ABB and Helsinki City Transport have tested technology that enables remote control of a passenger ferry. The ship Suomenlinna II was retrofitted with ABB's Ability Marine Pilot Control positioning system and was steered from a control center in Helsinki.

The ferry sailed along a pre-selected course in Helsinki harbor. Source: ABBThe ferry normally sails from Helsinki to Suomenlinna fortress in Finland. For the remote piloting trial the ferry departed from Helsinki’s market square, Kauppatori, and a captain wirelessly operated the vessel through a pre-selected area of Helsinki harbor.

ABB said in a press release that the trial took place during the vessel’s off hours, away from shore, with no passengers aboard and in an area free of other vessels.

Although now equipped with the new dynamic positioning system, the vessel will continue to operate via conventional onboard controls, with the remote mode deployed during the trial only.