G Pictured above is Rolls-Royce’s vision of an automated off shore supply vessel. The company
says the sector could be one of the fi rst to regularly use ‘smart’ ships. PICTURE: ROLLS ROYCE
What planet are they on?
It’s starting to seem highly likely that the shipping industry will be using
autonomous vessels within the next few years. But it’s not inevitable, argues
Nautilus Council member Captain MICHAEL LLOYD, as he reflects on the drive
towards drone ships…
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Before starting, I’d like to pre-empt those
who would decry this on the basis of the
old seadog
who wants a return to sail. Nearly 40
years ago I advocated a flight deck approach to
bridge ergonomics, 30 years ago I called for
dedicated FRCs for rescue, and I’ve argued in
favour of square and chart style radar screens.
I’ve given support for many other innovative
changes, few of which have happened at the time
— which is to be expected in our industry.
So, no return to sail, just a return to common
sense from those who now are jumping on the
bandwagon of the autonomous ship and claiming
the inevitability of it replacing manned ships in
the near future.
Don’t count on it. Let us look at this logically
—which is more than some of those who should
know better are doing.
There can be no dispute about the ability to
design and make such a vessel. After all, we can
send unmanned machines as far as Jupiter. That
is the theory, at least. There is a small blip on the
horizon and that is that there is no weather in
space, but we will deal with that later.
So while we may agree on the technical ability
to have a working autonomous ship, my question
is why?
THE MARINE INDUSTRY
In general, the shipping industry has never
responded well to technological advancement, or
even assisting in the improvement of existing
technology. Radar was on warships in the 1930s