Seamless will develop and adapt missing technology building blocks and key enabling technologies into a fully automated, economically viable, cost-effective, and resilient waterborne freight feeder loop service for Short Sea Shipping (SSS) and/or Inland Waterways Transport (IWT).
Autonomous systems will be integrated to ensure safe, resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly operation to shift road freight movements to hinterland waterways, while enhancing the performance of the TEN-T network. The service will be delivered 24/7 by a fleet of autonomous cargo shuttles, with humans-in-the-loop located in Remote Operation Centres (ROCs), which efficiently cooperate with automated and autonomous shore-side infrastructure and safely interact with conventional systems.
The services will rely on a redesigned logistics system enabling seamless freight flows by minimising delays at intermodal nodes. A digital bird’s-eye view of the supply chain allows the exploitation of real-time information for planning optimisation and reconfiguration to support resilient logistics, incl. digitalised administrative procedures.
The SEAMLESS building blocks will be verified and validated by conducting full-scale demonstrations in selected real-world scenarios. Transferability will be fully demonstrated in selected use cases that cover a wide range of transport applications and geographical regions throughout Europe. Based on a structured methodological framework evaluating sustainability criteria, they will act as guidance for the replication of the project results beyond the project scope and time-span.
Novel business models will be thus developed and provide a framework for implementing the SEAMLESS service to minimise investment risk for first movers. Regulatory gaps and challenges related to autonomous vessel operation (e.g., social aspects) will be identified, and recommendations for policy makers to allow the smooth and safe deployment of fully automated services will be provided.
The main role of ALICE is to develop a dissemination strategy and lead liaison activities with the logistics sector on digitalization and validation of business models. ALICE also participates in the definition of scenarios and use cases, and contributes to digital solutions by leveraging learnings from DTLF, European digital strategies and complementary projects.
Website: https://www.seamless-project.eu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamless-project
X (Twitter): @seamless_heu
SEAMLESS project overview poster (PDF)
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 | SEAMLESS is funded by the European Union under grant agreement number 101096923. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. |