The automated and unmanned inland vessel

E Verberght,E Van Hassel

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1357/1/012008

E Verberght, E Van Hassel

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1357/1/012008

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Abstract

Automation is an ongoing development that has already changed the inland waterway transport sector (IWT) fundamentally. One of the next possible steps is the technology for fully automated operation systems under conditions and with the possibility for human intervention from on-shore. This article develops and explores a fully automated and unmanned inland vessel and questions if a positive business case for the IWT and society is possible. It also identifies the success and failure factors of this innovation. Two analyses were applied regarding barriers that could prevent market uptake (System of innovation approach, SIA), and the social costs and benefits of automation (Social Cost/Benefit Analysis, SCBA). The innovation has the potential to be disruptive in the entire supply chain as all transport modes are discovering their automation potential. The technology is assumed to have a possible impact on vessel safety, trip planning, fuel efficiency and even freight capacity. Also the institutional framework of the European IWT is taken in account regarding crew requirements and safety standards.

Highlights

Automation is finding its way in our daily life and certainly in our ways of transport
The automated vessel (AV) becomes less costly for society the conventional vessel (CV), if the additional infrastructure cost lies below 25% increase in this example
If these social benefits are taken in account, the AV scenario would probably score better than within the limits of this approach

Summary

Introduction

Automation is finding its way in our daily life and certainly in our ways of transport. A charter rate of 1% provision is assumed and is tested during the sensitivity analysis with an assumed 7% provision In this ex ante research, the vessel is assumed to navigate without helmsman and can perform mooring operations without human intervention. The SIA identifies failure and success factors during different stages of innovation development and link these with the responsible actors within the innovation network The combination of both analyses gives a deeper understanding of the current status of the automated inland vessel and the challenges that the innovation still faces. The chartering or freight broker service is considered to be significantly automated in case of the AV which is assumed to a lower charterer’s provision of 1% while the CV has a rate of 7% of revenue This is tested in the sensitivity analysis. Scenario Vessel Payback time (years) Fuel cost increase Earnings Charterer provision SCC cost in EUR (year 1) Crew cost in EUR (year 1) NPV in EUR (equity) NPV in EUR (enterprise) IRR (equity) IRR (enterprise)

AV 15 high low

Findings

Conclusion