DIMECC opens the first globally available autonomous maritime test area on the west coast of Finland
The test area is the first one in the world to be globally open to anyone wishing to test autonomous maritime traffic, vessels, or technologies related to it. The test area is managed and controlled by DIMECC Ltd., the co-creation company leading e.g. the One Sea – Autonomous Maritime Ecosystem. The test area was awarded by a Finnish Government Bureau, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southwest Finland. The area will be named “Jaakonmeri Test Area” in remembrance of Dr. Jaakko Talvitie who contributed to the creation of this historical, the first ever, internationally open maritime test area until his untimely passing away.
Companies, research institutes and others wishing to run tests on the area, can contact DIMECC through the One Sea website. DIMECC will then request for the required information and provide test documentation and information. Once the required permits and contracts are in order, the tests can proceed. Individual testing can last from one to a maximum of six weeks.
The Jaakonmeri Test Area is located on the Finnish west coast outside the municipality of Eurajoki. The coordinates for the area are:
NW 61 20.75 N 20 55.15 E
NE 61 19.60 N 21 14.70 E
SE 61 15.65 N 21 12.67 E
SW 61 16.85 N 20 54.55 E
The longest side of the area to the north is approximately 17.85 km long and the western side is approximately 7.10 km long. The area is open water and offers opportunities to test also in ice conditions during the winter. The test area will have excellent data connectivity available. DIMECC will offer the connectivity through their partners. The connectivity services will be developed incrementally and the plan is also to offer other services to enhance the test experience.
The One Sea ecosystem, founded in 2016, represents exceptionally advanced co-creation where global leaders in their industries work to reach their joint goal of autonomous traffic. The founding partners in the One Sea – Autonomous Maritime Ecosystem are ABB, Cargotec (MacGregor and Kalmar), Ericsson, Meyer Turku, Rolls-Royce, Tieto and Wärtsilä. The association of Finnish Marine Industries supports the work, and the Finnish funding agency TEKES has invested in the ecosystem. The leader of One Sea is DIMECC.