For the first time, as part of the project of the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization "MARINET Industry Association" of the National Technology Initiative on implementation of unmanned navigation, the Rabochaya hopper barge performed automatic trip under the control of the crew. "Kronshtadt Technologies" JSC is engaged in the development and testing of high-tech equipment for unmanned navigation.

The route ran in the area of the seaport of Gelendzhik. During the trip, the ability of the hopper barge to recognize targets and offer the optimal maneuvering route was tested.

FSUE "Rosmorport" began testing equipment for unmanned navigation in 2020. The project is implemented within the framework of the Marinet roadmap supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and with the participation of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

In 2019, FSUE "Rosmorport" allocated a bunch of vessels as part of a dredging caravan for testing: the Redut dredger and the Rabochaya hopper barge. A remote control for monitoring and control of the Rabochaya hopper barge was installed on the Redut dredger. Special equipment was also installed on the hopper barge as part of a single basic technological platform.

Tests of the dredging caravan of vessels will continue. The enterprise expects that in the future, one crew on the lead vessel-dredger will be able to simultaneously manage all the vessels of the convoy. This will allow to optimize the number of personnel on vessels and improve the coordination of their work. In case of successful completion of the pilot project, the remote and automatic control of the dredging caravan vessels can be considered a contribution of FSUE "Rosmorport" to the innovative development of world shipping.