Autonomous Ships - A reality by 2030

ECDIS Not Being Used as Anticipated The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has announced that it is conducting a safety study, in collaboration with the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board, to understand why operators are not using ECDIS as envisaged by regulators and the system manufacturers.  The news follows the release of a MAIB investigation report into the grounding of the bulk carrier  Muros . In the early hours of December 3, 2016, the  Muros  ran aground on Haisborough Sand, eight miles off the Norfolk coast.  When  Muros  grounded, she was following a passage plan shown on its electronic chart and display information system (ECDIS). The MAIB investigation found that: • The vessel was following a planned track across Haisborough Sand. The passage plan in the ECDIS had been revised by the second officer less than three hours before the grounding and it had not been seen or approved by the master. ...

IMO adds autonomous ships to it agenda. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is in line with the proposal and will now start mapping how existing international regulation can be applied to autonomous ships and maritime technologies. Submitted by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, United Kingdom and the US, the proposal gave rise to a prolonged debate, which showed that many safety and legal issues still remain to be solved as regards autonomous shipping. According to plan, this issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 99), and then a plan will be drawn up for further consideration of the matter. “Despite some concern, it was generally agreed that the IMO needs to start its work now. There was also general agreement that the IMO must take into consideration how developments will affect the seafarers,”  the Danish Maritime Authority said. “There was a surprisingly high level of ...

The reality strikes - Autonomous Sailing ships could be a reality by the year 2030.Watch the above video to see yourself what technology could do to transform the lives.  Autonomous Ship Rolls-Royce has inked a deal with Google to develop further its intelligent awareness systems which are believed to make existing vessels safer and are essential for autonomous ships to become a reality.