News & Press

The SEAMLESS Demonstration Use Case 1 (DUC1) Demonstration Day successfully brought together industry leaders, technology developers, researchers, students and public stakeholders in Horten, Norway, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey towards automated, connected and sustainable waterborne logistics.

Hosted by the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), the event provided participants with a unique opportunity to experience how SEAMLESS technologies are being integrated into a real logistics chain, demonstrating the progress achieved in combining autonomous vessel operations, remote monitoring and control, smart cargo handling and digital logistics coordination.

The morning programme featured keynote presentations and discussions with leading experts from MacGregor, Kongsberg Maritime, SINTEF Ocean and the maritime automation community. Discussions highlighted both the technological maturity achieved in autonomous and remote operations and the importance of collaboration between industry, research institutions and regulatory bodies to enable large-scale deployment.

A key outcome of the event was the demonstration of how different technologies and operational concepts can work together as part of a seamless logistics ecosystem. Rather than showcasing individual innovations in isolation, the demonstrations illustrated the integration of autonomous maritime operations with digital logistics platforms and cargo handling solutions, reflecting the project’s holistic approach to transport automation.

During the afternoon session at Horten Harbour, participants visited Massterly’s Remote Operation Centre (ROC), where they gained first-hand insight into the monitoring and management of remotely operated and autonomous vessels currently active in Norwegian waters. The demonstrations provided tangible evidence that remote vessel operations are no longer a future concept, but an operational reality.

MacGregor showcased its Voyage and Container Optimisation Platform (VCOP) and presented simulations of its Autonomous Cargo Handling solution, demonstrating how automation can improve both efficiency and safety in cargo operations. The Valenciaport Foundation highlighted the role of digitalisation through the ModalNET platform, showing how real-time information sharing and coordination can enhance multimodal logistics performance.

The event also provided a valuable opportunity to engage with students and future professionals through dedicated innovation showcases, underlining the importance of developing the skills and expertise needed to support the maritime sector’s digital transformation.

Finally, participants received a preview of Demonstration Use Case 2 (DUC2), which will further expand and validate SEAMLESS technologies in a large-scale operational environment later this year.

The successful completion of the DUC1 Demonstration Day confirms the significant progress made by the SEAMLESS consortium in advancing automated waterborne transport and logistics. It demonstrated not only the readiness of key technologies, but also the value of integrating digital, operational and regulatory perspectives to create efficient, resilient and sustainable logistics systems.

As SEAMLESS moves towards its next demonstration activities, the project continues to contribute to Europe’s ambition of accelerating the modal shift towards waterways and building a smarter, greener transport network.