4 Degrees of Vessel Autonomy

The Four Degrees of Maritime Autonomy: Why the Industry’s Future Is More Evolution Than Revolution

Introduction Ask someone to picture an autonomous vessel, and they will probably imagine a crewless container ship crossing the Pacific with nobody on board, guided entirely by AI. It is an image that captures headlines and fuels conference debates. The reality, however, is considerably less dramatic and considerably more interesting. History shows that technological revolutions…

Crewed Crude Connections

Introduction Newsreaders frequently state that around 90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea. This equates to commercial merchant shipping transporting approximately 11–13 billion tonnes of cargo during 2024. Dry bulk makes up the largest segment, accounting for roughly 4.9 billion tonnes (about 48%) of all seaborne trade and is typically measured by weight.…

A Future Automated Port

That’s an Offload on My Mind

Introduction Much of the discussion surrounding automated and smart shipping focuses on navigation, propulsion, remote operations and artificial intelligence. Yet one of the industry’s biggest opportunities to improve safety, efficiency and profitability lies somewhere far less glamorous: cargo handling. For many commercial applications, automated shipping is perhaps the more appropriate term than autonomous shipping. While…