Unmanned and Autonomous Ships: An Overview of MASS

Unmanned ships and autonomous ships are quickly becoming a reality, making shipping safer and more efficient. However, traditional tasks and functions are becoming blurred as new technology changes how the unique needs of different sectors are met. In addition to large vessels dedicated to the transport of goods and cargos across the oceans, major efforts are underway towards the automation of small coastal shipping that includes ferries, tugboats, supply and service vessels, and barges. Automated vehicles are also replacing conventional ships for inspecting and servicing pipelines, drilling platforms, wind farms and other offshore installations.

Automated shipping is explored in terms of economics, technology, safety and the environment under the broad themes of ship design and engineering, command and control, navigation, communications, security, regulatory issues, and training. This includes initiatives for autonomous shipping as well as civilian implications of military ship automation programs. This book is primarily for maritime professionals, regulatory authorities, insurers, and environmental groups. It also suits undergraduate students involved in deck officer training, and graduate students and academics involved in research in ship design, operations and management.

Dr. R. Glenn Wright has forty years’ experience in industry leading research in sensor-based systems for surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles. He is a Master Mariner and operates a research vessel testbed investigating the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence for the operation and navigation of vessels and autonomous vehicles and related meteorological, oceanographic and electromagnetic phenomena.