This is the Whole Conference Proceedings for: Smart Ship Technology Conference, 14th - 15th October 2020, Online

Liquefied natural gas bunkering is creating a new class of maritime support vessel. Drawing on extensive experience in floating LNG infrastructure and gas carrier design, engineers are developing robust bunker-vessel concepts to enable global fuel supply networks. The trend highlights LNG’s transitional role in shipping’s pathway toward lower-carbon operations worldwide.

Recovering LNG cryogenic energy for onboard freshwater production could significantly improve the sustainability of LNG-fuelled vessels. By integrating atmospheric water generation and distillation systems with regasification processes, researchers achieved notable efficiency gains and reduced energy consumption. The concept demonstrates a practical approach to resource recovery, operational efficiency, and maritime decarbonisation overall.

LNG carrier conversions are emerging as a faster, lower-cost route to expanding gas import infrastructure. By transforming existing vessels into floating storage and regasification units, operators can significantly reduce capital expenditure and deployment timelines. The approach strengthens energy security, improves market responsiveness, and supports growing global natural-gas demand efficiently today.

Dedicated LNG bunkering vessels and barges are rapidly expanding to support growing adoption of gas-fuelled shipping. Tracking successive generations of newbuilds and conversions, the analysis highlights evolving transfer capabilities, specialised fuel-handling systems, and accelerating global infrastructure development. The trend underscores LNG’s emerging role in lower-emission maritime operations worldwide today ahead.

Dedicated LNG bunkering vessels and barges are rapidly expanding to support growing adoption of gas-fuelled shipping. Tracking successive generations of newbuilds and conversions, the analysis highlights evolving transfer capabilities, specialised fuel-handling systems, and accelerating global infrastructure development. The trend underscores LNG’s emerging role in lower-emission maritime operations worldwide today ahead.

Variable buoyancy technology is advancing autonomous underwater vehicle performance by reducing reliance on energy intensive thrusters. Integrating a pump driven buoyancy system with advanced control algorithms, researchers demonstrated efficient depth keeping, improved manoeuvrability and extended endurance. The approach offers a promising pathway for longer, more capable underwater missions today ahead.

Autonomous shipping trials are driving regulatory evolution across international maritime governance frameworks. Examining MASS, flag-state responsibilities, safety conventions, alternative design provisions, and unmanned bridge operations, the analysis highlights key legal, operational, and certification challenges. The findings support safer, scalable, autonomous vessel deployment while maintaining compliance with established maritime regulations worldwide.

Autonomous underwater transportation using multiple AUVs faces significant challenges from sea-current effects. Through nonlinear dynamic modelling and time-domain simulations researchers evaluated payload limits and control-system performance under opposing and cross-current conditions. Results showed effective PID-controlled operation against head currents while transverse currents induced instability and undesirable pitch oscillations at sea.

Coordinated underwater transport using multiple autonomous vehicles demands precise dynamic modelling and control optimisation. Researchers developed a nonlinear coupled system and demonstrated successful payload guidance through PID controlled trajectory tracking. Increasing controller gains improved responsiveness reduced lag and enabled reliable mission execution highlighting practical advances in cooperative AUV transportation systems

MARLab is laying the foundations for autonomous vessel deployment by developing a shared navigation-data hub for UK waters. The scalable platform supports safe testing of sub-24-metre smart vessels while addressing regulatory, legal and operational barriers. By enabling secure data exchange, the initiative aims to accelerate Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship innovation.

Integrated mission management is advancing collaborative maritime autonomy. Real-world trials coordinating surface, air, and underwater autonomous platforms demonstrated secure fleet control, reduced human intervention, and successful multi-domain mission execution. The findings highlight interoperability, communications resilience, and robust planning as critical enablers for scalable autonomous operations at sea worldwide today ahead.