Mitsui OSK Lines shows off its AI vessel recognition system

MOL shows off its AI vessel recognition system
Sam Chambers SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2019 https://splash247.com/mol-shows-off-its-ai-vessel-recognition-system/

Japan’s largest shipping line, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL, today revealed how its brand new vessel image recognition and recording system is developing as the company moves ahead with its smart ship project.

The artificial intelligence system, developed with SenseTime Japan, has undergone testing with MOL’s cruiseship, Nippon Maru. The system recognises and automatically records vessels using a terminal equipped with a graphic processing unit (GPU) and ultra high-resolution cameras.

The image recognition technology, which can be used even at night or during other periods of poor visibility, can detect small vessels that are not recognisable by vessel automatic identification systems (AIS).

“MOL views advanced image recognition as an underlying technology needed for automated watch-keeping, as the company works to realize the autonomous smart ships of the future,” the company stated in a release today.

MOL is one of the world’s pioneers when it comes to developing cutting edge technology for its fleet. Since 2016 it has set out to lead the world in the development of so-called smart ships with breakthroughs including deploying augmented reality technology on the bridges of 21 of its VLCCs as well as developing auto berthing technology.