A lack of qualified staff, higher efficiency and better security are grounds for extending automation to seafaring applications. The first ships with autonomous functions are set to be launched in 2018.
It is not a matter of whether autonomous ships will exist, but when. Oskar Levander, the Vice President of Innovation – Marine at Rolls-Royce, is convinced: “The technologies needed to make remote and autonomous ships a reality exist. We will see a remote-controlled ship in commercial use by the end of the decade.” The British company has been active in this area, including starting the Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative (AAWA). Several Finnish universities, companies from the shipping industry and classification society DNV GL participated in this project, which ended in July 2017. The aim of the initiative was to develop the technologies for remote-controlled and autonomous ships.
Autonomy Mixed with Remote Control
There are similar projects around the world, which generally do not envisage completely autonomous operation. Human beings are intended to resume control by no later than the time of docking and undocking at the port. However, they will no longer be sitting on the ship’s bridge, but inside a control centre on land. In the future, they are also expected to monitor the ships in autonomous operation from this vantage point, for instance as the vessels navigate the open sea.
“The advantages of unmanned ships are manifold, but primarily centre on the safeguarding of life and reduction in the cost of production and operations,” explains Brett A. Phaneuf, Managing Director of the British firm Automated Ships. According to a study by Munich-based Allianz Insurance, between 75 and 96 per cent of accidents at sea can be attributed to errors made by the crew, often as a result of fatigue. Remote-controlled or autonomous vessels would significantly reduce this risk. A further benefit is that the ships can be designed with higher loading capacity and lower wind resistance. After all, in the absence of a crew, there is no need for bridges, quarters or systems such as heating, ventilation and wastewater management. As a result, the ships become lighter and more streamlined, fuel consumption is reduced, construction and operating costs decrease, and there is more space available for cargo. Last but not least, autonomous ships will make sailors’ work more attractive as a career. Seamen will no longer be at sea for weeks on end and instead will work on land in the control station, able to return home every night.
The Technology is Already Here
Most of the technology necessary for an autonomous vessel exists today; many features are automated on a modern ship’s bridge. The autopilot steers a set course with the help of GPS, while a cruise control system manages the speed. Radars and ship detection systems scan the environment and automatically sound the alarm in the event of danger. In addition, autonomous ships are to be equipped with more sensors. Types of sensors previously unused in a maritime context are integrated along with the normal radar in the Autosea project, for example, to provide the means to also detect small objects such as driftwood or small boats. These sensor types include lidar, infrared or 3D cameras. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is directing the project, whose industry partners include the two Norwegian companies Kongsberg Maritime and Maritime Robotics.
Globally Connected via Satellite
A software program evaluates the data from all the sensors and determines, for example, whether and how the ship should change course to avoid collisions. People will be able to monitor what is happening via satellite and intervene if necessary. This requires a constant real-time connection with high data transfer rates. To this end, British company Inmarsat – also a partner of the AAWA project – has now deployed four Global Xpress satellites. By means of the Ka band, these can create a high-speed broadband connection that is available worldwide. This method is not only used to transfer the operating data to the control station; autonomous ships can also use it to access weather-forecast information or intelligence from other vessels for decision-making purposes, making them part of the Internet of Things.
Autonomous ships: Stages of development
2020
Reduced crew, certain functions will be executed with remote control
2025
Remote-controlled, unmanned coastal freighters
2035
Autonomous, ocean-going ships
First Ships from 2018
The plans for unmanned, ocean-going vessels have become increasingly specific. For one, the Hrönn is under construction, a joint project by Automated Ships and Kongsberg Maritime, which is intended to launch in 2018. The Hrönn is designed as a light-duty supply ship for offshore wind turbines or fish farms. The vessel will initially be remotely controlled. However, its control algorithms are due to be developed in parallel during use, later enabling it to be operated fully automatically and even autonomously. Kongsberg is also involved in another project, the Yara Birkeland, which will be the world’s first electrically powered and autonomous container ship. The ship is to first set sail – initially still with crew – in 2018, then with remote control as of 2019, and is expected to be autonomous from 2020 onwards.
“Autonomous shipping is the future of the maritime industry. As disruptive as the smartphone, the smart ship will revolutionise the landscape of ship design and operations,” Mikael Makinen, Rolls-Royce, President – Marine, states with confidence.