TIM eMagazine Vol.2 Issue 7
Credit: rollsroyce.com
Ghost Ships IRL: How Autonomous
Cargo Boats Could Disrupt the
Massive Shipping Industry
U
nmanned marine vehicles will use sensors & AI to
crisscross the world’s oceans without a crew –
potentially lowering costs & improving safety for
the $334B shipping sector.
Just as driverless cars and trucks are bringing
huge changes to the auto industry, and drones are
disrupting everything from emergency response
to conservation, autonomous ships are becoming the next major
transportation innovation.
A number of startups and governments are piloting “unmanned
marine vehicles” or crewless cargo boats, with the potential to
disrupt the $334B shipping industry.
Rolls-Royce already demonstrated the world’s first remotely
operated commercial vessel earlier this year, and the US military
is testing an experimental, autonomous warship called the Sea
Hunter.
Fully autonomous ships aren’t yet allowed in international waters.
But with more and more companies (and governments) developing
driverless vessels, the UN is considering policy changes that would
allow unmanned boats to crisscross oceans, signaling a major sea-
change to the global rules governing transport.
That means “crewless cruising” by cargo vessels could take over
the shipping industry sooner than you think. Already, there is a
“ghost ship” that is expected to be ferrying cargo for commercial use
as soon as 2020. cbinsights.com
Reference Link: https://www.cbinsights.com/research/ghost-ships-
automonous-cargo-boats/
That means “crewless cruising” by cargo vessels could take over the shipping industry
sooner than you think. Already, there is a “ghost ship” that is expected to be ferrying
cargo for commercial use as soon as 2020.
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