The world’s first autonomous and electric container ship is one step closer to reality with a shipbuilding contract now in signed and sealed for the vessel. Norwegian technology firm Kongsberg, who is partnering with Yara on the project, announced today that Yara has signed a deal worth NOK 250 million ($25.9 million) with VARD to build the vessel with launch scheduled for … [Read more...]
WATCH: Captain Demos Remote-Controlled Tugboat from 700-Miles Away
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...]
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...]
ABS Joins Alliance Developing Unmanned Cargo Ship
The American Bureau of Shipping has joined a China-led alliance whose goal is to develop and deliver an unmanned, autonomous cargo ship by the end of 2021. ABS, a leading classification society to the maritime and offshore industry, announced Wednesday it will become a member of the Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance to work with industry partners, including class … [Read more...]
Ship Automation Without Consultation – The Problem With Robot Ships
By Capt. George H Livingstone, “Promise Everything, Deliver Nothing” Napoleon Bonaparte There is an ongoing “full court press” regarding the subject of automation in marine transportation. In the last year gCaptain alone has seen many articles on the subject; Rolls-Royce’s automated ships, automated tug boats, etc. Recently there have seen several more, … [Read more...]