Can Automated Merchant Vessels Offset Manpower Shortage in Future?

By
Mfame Team
-
2521

Can Automated Merchant Vessels Offset Manpower Shortage?

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Recently Mfame carried an article based on a research report BIMCO/ICS Manpower Report Predicts Potential Shortage of Almost 150000 Officers by 2025.  The shipping industry took a serious note of the Seafarer Shortfall Report, following the publication of the article.

Today researchers from MUNIN, a European Union-funded research project, are aiming to make unmanned cargo ships a reality.  They predict by 2035 automated cargo ships will be operating entirely without onboard human crew assistance.

In short, one report foresees a manpower shortage and the other one cut downs on manpower requirement on board merchant vessels in the future.  Going by the reports there is a possibility that the shortfall may get offset by some amount of automation in the coming years.

Benefits of Automated Cargo Ships :

  • Safer for carrying food and minerals.
  • More environmentally friendly and cheaper to operate than current cargo vessels.
  • Just one person can be responsible for up to ten vessels, and would only need a 3-4Mbit broadband connection to ensure adequate communication.
  • Much of the technology needed for autonomous vessels exists, but the real challenge is demonstrating their safety.
  • Run initial voyages where the crew are onboard as a safety net but the autonomous system controls the vessel.

The Concerns that needs to be addressed :

  • Maritime laws will need to be changed to enable unmanned vessels to be used.
  • Focus will be on proving the technology is at least as safe as current, manned vessels.
  • The development and demonstration of a warning system to prevent ships colliding.
  • The heavy oil fuels used on current ships result in regular maintenance being needed, so an alternative fuel would have to be sought.

The vessels provide some clear cost savings, as they would remove the need to pay the wages of vast crews, as well as potential fuel savings.  Whether the maritime industry will accept a technology that renders much of its workers unemployed, however, remains to be seen.

Reference: Mfame, Factor