Page 12: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2015)

SATCOM UPDATE

New Roles for Satcoms in

Autonomous Shipping

BY ANDREW SIRKETT xamining some questions re- to move autonomous shipping from the com systems have to ful? ll in order to operator’s Control Center. We can spec- garding commercial autono- drawing board to a commercial reality. enable such ships to exist and operate? ulate that such a ship might sail from the mous and drone ships, as well The notion of autonomous shipping offshore anchorage of its loading port to

Eas why VSAT currently pres- is fascinating. However many questions ‘Autonomous’ vs ‘Drone’ ships the offshore anchorage of its destination ents the best solution for the communi- regarding the technology, safety and reg- The terms ‘autonomous’ and ‘drone’ port, unmanned. A skeleton crew would cations and control of such vessels. ulation are still very much ‘up in the air’. shipping have become somewhat inter- embark at the arrival port anchorage to

The topic of autonomous shipping We may well be about to see some rapid changeable in the public mind. safely navigate the ship into and out of has been much in the news recently. We technological advancements in ships and A ‘fully autonomous’ ship would sail port.

have seen, for example, the announce- how they can be navigated remotely. But without any operational of? cers or crew. A drone ship, on the other hand, while ment in September 2015 that Inmarsat many of the realities of sailing crewless At-sea navigational decisions would be also sailing without quali? ed of? cers has begun participating in the Advanced ships have yet to be de? ned. made by the Navigational & Manage- and crew, would be remotely controlled

Autonomous Waterborne Applications With that caveat in place, what is re- ment Computer, interfaced with all elec- from the Control Center of the shipping

Initiative (AAWA) recently launched by quired to make autonomous shipping a tronic navigational aids, with regular and company, (operating in conjunction with

Rolls Royce. This initiative is designed reality? And, what functions would sat- comprehensive data reporting to the ship the ship’s Navigational & Management 12 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • DECEMBER 2015

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