11 June 2026
This week, the port of Rotterdam formed the setting for a significant milestone in the development of autonomous sailing. During a demonstration, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and partners within the European MAGPIE project showed how an inland vessel can sail independently from one terminal to another in a busy port. The vessel navigated safely among regular maritime traffic.
The MS Letitia (HTS Group) sailed from Amaliahaven on the Maasvlakte via Europoort and the Nieuwe Waterweg to Waalhaven in Rotterdam. The conventionally powered inland container vessel MS Letitia operated autonomously during the demonstration. The vessel was able to perform manoeuvres such as undocking, sailing through the port and along the river as well as docking independently. At the same time, the system continuously monitored its surroundings, detecting other vessels and safely avoiding them where necessary, taking the environment into account. The skipper remains ultimately responsible and can intervene at any moment, while the system provides support for the navigation and decision-making.
