Autonomous Ships

There’s much buzz about autonomous ships.

Rolls-Royce, for example, has revealed concept designs for such a ship, shown above, that could be managed remotely from a control center. In response to queries by alumni, Capt. Robert H. Pouch ’62, NYNM/USNR (Ret.) and former President and Chairman of Barber Steamship Lines/Barber Ship Management, Inc., prepared the following brief:

As with any major new concept, there are obstacles to the introduction of this type of system. Here are the challenges:

We have all read about the Norwegian company [Massterly] that wants to place such a system on board a newly built coastal bulk carrier to be operational in 2020. However, no such equipment is apparently built, installed or approved by a classification agency or governmental authority.

Within these parameters, the basic challenges are:

• Hacking is a large risk and its analysis is a major issue
• Labor union acceptance
• Marine insurer approval
• USCG/Class Society Approval
• IMO acceptance
• Prevention and/or management of on-board casualties while under way if limited crew is aboard
• Fire
• Contaminated fuel
• Stowage/shifting cargo
• Stability
• Failure of steering gear or other fundamental operational equipment
• Control system monitoring
• Command and control issues arising between shipboard control system and remote control shore based system

Timeline to bring a development project to market:

• Ship and electronic autonomous system and design architecture for shipboard and shoreside components: minimum two years
• Certification of operator, testing and training: one year
• Regulatory approvals: one year
• Under way audit/testing of prototype installation: one year
• Total implementation time: five years█

Photo: Rolls-Royce

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