Caterpillar Marine has collaborated Serco Inc. to advance the use of autonomous vessels for naval applications, capable of one-year runtime without human intervention.
The initiative supports the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) project. According to Caterpillar, autonomous unmanned vessels represent an opportunity to protect crews from the inhospitable, dangerous environment encountered at sea.
Randy Tymofichuck, vice president and general manager of Caterpillar Defense at Caterpillar Inc., stated that they were excited to be part of one of the most important technological disruptions in the maritime industry.
He further mentioned that beyond naval applications, autonomous ship designs could positively impact cargo transportation and energy sectors to help strengthen the supply chains for each.
The degrees of autonomy identified for the purpose of the scoping, according to the IMO:
- Degree one: Ship with automated processes and decision support. Seafarers are on board to operate and control shipboard systems and functions. Some operations may be automated and, at times, unsupervised, but with seafarers on board ready to take control.
- Degree two: a remotely controlled ship with seafarers on board. The ship is controlled and operated from another location. Seafarers are available on board to take control and operate the shipboard systems and functions.
- Degree three: Remotely controlled ship without seafarers on board: The ship is controlled and operated from another location. There are no seafarers on board.
- Degree four: Fully autonomous ship: The operating system of the ship is able to make decisions and determine actions by itself.
Ryan Maatta, chief marine engineer and marine engineering manager at Serco, commented that captains and maintenance crews are essential for any maritime application. He added that they could enable them to do their jobs more safely by employing autonomous vessels.
To remind, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea has recently unveiled the Pos Singapore, marking it as the inaugural large ocean-going vessel designed for Level 3 autonomous shipping.
