Netherlands-based KOTUG has demonstrated what it says is the first sailing of a remotely controlled tugboat from a long-distance location. For the demonstration, the tug RT Borkum, located in Rotterdam, was controlled from the floor of the International Tug, Salvage & OSV Convention, which was taking place over 700 miles away in Marseille, France. A KOTUG captain took … [Read more...]
Robot Boats Propel One of China’s Hottest Startups
By Blake Schmidt (Bloomberg) -- In the vast, freezing Ross Sea, China’s “Snow Dragon” icebreaker needed to find a safe anchorage before it could begin its mission to set up China’s fifth Antarctic research station. The solution was to deploy one of Zhang Yunfei’s freezer-tested boat drones to map the ocean floor. For Zhang, it was the latest in a string of government … [Read more...]
Rolls-Royce and AXA Partner on Risk Management Products for Autonomous Shipping
Rolls-Royce and risk management firm AXA Corporate Solutions on Monday announced they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore ways to jointly develop risk management products for autonomous shipping. Under the LOI, the company's will seek ways in which they can combine their respective products to bring a new offering to the marine market, utilising Rolls-Royce Ship … [Read more...]
World’s First Autonomous Shipping Company Established in Norway
The world’s first shipping company focussing entirely on autonomous ships is being established in Norway as the shipping industry continues its push towards autonomous technology. Shipping group Wilhelmsen and technology firm KONGSBERG, both from Norway, have joined forces to establish the new company, named Massterly, which will launch later this year offering the complete … [Read more...]
Maersk CEO on Unmanned Ships: ‘Not In My Lifetime’
By Christian Wienberg (Bloomberg) -- The chief executive officer of the world’s biggest shipping company says it’s unlikely container vessels will operate without humans in his lifetime. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S has already pushed through enough cuts to reduce crew sizes in response to the spread of automation, CEO Soren Skou said in an interview. He says the workforce has now … [Read more...]