply chain innovation and develops a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe. The vision of ALICE is to support an affordable logistics transition towards zero emissions. Logistics, from global to urban, will evolve to an open system of systems, enabling assets and resources in logistics networks to be interconnected, facilitating their use to the maximum capacity and productivity while increasing agility and resilience of supply chains. We call this the Physical Internet (PI). ALICE develops new concepts, manages knowledge generated in EU projects and initiatives, creating a framework of collaboration within its membership. ALICE influences European strategies and policies of governments, companies and academia to support this vision and paths. ALICE supports, assists, and advises the European Commission into the definition and implementation of the EU Program for research: Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe in Logistics.
INLAND SHIPPING SRL (INLS)
Inland Shipping provides logistic services like brokerage, freight forwarding, storage & transhipment and operations assistance, and it is also involved in different research projects for Autonomous shipping. Inland Shipping is part of Trading LINE group. Trading LINE group is an inland waterway transport solutions provider, featuring a high capability and efficiency fleet for both dry and liquid cargo. Using an unique, in house developed, IT infrastructure we provide our partners with top end, cost effective services unmatched by other players in the market. Trading LINE operates a vessels fleet of over 123 million euro market value, focusing on Danube Transport Logistics activities. The sea chartering department is focused on carriage of dry bulk grains, steels, project cargoes etc from coasters upto supramax/panamax, covering shipments from Danube, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea to world wide destinations and vice versa.
HAVEN VAN ANTWERPEN-BRUGGE (POA)
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a centuries-old double gateway to Europe and one of the biggest ports in the world. Every day, around 1800 employees of the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. We play a key role in the port's day-to-day operations, to make it function and grow. We manage and maintain the docks, the bridges, the locks, the quay walls and the land. We’re also responsible for safe shipping traffic there. Apart from that, we provide tugs and cranes, carry out dredging work and promote the Port of Antwerp-Bruges at home and abroad. We have a strong focus on the future, with sustainable development, transition and resilience as our top priorities.
Univerzitet u Beogradu - Saobracajni fakultet (FTTE)
FTTE was founded in 1950. Since its establishment, FTTE has made a significant contribution to the development of transport science and profession, by preparing or implementing more than 2,000 studies, projects, expert opinions, expert evaluations etc for the benefit of the City of Belgrade and other parts of the country, Serbia as a whole and wider region. These researches included: studies of a strategic character, studies relevant to the development of the transport system and individual modes of transport, as well as transport and economic feasibility studies for the most significant infrastructure projects in the fields of inland waterway, maritime, railway, road and air transport. The Faculty is specialized in transport related researches covering all modes of transport and various research fields (engineering, economics, organization, planning, law, psychology, etc). Tasks related to SEAMLESS WPs have constituted important aspects of these projects and researches.
- research work on optimization of inland waterway and maritime transportation processes and transport policy issues,
- mathematical programming models for sea and barge ship routing,
- neural network ensemble approach to pushed convoys dispatching problems,
- theoretical and practical analysis of the causes and conditions of the development of barge transport networks,
- assessment of potential routes and services of barge services according to vessel concepts and market requirements,
- development of online tools for optimal routing of a barge ship on an inland waterway,
- analysis of the hinterland and potential market for the inland waterway transport,
- analysis of favourable and unfavourable conditions, as well as recommendations for the modelling and launching container liner service on the Danube River,
- existing and forecasted volume of cargo and ship flows,
- economic analysis - benefits and costs, estimates of total social costs and benefits (cost-benefit analysis).
KONGSBERG MARITIME AS (KMNO)
Kongsberg Maritime (KM) supplies technology, equipment and services needed for sustainable maritime operations today and in the future. The company enables operations on and below the surface across the world’s oceans, in arctic waters, in the busiest ports and in the toughest of weather conditions. The market is highly varied – and covers deliveries to advanced offshore and research vessels, cargo and passenger vessels, large fishing vessels and naval vessels, as well as offshore installations belonging to the aquaculture, oil & gas and wind power sectors. The technology is developing fast – and includes remote-controlled and autonomous operations, as well as products and systems enabling low and zero emissions.
BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE REGISTRE INTERNATIONAL DE CLASSIFICATION DE NAVIRES ET DE PLATEFORMES OFFSHORE (BV)
BUREAU VERITAS is a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services (TIC). Created in 1828, the Group has 80,000 employees located in more than 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. BV helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE (BV M&O) is one of the world’s leading classification societies and offshore safety and verification bodies. BV M&O offers solutions for all types of ships, including Roll-on, roll-off ships, Inland navigation vessels, Container ships, Bulk carriers, Fishing vessels, etc. A diverse network of engineers and technical experts are dedicated to ship and offshore safety and efficiency. BV M&O has more than 2,000 highly qualified marine surveyors operating in 180 survey stations in 90 countries. At Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, we share a drive to shape a better maritime world for future generations. Pioneering the safety and performance of new technologies since 1828, we understand the challenges our clients face in designing, building and operating truly sustainable businesses. We’re by their side; supporting them with practical advice, tools and technology to run safe, sustainable and high performing businesses.
AWAKE.AI OY (AWAKE.AI)
Awake platform for collaboration and optimization enables better operational planning for all logistics chain actors in real-time. Awake.AI’s rapidly growing partner and solution ecosystem is constantly delivering added value to its users. The platform is built with future-proof and extendable architecture which will adapt to new emerging standards. The platform allows its users to focus on implementing their strategies on sustainable maritime logistics already today. Awake.AI offers Smart port as a Service and Professional services for port digitalisation and autonomous shipping.
PIRAEUS CONTAINER TERMINAL SINGLE MEMBER SA (PCT)
Piraeus Container Terminal Single Member S.A. is a company incorporated in Greece and a wholly owned subsidiary of COSCO Pacific Limited (world leading container terminal operator ranked in fifth position). As of October 1st, 2009, PCT has undertaken for 35 years the implementation of the Concession Agreement for Piers II & III, which, following an international tender process, PPA S.A. was awarded to “CPL” as the bid winner. PCT’s main activities are the provision of loading / unloading and storage services for import and export containers handled via the Port of Piraeus, including cargoes which use Piraeus only as an intermediary station of transport (transshipment cargo). The strategic location of Piraeus makes it an ideal port to be used as a hub for destinations in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the Black Sea.
MACGREGOR NORWAY AS (MCGNO) & MACGREGOR FINLAND OY (MCGFI)
MacGregor is part of Cargotec group and together with our sister companies Kalmar and Hiab, we are providing products, services and solutions that enable faster, smarter and more sustainable cargo flow. MacGregor's unique offering to the maritime business ranges from merchant shipping to offshore business.That includes complete cargo systems and equipment required for cargo stowage & securing, mooring and cargo (un)loading that is intended for vessels carrying containers, general cargo, bulk, liquid and RoRo cargoes of all sizes. Within the SEAMLESS project we intend to enhance our competences on positioning the vessel in relation to the quay side, autonomous mooring and autonomous container (un)loading as well as operational connectivity.
