Autonomous Ships: A review, innovative applications and future maritime business models
Ziaul Haque Munim
Department of Maritime Operations
University of South-Eastern Norway
E-mail: ziaul.h.munim@usn.no
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5942-708X
Abstract
Over the last decade, a few autonomous ship prototypes have been developed. While Norway is pioneering the technological development of autonomous ships (AS), other countries such as China, Finland and USA have also made significant progress. However, future applications of AS and potential business models are not yet well explored. In the near future, AS are expected to be launched commercially, adding a new dimension in the merchant shipping industry. Thus, this study contributes to the maritime literature by (1) providing a review of the AS development projects and the benefits of AS from an economic, environmental and social perspective, (2) suggesting innovative uses of AS in short-sea-shipping (SSS), arctic shipping, and conventional shipping, and finally (3) discussing potential business models from the perspective of AS manufacturers.
Keywords: autonomous shipping; unmanned ship; intermodal transport; sustainable transport; vessel platooning; literature review
Cite as: Munim, Z. H. (2019, June). Autonomous ships: a review, innovative applications and future maritime business models. In Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal (pp. 1-14). Taylor & Francis.