Autonomous Ships

Remote and autonomous ships have the potential to redefine the maritime industry and the roles of the players in it with implications for shipping companies, shipbuilders and maritime systems providers, as well as technology companies from other (especially the automotive) sectors.

Modern ships already include complex automated systems. This technological development has allowed for a gradual reduction in onboard manning.  Increased data collection, processing and interconnectivity capabilities, enabling the automated systems to be controlled remotely or through artificial intelligence, may gradually further reduce manning and ultimately result in unmanned ships. This has the potential to increase safety, improve the environmental performance of, and enable more cost-effective shipping. The technologies for this are maturing rapidly, but it is still questionable whether their implementation would ensure the safe operation of ships.

The operation of remote and autonomous ships will need to be at least as safe as existing vessels if they are to secure regulatory approval, the support of ship owners, operators, seafarers and wider public acceptance.

For remote controlled and autonomous shipping to become a reality, efforts are needed at all regulatory levels. Whilst some projects are already underway the legal challenges of constructing and operating vessels need to be explored and more fully understood, while simultaneously considering appropriate rule changes at the IMO.