Tag: autonomous ships

In line with a growing smart technology trend and as shipping is struggling to keep costs down in order to maintain its competitiveness, as well as to minimize human error to improve its safety record, autonomous ships provide an attractive trend.

Autonomous shipping is making headlines in recent years for its promising potential advantages in the complex maritime environment. A Finnish collaboration, established in 2016, seeks to pave the way for autonomous shipping as early as 2025, validating Nordic countries as the front-runners in the field of automation. 

NYK conducted, what it claims to be, the first autonomous navigation trial for a large commercial ship under the Interim Guidelines for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships by the IMO.

A strategy to advance trade and investment into the UK’s premier position for maritime businesses was launched by International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, on 17 of September. The Maritime Trade and Investment Five Year Plan focuses on five main areas.

China has constructed the first test base for unmanned ships, which will start operations at the end of this year. The test base named Xiangshan Marine Scientific & Technological Port is located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The test base will establish an innovation platform for the design, research and testing of unmanned marine systems and intelligent equipment.

Several discussions see automation completely transforming the industry in the next 30 years, while others seem less convinced of a major reform. Our special 'Smart Watch' column is asking global experts to provide feedback on the following question: What will the ship of 2050 look like?

Wärtsilä discusses the importance of connectivity when onboard, as the idea on being in the middle of the ocean sometimes comes with the essence of danger and loneliness. Despite cruise ships and ferries that transfer people, the overall fleet isn't equipped with high-tech features to boost seafarers' connectivity. 

MIT’s fleet of robotic boats has been updated with new capabilities to “shapeshift,” by autonomously disconnecting and reassembling into a variety of configurations, to form floating structures in Amsterdam’s many canals. The autonomous boats are being developed as part of the ongoing “Roboat” project between MIT and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions.

The Port of Hamburg is currently testing the use of Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV), which can offer a number of advantages for hydrography. ASVs support the conventional sounding work of surveying vessels and can reach areas difficult to access.

As a part of its cooperative agreement with the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD), Sea Machines Robotics announced that it has successfully demonstrated its autonomous systems on August 21. The on-water demonstrations took place on board the world’s first autonomous spill response vessel; a Vigor/Kvichak Marine Industries-built skimmer boat, o.