In an effort to gather research that may help safely implement automated transportation on and around ports, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a request for information (RFI) from relevant stakeholders. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages its members and community to respond before the deadline of September 3, 2019.
According to the RFI, automation, including automated vehicles, trains, vessels, infrastructure, and equipment, is increasingly being tested and introduced into the transportation system, including ports. At ports, various modes of transportation - such as vessels, rail, and motor carriers - intersect to create a hub of freight transfer in global supply chains.
MARAD seeks feedback on a range of issues related to the safety effects, opportunities, challenges, and impacts of automated transportation in a port environment to inform potential research projects. The RFI is intended to solicit views from the public and other stakeholders (e.g., State and local agencies, vehicle, train, vessel, infrastructure, and equipment design, development and manufacturing industries, intelligent transportation systems industry, technology developers, related associations).
Read about the RFI in the August 2 Federal Register Notice.