Helsinki, 28 September 2023 – An epochal turning point looms on the horizon of Finnish waters. Callboats, a pioneering startup in the maritime transport sector, has inaugurated the world's first autonomous water taxi service.
These vessels, powered by solar energy, promise to dramatically reduce costs and address growing manpower shortages. THE autonomous vessels are preparing to sail between the city of Helsinki and the nearby archipelago, marking the beginning of a new era in the world of maritime transport.
Innovation sails to Helsinki
Helsinki is a truly characteristic city, characterized by interesting technological avant-garde and a strong commitment to sustainability. Today it has another title to boast: the world's first autonomous water taxi service. After a year of testing human-driven electric transportation, available via a smartphone app, Callboats has made the leap. Now, the boats navigate autonomously, but with an ever-vigilant eye: “remote captains” are ready to intervene in complex situations, managing multiple boats at the same time. To reduce operating costs, I guess.
“Also to offer a more efficient and safe service,” says the CEO Peter Ostberg to the local newspaper Helsinki Times. This statement doesn't convince me. I find this one more centered, although cold in keeping with the style of the place: “Up to 70% of transport costs in the archipelago come from captains' salaries. With autonomous vessels, a single captain can operate up to five water taxis, ensuring higher profit margins and lower prices for consumers. The decision to move towards autonomy is not only a strategic move, but also responds to a real need: the lack of captains willing to manage repetitive jobs." Will it be true?
Technology and regulation
However, current regulations require at least one crew member to be on board at all times. Is it necessary? No. Or rather, it might not even be needed: a series of 360 degree cameras and advanced sensors allows you to manage every aspect of the journey independently. This includes monitoring the surrounding environment, avoiding obstacles, navigating precisely and even autonomously deploying walkways at the docks. In other words, the human presence is "political", superficial. It would be right to find job alternatives for people, rather than keeping them practically unemployed "by decree", in order to maintain a status quo. Man must work where he can make an impact. But that's another story.
Callboats boats are not only "smart", but also energy efficient. Each boat has a capacity of 10 seats and uses four 10 kW electric thrusters, reaching a maximum speed of 17 km/h. With a 60 kWh battery, the boats can sail for around nine hours at a speed of 11 km/h. Not to mention solar energy: a 1,5 kW photovoltaic system on the roof can recharge the battery by 8-10 kWh on a sunny day.
With short sailings between Helsinki and the islands of Kotiluoto, Villaluoto and Malkasaari, Callboats aims to improve access to these hidden gems. Citizens and tourists have every reason to get on board and enjoy the journey. Workers have every reason to demand support as they organize new forms of income (for example precisely in tourism). We'll see.
