The human element in future Maritime Operations – perceived impact of autonomous shipping

Abstract

The role of the human element within complex socio-technical systems is continually being transformed and redefined by technological advancement. Autonomous operations across varying transport domains are in differing stages of realisation and practical implementation, and specifically within maritime operations, is still in its infancy. This study explores the potential effects of autonomous technologies on future work organisation and roles of humans within maritime operations. Ten Subject-Matter Experts working within industry and academia were interviewed to elicit their perspectives on the current state and future implications of autonomous technologies. Four main themes emerged: (i) Trust, (ii) Awareness and Understanding, (iii) Control, (iv) Training and Organisation of Work. A fuzzier fifth theme also appeared in the data analysis: (v) Practical Implementation Considerations, which encompassed various sub-topics related to real-world implementation of autonomous ships. The results provide a framework of human element issues relevant for the organisation and implementation of autonomous maritime operations. Practitioner summary: As autonomous shipping rapidly moves closer to real-world implementation, it is critical to develop an understanding of future roles of humans in autonomous maritime operations. By eliciting expert knowledge from academics and practitioners, we establish a framework of relevant issues facing humans in emerging autonomous systems and operations at sea.