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Operational and economic advantages of autonomous ships and their perceived impacts on port operations

  • Special Issue - Autonomous Shipping
  • Published:
Maritime Economics & Logistics Aims and scope

Abstract

Autonomous shipping has been on the agenda of the shipping industry for the last decade, and is now closer to becoming a reality more than ever. Although it is technically possible to automate ships with the developments in autonomous technologies of recent years, the effective use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) depends on meeting the specific operational needs of shipping. Furthermore, autonomous ships must provide significant economic, environmental, safety, and interoperability advantages for a transition to autonomy to be feasible. This study provides a detailed assessment of the operational improvements, possible impacts, and problems that may arise in the shipping industry with the advent of MASS. In addition to this, we assess the processes that would ensure the realization of autonomous ship–port interoperability. In this context, the study discusses the transition to MASS, taking a variety of factors into account, including the acceptability of MASS, benefits and economic impacts of the transition for the shipping industry, the adaptation of vessel types, MASS–port operational interactions (considering various aspects of port operations), and the role of port authorities. Data were collected using a detailed questionnaire distributed to relevant maritime industry stakeholders. The results of this study highlight the navigational issues facing port areas, and the challenges regarding MASS–port interactions during cargo operations. The findings of this research are expected to assist efforts of successfully implementing autonomous systems in the maritime transport chain.

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Fig. 1

Source Based on Lloyd’s Register (2016) and Rødseth (2019)

Fig. 2

Source Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence (2016)

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Notes

  1. Since the integration of autonomous systems is a new topic in the field of maritime transport, the R&D process has not been completed yet. Therefore, the participation of research institutes and academics in the survey was much higher than other occupational groups. In addition, research institutes include employees of marine technology and the R&D departments of ports.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, under Project Number: 2021-GAP-GIDF-0004.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ship and Marine Technology Engineering, Faculty of Naval Architecture and Maritime, İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Çiğli, İzmir, Turkey

    Ismail Kurt

  2. Department of Marine Engineering, Faculty of Naval Architecture and Maritime, İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Çiğli, İzmir, Turkey

    Murat Aymelek

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Kurt, I., Aymelek, M. Operational and economic advantages of autonomous ships and their perceived impacts on port operations. Marit Econ Logist 24, 302–326 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-022-00213-1

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