Tag: future of shipping

For many in the industry the question of attracting and retaining the skilled workers needed to run their shipping operations is a constant challenge. Europort is calling attention to this strategically important issue by designating it as one of the core themes to be explored in 2015. However, recent technical development have reignited interest in an alternative approach: dispensing with the need for a crew altogether! Once more, potential cost savings and the fact that 85% of ship accidents are attributable to human error are being advanced as persuasive arguments for full automation. One company that is exhibiting at Europort in 2015 has already progressed further than the ‘what if?’ stage. Classification society DNV GL has reached the test phase in Norway, using a 1:20 scale model, of its automated short sea ship of the future. “ReVolt” envisages a vessel that is greener, smarter and safer than conventionally fuelled and operated vessels. Autonomous, fully battery powered and highly efficient, the “ReVolt” ship model embodies a shipping concept that looks to being a different dimension to shortsea shipping’s competitive case against rail and road modes. Instead of using diesel fuel, the “ReVolt” vessel will be powered by a 3,000 kWh battery. ...

Rolls Royce future bridge operation concept

Ship Intelligence for platform support vessels

Planning for a future of unmanned ships

A group of industry experts and sustainability professionals met in London to discuss DNV GL's latest report which outlines vital links between the economy, societal well-being and good governance in addressing key sustainability challenges. "In terms of additional costs from climate change, our estimates range from five to 20 per cent of GDP," said Bjørn Haugland, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at DNV GL. "These added costs will just increase and increase." DNV GL's research identifies 36 ‘barriers to sustainability' ranging from economic and market barriers, to policy, societal, and behavioural. The scale of the problem can seem oppressive, but Haugland insisted these problems can be overcome if businesses and politicians frame the response as an opportunity to innovate, open up new markets, and meet customer demands. "We believe there is a need to put the focus on the opportunities," he said. "For corporate leaders and politicians to speak a positive narrative is so important as it directs so much activity in society. "We believe it is possible to create a thriving economy, it is possible to stay within the limits of the planet and it is possible to create a society for nine billion people to live ...

The Future of Shipping

The project MUNIN - Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks - is a collaborative research project, co-funded by the European Commissions under its Seventh Framework Programme. MUNIN aims to develop and verify a concept for an autonomous ship, which is defined as a vessel primarily guided by automated on-board decision systems but controlled by a remote operator in a shore side control station.

Planning for a future of robot ships