Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOAT20260921002
- Term of Validity
- 21 September 2026 - 21 September 2027
- Company's Country
- Austria
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Denmark
- Sweden
General information
- Short Summary
- An Austrian technology company developing advanced sensing technologies for dynamic systems and safety applications has developed an event-based six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DoF) docking sensor for ship-to-ship bunkering operations involving LNG, methanol and ammonia. The company seeks manufacturers of maritime docking, coupling and transfer equipment for commercial agreements with technical cooperation.
- Full Description
-
An Austrian technology company develops advanced sensing technologies for dynamic systems and safety applications. The company's expertise includes high-performance sensing and motion measurement for safety-critical environments where accurate real-time positioning data is required. Its current focus is ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operations involving alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia.
During STS bunkering, the vessel approach and mooring phase represent one of the highest-risk parts of the transfer process. Existing operational procedures largely depend on visual assessments by the crews involved, resulting in limited access to shared and objective positioning information between vessels. Existing docking aid technologies used in maritime environments were primarily developed for other applications and are generally characterised by update rates of approximately 4 to 10 Hz and positioning accuracy at centimetre level.
To address this challenge, the company has developed a high-performance docking sensor capable of measuring the relative position and orientation of two vessels in real time. The sensor delivers six-degrees-of-freedom positioning data with millimetre-level accuracy and update rates of up to 1,000 measurements per second. The solid-state system contains no mechanically rotating components and operates in a licence-free frequency range.
Key technical characteristics include:
• Six-degrees-of-freedom relative motion measurement
• Millimetre-level positioning accuracy
• Update rate of up to 1,000 Hz
• Operational range up to 50 metres
• Solid-state architecture without moving parts
• Suitability for real-time control loops and automation systems
• Designed for ship-to-ship bunkering operations involving LNG, methanol and ammonia
The technology can be integrated into docking assistance systems, automated transfer operations, digital safety platforms and future autonomous maritime applications.
The company is seeking manufacturers of maritime docking, coupling, mooring or transfer equipment interested in integrating the technology into their product portfolios. Cooperation may include technical integration, joint product development, commercial agreements with technical cooperation, licensing arrangements or validation projects in operational environments. - Advantages and Innovations
-
• Millimetre-level measurement accuracy during vessel approach and contact phases
• Update rate of 1,000 Hz, significantly higher than conventional docking aid systems
• Suitable for closed-loop automation rather than visual monitoring only
• Solid-state design without rotating antennas or moving mechanical elements
• Shared and objective positioning reference between participating vessels
• Supports safer handling of alternative fuel bunkering operations
• Reduces dependence on manual visual estimation during critical manoeuvres
• Potential integration into future autonomous and semi-autonomous maritime operations
• Applicable across LNG, methanol and ammonia bunkering scenarios - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 14: Life Below Water
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
- An international patent application covering the ship-to-ship bunkering use case has been filed.
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
Type of Partner
• Manufacturers of maritime docking systems
• Manufacturers of bunkering equipment
• Coupling system manufacturers
• Breakaway coupling manufacturers
• Mooring technology providers
• Maritime automation system integrators
• Marine safety equipment suppliers
Task to be Performed
Partner organisations are expected to:
• Assess technical integration opportunities
• Integrate the sensor technology into docking, transfer or coupling systems
• Participate in pilot projects and field validation
• Jointly develop commercial solutions for maritime fuel transfer markets
• Support market deployment in Europe and international maritime sectors - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01001001 - Automation, Robotics Control Systems
- 09001009 - Sensor Technology related to measurements
- 02009009 - Sensors for cars and transport
- 02008006 - Traffic Engineering / Control Systems
- Market keywords
- 03008004 - Other electronics related (including alarm systems)
- Targeted countries
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Denmark
- Sweden