The rise of autonomous ships

In March 2023, Kongsberg’s Yara Birkeland, one of the world’s first fully autonomous electric container ships, completed its maiden voyage in Norwegian waters, entirely self-guided. It was a significant milestone in the development of autonomous shipping technology, proving that a vessel could safely and efficiently navigate itself in real-world conditions.

Today, under human supervision, the vessel transports containers from a production facility to a deep-sea container harbor. It autonomously leaves the quay, sails across the water and docks at the other side. A small onboard crew supervise and monitor the ship, but this is mainly to satisfy regulatory requirements, which currently mandate a certain level of human presence onboard.

Equipped with sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems, this vessel is still only one of a few autonomous ships operating in open waters, yet many more are expected to enter into commercial operation in the near future. It’s hoped that rapid technological innovation combined with evolving regulatory frameworks will pave the way for safer, more sustainable and efficient shipping.

What is autonomous shipping?

Moving from manual to autonomous vessel operations involves developing all the capabilities needed to operate with little to no human intervention. Today, ships are increasingly equipped with advanced technologies like integrated automation systems and sensors, which allow them to navigate, make decisions, and perform tasks independently.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets out four stages of autonomy for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), ranging from vessels with some automated processes through to a fully autonomous vessel that operates without human intervention:  

• Degree one: Ship possesses automated processes and decision support but has seafarers onboard for backup operation and control.
• Degree two: Ship is controlled entirely remotely yet seafarers remain onboard.
• Degree three: Ship is remotely controlled without seafarers onboard.
• Degree four: Fully autonomous ship makes decisions and determines actions by itself.  

Today, most ships in testing are at level two; they have the capabilities to operate autonomously but still have crew onboard. Until regulations catch up, it’s likely that the industry will remain at this stage for some time. Technical and infrastructure issues also remain, such as ensuring a continuous connection with the vessel at sea.  

What are the benefits of autonomous shipping?

It’s widely recognized that autonomous technology will bring substantial benefits to ship owners, particularly in terms of improving safety, cost efficiency and meeting the UN’s sustainable development goals.

• Safety: One of biggest drivers of increased autonomy is to improve safety at sea. A large proportion of accidents at sea are caused by human error – insurance firm Allianz estimates it accounts for 75% to 96% of accidents. Autonomous technology promises enhanced situational awareness, navigation and collision avoidance.
• Efficiency: Automated operations can help to optimize routes, travel time and fuel consumption. Taking human error and fatigue out of the equation reduces downtime. Autonomous cargo handling systems can also streamline offloading/unloading and reduce damage to cargo.
• Reduced costs: Cost efficiencies come from both decreased capital and operational expenditure; for example, lowering fuel consumption as a result of better voyage planning and execution. Companies can also expect to save costs by reducing crew and support workers, most notably on smaller ships engaged in near-coastal operations, including small island ferries, tugboats, barges and supply and service vessels.
• Sustainability: Most autonomous ships in development and operation today run on electricity and alternative fuels, helping to reduce emissions and pollution. Optimized routes improve fuel efficiency. Fewer accidents and collisions will also lead to less environmental damage such as oil spills.

What are the disadvantages of an autonomous ship?

IMO has raised a range of issues linked to autonomous shipping, including safety, security, liability and compensation for damage, interactions with ports, pilotage, responses to incidents and protection of the marine environment.

Key industry stakeholders will need to balance the benefits of autonomous shipping technologies against potential challenges such as:

• Technological limitations and risks: Autonomous systems will need to operate in sometimes extreme conditions, including adverse weather and areas of high traffic. Autonomous ships are also vulnerable to cyberattacks, risking safety and continuous operation.

• Regulatory hurdles: Developing comprehensive regulations for autonomous shipping is proving complex and time consuming. Regulatory bodies will need to develop frameworks that prioritize safety and keep pace with fast evolving technology developments.

• Ethical issues and public acceptance: Autonomous technologies raise questions about risks to jobs, liability and decision-making in critical situations. Public concerns around safety and reliability also need to be addressed.

• Cost: Rolling out autonomous shipping systems requires high upfront investment associated with technology development, research, infrastructure and regulatory compliance.

Which types of vessels are better suited to being autonomous?

Regulatory restrictions and technological limitations mean that the first vessels best suited to going autonomous will be those operating in controlled environments over short distances, such as from one port to another along coastal waters and inland waterways. That would include everything from tugboats and commuter ferries to service vessels such as for windfarm maintenance and inspection. Here, there is a stronger business case for the technology.

Deep sea activities like cargo shipping will come later as the technology matures and associated development costs come down.

How must regulations support the future of autonomous shipping?

Developing entirely new regulations for emerging technologies takes time. Classification societies and industry regulators like IMO have made clear their intentions to support the development of autonomous shipping and have committed to working together to define industry-wide rules. The current plan is for a non-mandatory MASS code to come into effect in 2025, followed by a mandatory MASS code in 2028.

In the meantime, IMO has several high-priority issues to address including:

• Terminology and definitions: Establish clear definitions for MASS as well as the responsibility of certain personnel such as master and crew.

• Operational requirements: Determine the role of remote control centers and operators.

• Safety treaty gaps: Review where there may be a need for manual operations as well as implications for search and rescue, watchkeeping, firefighting, security and maintenance.

As shipbuilders contend with how to integrate autonomous technologies into future ship designs, they will need to master increasingly complex systems engineering challenges. Dassault Systèmes offers powerful solutions to efficiently model, simulate, and validate concept designs, integrating both technical and business data. Model-based systems engineering and system of systems engineering solutions help to achieve complex multi-disciplinary systems modeling and, through problems analysis, rapidly solve design challenges early on.

With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, mechanical, electrical, fluidics and software disciplines are implemented in context of the system requirements and wider architecture, providing a holistic view of the overall ship’s system design. Teams can collaborate from a unified information source to make informed tradeoffs and develop the best concept that also complies with industry regulations.

While autonomous technologies continue to advance, work remains before unmanned ocean-going vessels become a common sight. Public acceptance and awareness of what autonomous technologies can and cannot do must also grow. Likewise, the technology must prove itself and come down in cost for it to become truly viable. Be that said, things are moving at a fast pace, and we should expect to see more remotely operated vessels entering operation in the next couple of years.

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