Sea News took a deep dive into the future of the shipping industry, thoroughly examining the benefits and challenges that will come with AI-powered, autonomous shipping. A few takeaways from the article are as follows: 

• The autonomous ships market predicted to grow from EUR5.5 billion in 2018 to EUR12.5 billion by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.00% during the forecast period.
• Statistics have shown that AI has the capability to boost the transportation and logistics industry performance by almost 90%, potentially increase the industry’s annual revenue up to EUR0.45 trillion.
• The industry need[s] to act now in order to prepare our current and future workforce — such as reforming education, boosting training programs that support seafarers to work with AI and automation. Shipping businesses should elevate human potential through technology by using available AI-powered tools to predict operational risks, navigation solution, voyage optimisation, and the like to reduce maritime accidents.

“It is no doubt that these kinds of ships will give possibilities for headcount savings, eliminate human tragedy, and allow for more efficient use of space in ship design. Autonomous ships would also optimise maintenance activities and maximise fuel utilisation, consequently leave a smaller carbon footprint. The advantages of autonomous ships are plentiful, and autonomous shipping is not just a fanciful idea that could happen in the future, or at least not anymore. It is being developed now by a number of initiatives set up worldwide.”

Click here to read the full article.

Sea Machines is currently testing its perception and situational awareness technology aboard one of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s newest ice-class container ships and has several other installations scheduled.