Autonomous shipping: What is its advantage

and disadvantages.

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 Autonomous shipping. What is its advantages and Disadvantages?

What is Autonomous shipping? Here are some examples of autonomous

shipping, based on our
Research.

An autonomous ship is a water craft piloted by artificial intelligence (AI). These

vessels can
potentially be unmanned and function autonomously as a type of seafaring drone.
 Autonomous ships use a fleet of sensors combined with sensor fusion to
give the ship’s AI a precise combined image of the world. Sensors used include
RADAR, LIDAR, high definition cameras, thermal imaging and sonar. Ships can
progress though different levels of autonomous operation from fully manned ships
to partially operated, remote operated, partially autonomous and fully autonomous
unmanned ships. Autonomous ships make sailing of ships safer because of
reduced human error. There is also less expense because of decreased crew
costs.
 Early implementations of autonomous ships include coastal ferries
and trade ships. Military developments of autonomous ships include
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Anti-Submarine
Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV). Despite the
progress on autonomous ships, some experts argue that there is
currently no economic benefit to the pursuit of a fully autonomous ship,
and that there will always be value in onboard human
oversight.
What is its advantages and Disadvantages of Autonomous shipping?
What are the advantages?

The advantages of autonomous ships are plentiful. They eliminate human

error, reduce crewing costs, increase the safety of life, and allow for more efficient
use of space in ship design and efficient use of fuel. A three-year research project
by MUNIN (Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks)
predicted a saving of over $7m over a 25-year period per autonomous vessel in
fuel consumption and crew supplies and salaries. And other advantage of
autonomous ships are.
 Autonomous or smart ships or unmanned ships as they are called, are,
according to the developers of this concept, expected to be safer, more efficient,
and cheaper to run. According to a report published in 2012 by Allianz, the Munich-
based insurance company, between 75% and 96 % of marine accidents are a
result of human error, often due to work fatigue of the crew members. Remotely
controlled and autonomous ships are expected to reduce the risk of such human
errors or mistakes and along with it the risk of injury and even death to members
of the crew as also danger to the ship itself.
 Another advantage perceived by the developers of the concept of remotely controlled
and autonomous ships is that they can be designed with a larger cargo carrying capacity and
lower wind resistance due to absence of accommodation for the crew. This will make the ship
lighter and sleeker, cut fuel consumption, reduce its construction and operation costs, and
facilitate designs with more space for cargo.

Finally, a smart ship, according to its developers, will show owners and operators a way
to respond to the growing perceived shortage of mariners. With more and more mechanical
and electronic systems onboard, ships are becoming increasingly complex, needing skilled
technicians to keep the ships working. At the same time, seafaring as a career is becoming
less attractive, with fewer people wanting to spend weeks or months at a time away from
home and family. Remote and autonomous operations of ships could facilitate the transfer of
jobs requiring high levels of education and skills to ports of call or to operations control
centers on shore, thereby making such careers more interesting to young people entering the
industry
What are the disadvantages?

Despite the operational savings, there will be a large capital expenditure in

initially investing in the technology, especially in the early stages of its
development. This is not just for the ship itself, but also the setting-up of onshore
operations to monitor fleet movements. There may also be incompatibilities
between the current marine infrastructure and an unmanned vessel. Further, the
lack of crew will make maintenance of moving parts incredibly difficult on long
voyages and breakdowns could result in significant delays.
Disadvantage:

Despite the operational savings, there will be a large capital expenditure in

initially investing in the technology, especially in the early stages of its
development. This is not just for the ship itself, but also the setting-up of onshore
operations to monitor fleet movements. There may also be incompatibilities
between the current marine infrastructure and an unmanned vessel. Further, the
lack of crew will make maintenance of moving parts incredibly difficult on long
voyages and breakdowns could result in significant delays.

Shipping by sea can be slower than other transport modes and bad weather
can add further delays. Routes and timetables are usually inflexible. Tracking your
goods' progress is difficult. You have to pay port duties and taxes.