Students develop autonomous freight container

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Graduate students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology recently developed autonomous robot containers for shipping seafood.

Their challenge was to find a solution to sustainability issues and rising costs in the aquaculture farming industry.

The container, called SEAtrue, uses cooling systems to keep seafood fresh. It is deployed from a processing vessel and then moves via self-propulsion to a designated area where it is picked up by a container ship. SEAtrue also can sail directly to port.

Additional testing is required, but SEAtrue could be implemented by 2030.

The students met with industry members to learn what challenges they face.

“I have also seen them challenge our way of working, which I find refreshing,” Ketil Aamnes, vice president of DNV GL’s maritime advisory board, said. “Hence, I hope that the project inspires our employees and the industry as a whole to identify new possibilities and take a more sustainable approach to doing business. Together we have the resources needed and we must join forces to take advantage of them.”

Earlier this year, the Norwegian government launched Norwegian Ocean Strategy. The strategy’s goal is to create sustainable growth and jobs in the aquaculture industry.