Gartner Research

Innovation Insight: Autonomous Ships Will Improve Operational Efficiency at Sea

Published: 13 January 2023

Summary

Putting a virtual captain onboard a vessel can either complement human crew members or replace them entirely, which will increase operational safety and reduce vessel costs. CIOs in the maritime and logistics sectors need to start planning how they’ll support the deployment of autonomous ships.

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Overview

Key Findings
  • Ship operators are investigating how they can harness Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create connected and autonomous ships.

  • The incorporation of a virtual ship captain, to either provide seafarers with decision support and act as an “extra set of eyes” or enable the removal of crew entirely, would reduce accidents involving collisions or groundings.

  • There are significant inhibitors to fully autonomous vessels, including management of regulations, and concerns related to how equipment malfunction or incidents (such as fires or piracy) might be handled should experienced crew be removed from ships.

Recommendations

CIOs responsible for IT optimization and

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Analysts:

Jonathan Davenport

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