The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) has launched an operational trial of OMC International’s Dynamic Under Keel Clearance system (DUKC®6), a technology designed to support safer and more efficient vessel transits in the Halifax Harbour.
The trial will evaluate how a centralized, data-driven approach can improve under-keel clearance decisions for increasingly large vessels.
The project builds on the Port’s ongoing enhancement of its Marine Safety Management System and explores technologies that support safe navigation in a shared harbour environment.
As Canada’s only East Coast port capable of handling vessels carrying up to 18,000 TEUs, the Port of Halifax continues to invest in technologies that support its competitive position and enable the safe movement of larger vessels. The DUKC®6 trial will incorporate environmental and meteorological and oceanographic data from MarineLabs to support real-time operational decision-making.
Optimizing a vessel call at the Port of Halifax requires data visibility and close collaboration across the marine supply chain. This project brings together tide gauge data from the Canadian Coast Guard, pilot dispatch scheduling by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, operational feedback from the Halifax Harbour Pilots Corporation, and input from terminal operators, vessel owners, and ships’ masters. It also reflects a shared commitment to innovation between OMC International, a founding member of The PIER, MarineLabs, a member of The PIER ecosystem, and the Halifax Port Authority, demonstrating how collaboration between industry partners can enhance safety, efficiency, and supply chain performance.
(Photos from Halifax Port Authority of ONE containership and of CoastAware Desktop)