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Maersk sees no future in autonomous ships, but they're coming
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/03/01 14:54:41
CONSTRUCTION of the first self-driving container feeder ship is expected to begin this year but Maersk Line is unimpressed, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou said his firm already uses small crews on giant ships, and he doesn't see much use in taking the last few people off the vessel.
Even if there were a commercial reason to do so and the technology were available, "I don't expect we will be allowed to sail around with 400-metre long containerships, weighing 200,000 tonnes without any human beings on board," he said.
"I don't think it will be a driver of efficiency, not in my time," said Mr Skou.
But others aren't so sure, says the MarEx commentary. "Rolls-Royce Marine has put considerable resources into researching and promoting merchant vessel autonomy, as have many other leading marine technology firms, and several governments have designated specific test areas where manufacturers can trial their autonomous vessel prototypes.
"Norway has three such areas - Horten, Trondheimsfjord and Storfjorden - and China designated its own 300-square-mile test region off Zhuhai earlier this month.
"One of the first commercial autonomous vessels will be a containership, albeit a small one. The YARA Birkeland, an all-electric, 120-TEU feeder, will run between three ports in southern Norway. All are within about 30 nautical miles of each other and all within the nation's territorial waters.
"The shipyard for the Birkeland's construction should be selected within the first quarter of this year and delivery is expected in 2019, with fully autonomous operation by 2020," said MarEx.
Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou said his firm already uses small crews on giant ships, and he doesn't see much use in taking the last few people off the vessel.
Even if there were a commercial reason to do so and the technology were available, "I don't expect we will be allowed to sail around with 400-metre long containerships, weighing 200,000 tonnes without any human beings on board," he said.
"I don't think it will be a driver of efficiency, not in my time," said Mr Skou.
But others aren't so sure, says the MarEx commentary. "Rolls-Royce Marine has put considerable resources into researching and promoting merchant vessel autonomy, as have many other leading marine technology firms, and several governments have designated specific test areas where manufacturers can trial their autonomous vessel prototypes.
"Norway has three such areas - Horten, Trondheimsfjord and Storfjorden - and China designated its own 300-square-mile test region off Zhuhai earlier this month.
"One of the first commercial autonomous vessels will be a containership, albeit a small one. The YARA Birkeland, an all-electric, 120-TEU feeder, will run between three ports in southern Norway. All are within about 30 nautical miles of each other and all within the nation's territorial waters.
"The shipyard for the Birkeland's construction should be selected within the first quarter of this year and delivery is expected in 2019, with fully autonomous operation by 2020," said MarEx.