Maritime software company NAPA, owned by ClassNK, reports that it has received funding from INTENS, a VTT-coordinated Finnish research-industry collaborative consortium, to support its work improving vessel technical and operational performance and lowering ships’ emissions.

The VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland reports that it has developed a new steering system to be used by remote-monitored and controlled autonomous ships, which will be applied to navigation systems and ship autopilots with the aim of steering ships automatically.

Rolls-Royce and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have announced a strategic partnership focusing on the design, testing and validation of first generation remote and autonomous ships, with the eventual aim of making such vessels a commercial reality.