Abstract
Abstract This paper describes the approach that is developed within the EC-funded SEAMLESS , which is implemented by a diverse consortium of 26 organisations across Europe. The main objective is to develop and adapt the missing building blocks and enabling technologies into a fully automated, economically viable, cost-effective, and resilient waterborne freight feeder loop service for Short Sea Shipping and Inland Waterways Transport. The envisioned service will be provided 24/7 by a fleet of autonomous cargo shuttles, supported by humans-in-the-loop in Remote Operation Centres (ROCs). These centres efficiently collaborate with automated shore-side infrastructure while ensuring safe interaction with conventional systems. To enable seamless freight flows and reduce delays at intermodal nodes, the relevant logistics system will be redesigned, while a digital “bird’s eye” view of the supply chain will facilitate optimized planning, reconfiguration, and resilient logistics. The building blocks for enabling this type of waterborne operation that will be developed within SEAMLESS include the DockNLoad port interface, which consists of automated mooring and cargo handling systems, the modular vessel concepts and operations that will be transferable to different use cases, and the ModalNET platform that will provide integrated supply chain support by acting as a “digital twin” of the physical logistics chain.