In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Päivi Haikkola, Senior Ecosystem Lead, One Sea Ecosystem DIMECC Ltd who she finds it exciting to work on new technologies for the maritime industry. The most recent developments in AI and computing can now be utilized within maritime. However, she notes, there is still a lot of misconceptions about autonomous remote operated and related technologies.
One of the world’s full autonomous ships, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS), will be launched on September 16th in Plymouth, UK.
Puglia Region, recently gave its approval for the “Marin” (Remote integrated naval environmental monitoring) initiative, with a total investment of over € 6 million on three years duration.
The largest commercial shipbuilder in India Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Kochi signed contracts for construction and supply of two autonomous electric ferries for ASKO Maritime AS, Norway.
Marubeni Corporation, Tryangle, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding and the City of Yokosuka shake their hands in order to develop and test autonomous ship technology.
Qingdao Shipyard recently reported the construction of China’s first autonomous containership, named as Zhi Fei, according to Chinese media sources.
The shipping industry is based on a number of safety regulations, ensuring safety at sea with regards to the construction, equipment and seaworthiness of ships to the Flag States. Yet, autonomous functions used onboard a vessel performing duties that would be normally conducted by a person will be in conflict with the regulations.
In a recently launched advisory, the US-based classification society ABS provides information about autonomous functions in the shipping industry and explains what the Concept of Operations (ConOps) document is and how it can be used for autonomous operations.
In the ongoing battle of improving, the shipping industry has made the greatest ally; Digitalization. The smart era has already been useful for the sector, while the advancement in the maritime industry has called for the development of autonomous ships, presenting the motion of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).
Automation and autonomy play a significant role in the shipping industry, paving the way for a more digitalized future and enabling the industry deal with its current smart challenges. Yet, there is confusion between those two terms; so what do we mean when we talk about automation and autonomy within the maritine industry?
