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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