UBITECH announces the launch of the TwinShip Innovation Action (INTEGRATED DIGITAL TWIN FRAMEWORK TO ENABLE GREEN SHIP OPERATIONS TOWARDS ZERO EMISSION VESSELS), a cutting-edge European Commission-funded project (Grant Agreement No. 101192583). The project officially commenced on February 1st, 2025, and will run until January 2028. The kick-off meeting took place in Brussels, Belgium, on February 6-7, 2025, gathering key stakeholders to align on the vision and strategic objectives of the initiative. The TwinShip consortium is spearheading an initiative to transform the maritime sector by creating an alliance of premier maritime technology, solution & service providers, ship design and shipping firms, classification societies, ports, software developers, and research and academic bodies. This collaboration is centered around a unique, open-source digital platform enriched with data and powered by domain knowledge-based advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities.
By introducing a Digital Twin (DT) enabled Decision Support System (DSS) in the same digital platform, TwinShip is setting a course for the maritime industry’s rapid digital and environmental transformation. The project sets ambitious benchmarks for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions in international shipping, aiming for a 30-40% reduction by 2030, 80-90% by 2040, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, all relative to 2008 levels by utilizing its Pilot Vessels and Futuristic Unmanned Vessel Concept. This initiative focuses on leveraging both existing and emergent clean fuels and technologies, prioritizing renewable energy sources, and the implementation of unmanned vessels. The TwinShip DT-enabled DSS is crafted to navigate the industry toward achieving these significant environmental targets, demonstrating the consortium’s dedication to fostering sustainability and pushing the boundaries of innovation.
UBITECH contributes to all technical work packages, supporting DT/DSS development and deployment, and plays a pivotal role in Data Collection System Development, Integration, Security and Standardization. UBITECH leads the task which focuses on creating a reliable, efficient, and secure data collection system tailored to the demanding maritime environment. This task ensures that data handling is standardized, protected, and seamlessly integrated across different systems and stakeholders.
To achieve this, the task will first establish standardization protocols for automated data collection, defining the types of data to be gathered, ensuring quality, consistency, compatibility, and setting the frequency of data acquisition across diverse formats and systems. A big data ingestion pipeline will be developed to automate real-time and batch-mode data collection from multiple sources, streamlining storage and processing. For ease of use, intuitive interfaces will be designed, allowing stakeholders to access and interact with data based on their specific roles and permissions. Additionally, threat detection mechanisms will be integrated to reinforce cybersecurity.
To protect sensitive information, robust data protection protocols will be implemented for data capture and transmission. These protocols will include encryption, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR), and cybersecurity best practices. The system will undergo rigorous testing aboard pilot vessels, ensuring its effectiveness in real-world maritime conditions. By addressing standardization, automation, security, and compliance, UBITECH will lead the foundation for a trustworthy and high-performance maritime data collection system.
