MOSES at a Glance

Ports play a decisive role in the EU’s external and internal trade, as about 74% of imports and exports and 37% of exchanges go through ports. Although ports and especially Deep Sea Shipping (DSS) ports are integral nodes within multimodal logistic flows, Short Sea Shipping (SSS) and inland waterways are not so well integrated.

The aim of MOSES project is to enhance the SSS component of the European supply chain by addressing the vulnerabilities and strains related to the operation of large containerships. A two-fold strategy will be followed, in order to reduce the total time to berth for TEN-T Hub Ports and to stimulate the use of SSS feeder services to small ports that have limited or no infrastructure.

The above-mentioned scope of MOSES project will be reached through the implementation of the following innovations:

  • For the SSS leg an innovative, hybrid electric feeder vessel (MOSES feeder) that will prevail from different vessel concepts and will be designed to match dominant SSS business cases, increasing the utilization rate of small ports. The MOSES feeder will be outfitted with a
    self-sufficient robotic container-handling system that will simplify the (un)loading of containerized cargo at Hub Ports and improve the operational capacity of small ports.

  • For DSS ports the adoption of an autonomous vessel maneuvering and docking scheme (MOSES AutoDock)that will provide operational independency from the availability of port services. This scheme will be based on the cooperation of (i) a coordinated swarm of autonomous tugboats with (ii) an automated docking system based on an existing product.

  • A digital collaboration and matchmaking platform (MOSES platform) that aims to maximize and sustain SSS services in the container supply chain by matching demand and supply of cargo volumes by logistics stakeholders using Machine Learning (ML) and data driven-based analytics.

MOSES is an ambitious project that bears significant innovation potential in the context of European SSS uptake. Its innovation potential covers both vessel design aspects as well as software tools and accompanying governance models to improve related logistics processes.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the most recent MOSES news and updates.