Ship Without a Crew

So what comes after unmanned aerial vehicles, self-driving cars and package delivery drones? Autonomous ships, of course! While unmanned freighters haven’t hit the water yet, researchers in Germany have made some real headway in developing a navigation simulator that brings the world one step closer to bulk carriers that can sail the open seas without a crew.

Fueled by a dwindling number of workers interested in making a career in shipping, at a time when transport volumes are on the rise, the project represents a collaborative effort between eight partners from five European countries. Known as Project MUNIN (Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence Networks) the goal is to develop a ship that could be controlled remotely by an operator in a shore-side control station. Although much of the necessary technology already exists on today’s modern ships – including autopilot capabilities, GPS, tempo automation systems and radar equipment – the new design will need to incorporate a variety of sensors, cameras and communications in order to operate fully autonomously.