A tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), was initiated by Mike McCartain, ABP’s Director of Marine & Compliance, and signed during a ‘kick off’ workshop at ABP’s Port of Southampton. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
According to MOU, ABP will work with Rolls Royce and Svitzer, part of the Maersk Group, to develop the innovative technologies and systems for efficient and sustainable operations. The companies will focus on intelligent asset management solutions and dynamic positioning systems, among other potential innovations.
Mike McCartain commented on the signed agreement: “New technologies emerge all the time which offer us exciting, additional capabilities. ABP is always looking to make these new technologies work for us and our customers. Where a solution does not yet exist, we will work with companies of the calibre and expertise of Rolls Royce and Svitzer to invent them and bring them into service.”
Kevin Daffey, Rolls-Royce, Director Engineering & Technology and Ship Intelligence, said: “Rolls Royce has a long, successful heritage in UK innovation in engineering and we are proud to be bringing this to bear in working with the UK’s largest ports operator, ABP. We are confident that we can work together with ABP and Svitzer to deliver the technologies that will keep the UK competitive in the future.”
Lise Demant, Global Chief Commercial Officer of Svitzer, said: “As the world’s leading towage operator, we are pleased to share our expertise within maritime services with heavyweights such as ABP and Rolls Royce, in our joint pursuit of safer and more efficient port operations through technological advancements.”