Ships of all sizes come and go on the sea. Have you ever wondered how these ships arrive at the harbor and stop? Unlike cars, ships do not have brakes. They stop their engines and rotate their screws in reverse, gradually slowing down as they come to shore. It may seem simple, but safe berthing requires a very high level of skill, and the most common type of shipboard accident occurs during berthing.

Landing a ship is difficult because it is necessary to select a suitable course and bring the ship to shore at the right speed, depending on many conditions, including the size of the ship, the weight of the cargo, the natural conditions of the bay, such as waves, wind, currents, and the topography of the bay, as well as the position of other ships. There is even a profession called pilotage, whose job is to board the ship in the bay and ensure that it lands safely. At the moment, the safety of landing is dependent on the experience and skills of the pilot.
Dr. Tadatsugu Okazaki of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology is trying to incorporate safe berthing into ships as an engineering system, which previously relied on human experience. Through a series of calculations and measurements, he has succeeded in developing a mathematical expression for the relationship between the ship, natural conditions, and the maneuvering method used for safe berthing. By inputting the conditions, the optimal maneuvering method is calculated, and the ship can automatically and safely land on the shore.
However, this is not enough for actual use on a ship. The optimal solution derived by the machine is too rational and makes the passengers fearful, wondering if it is safe not to stop the engines yet. Therefore, Mr. Okazaki measures the nervous state of people when the ship automatically lands on the shore by measuring changes in body temperature. From this information, he can improve the calculation formula to derive a maneuver that people feel comfortable with. In addition, it has become clear that the age and maintenance condition of the vessel must also be taken into account to ensure safety.
Ship accidents, such as oil spills, can be catastrophic on a global scale, and the unexpected is not tolerated. No one is better at dealing with the unexpected than people. Especially for ships, it is important to distinguish between areas that can be automated and those that cannot," says Okazaki. Research is underway to understand how to operate ships in a way that "supports people" rather than "eliminates the need for people. (Text by Rumi Suzuki)

Interviewed by: Professor Tadatane Okazaki, Department of Maritime Systems Engineering, Faculty of Maritime Engineering, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology