Charting a New Course: Ocean Infinity's Autonomous Maritime Advancements
Gemma Higgins | 15 March 2024
Summary
Ocean Infinity's venture into autonomous vessels marks a significant period in maritime exploration, boasting cutting-edge technology meticulously engineered to transform maritime operations.
There is already a global shift in maritime autonomy. From Norway to China, the maritime industry is witnessing a widespread embrace of autonomy, highlighting increasing efficiency and reduced costs.
While obstacles including the navigation of congested ports persist, regulatory adaptation and technological advancements promise a future of safer, more efficient maritime transport, with autonomous vessels becoming standard and reshaping job roles in the sector.
Ocean Infinity's leap into autonomous vessels illustrates a watershed moment within maritime exploration and industry. Currently, located within a Norwegian fjord, OI's vessel is undergoing rigorous testing. The vessel is deemed a cornerstone of Ocean Infinity's ambitious "Armada" fleet, filled with technology including cameras, microphones, radars, GPS, and satellite communications systems, meticulously engineered to transform maritime operations.
The vessel, standing at 78 meters in length, supports a maximum crew of only 16 individuals, a stark departure from the number on board conventional ships that are similar in type, which often requires a workforce double or even triple in size. OI have streamlined crew numbers through their strategic deployment of remote operations, relegating many shipboard roles to land-based facilities. Within the confines of OI's remote operations centre located in Southampton, operators control the vessel via an array of gaming-like controls and touch screens, monitoring its activities through live streams from onboard cameras and sensors.
However, OI's endeavour is anything but a new phenomenon or facet of a broader global movement towards maritime autonomy. In Norway, electric container ships already precede to navigate the fjords, shuttling back and forth between a fertiliser plant and a local port. Devoid of traditional crew members, these vessels combine innovative technology and environmental sustainability, offering a glimpse into the future of maritime transport. Meanwhile, in Belgium and Japan, autonomous ferries already navigate between destinations, berthing and un-berthing with precision, equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and artificial intelligence, illustrating the integration of autonomy into everyday maritime operations. Further afield, along China’s coastal routes, large autonomous container ships are being used. They are serving as precursors of a new era in maritime logistics, capable of navigating vast distances with minimal human intervention, highlighting the transformative potential of autonomy in optimising efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Yet, as with any technological development, there are challenges in achieving full autonomy, highlighted by Rudy Negenborn, an autonomous shipping researcher at Delft University of Technology. While autopilot systems adeptly guide ships along predetermined routes, the complexities of interacting with other vessels, navigating through congested ports, and weathering unpredictable maritime conditions create obstacles. Nonetheless, optimism continues to be evident within the industry, anchored by the belief that ongoing technological advancements will surmount these challenges, fostering a future of safer, more efficient, and sustainable maritime transport.
Beyond the technical realm, there are questions and implications concerning the rise of autonomous shipping. Concerns regarding employment displacement, the creation of new job roles, and the robustness of autonomous systems. Regulatory bodies, represented by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), grapple with delineating best practices and standards for autonomous shipping, highlighting the necessity and immediacy of regulatory adaptation to align with the rapid pace of technological advancement.
As OI and its competitors continue to navigate the uncharted waters of autonomy, they remain at the forefront of a transformative journey. With each technological innovation and regulatory step forward, the concept of ocean-going crewless ships becomes an increasing reality, steering the maritime sector towards an optimistic future.
Maksym Kaharlytskyi/Unsplash
Forecast
Short-term:
There is high likelihood of adoption of remote operations and autonomous technologies by maritime companies increases, driven by the success of Ocean Infinity's initiatives.
There is a high likelihood that regulatory agencies will begin to develop frameworks and guidelines specifically tailored to autonomous vessels, spurred by the growing demand and advancements in technology.
Long-term:
There is a likelihood autonomous vessels become standard across various sectors of the maritime industry, including shipping, offshore energy, and environmental monitoring.
There is a likelihood crewless ships prove to be more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than their manned counterparts, leading to widespread adoption and deployment.
There is a fairly high likelihood that job roles in the maritime sector undergo a transformation, with a shift towards more specialised positions focused on technology maintenance, monitoring, and supervision, alongside traditional seafaring roles.
There is a high likelihood that the global maritime industry experiences a shift towards safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly operations, driven by advancements in autonomous technology and regulatory adaptation.