A task-based analysis of the economic viability of low-manned and unmanned cargo ship concepts

C Kooij,A.A Kana,R.G Hekkenberg

doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110111

C Kooij, A.A Kana + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110111

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Abstract

While successful trials for autonomously navigating ships have been conducted, commercially available unmanned cargo ships are currently unavailable. However, there are many solutions available that will allow for low-manned ship concepts long before fully unmanned ships are possible. There are many drivers for low-manned and unmanned shipping, ranging from availability of workforce, to increased safety to economic. This article investigates the economic viability of several low-manned ship concepts as well as the unmanned ship concept for a short sea container vessel. The operating cost of these concepts are compared to those of a conventional vessel. That way, an assessment can be made on the economic viability. The results show that the low-manned concepts investigated in this article are worthwhile for the ship owner, as some savings can be achieved. The economic viability of the unmanned concept is dependent on the chosen type of propulsion.

Highlights

In the last decade, research and practical tests have shown that building an unmanned autonomous ship is possible
It has been demonstrated that ships can autonomously navigate around obstacles (Joint Industry Project Autonomous Shipping, 2019; Rolls-Royce, 2018)
Provide values that are accurate enough to judge if a solution is significantly cheaper, significantly more expensive or approximately expensive as not replacing the affected task clusters, and if it is likely that a solution is economically viable

Summary

Introduction

Research and practical tests have shown that building an unmanned autonomous ship is possible. It has been demonstrated that ships can autonomously navigate around obstacles (Joint Industry Project Autonomous Shipping, 2019; Rolls-Royce, 2018) Processes such as mooring can be automated (Cavotec, 2017; MacGregor, 2019) and current diesel engines require significant maintenance and monitoring, new, cleaner and less maintenance-intensive alternatives are available. While some of these technologies need to mature before they can be used on a large scale and in real world situations, autonomous ships are technically possible. Technical feasibility is not the only hurdle that needs to be achieved before autonomous ships will be broadly implemented in commercial shipping Even expected benefits such as increased safety are not enough.

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