Future of ships

A baby step maybe but it is happening whether we want it or not: http://gcaptain.com/worlds-first-zero-emission-fully-autonomous-ship-planned-for-2020/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+(gCaptain.com)

A counter argument for truck transport vs short sea shipping: http://splash247.com/robotrucks-versus-short-sea-shipping/
But both based on autonomous means of transportation.

When autonomous ships, trucks and flying cars are common place, what will the ports look like??
Here is Kalmar’s (Cargotech) take on what is will be like in 2060: http://splash247.com/video-depicts-port-operations-year-2060/

Maybe one day, but not in our lifetimes, not in any appreciable numbers.

More warning against hacker attack against autonomous ships: http://splash247.com/hacked-ships/
Are there guaranteed ways of securing yourself against hacker attacks?? I’m sure the people working on making the Yara Birkeland become reality is full aware of the dangers, especially since this vessel will operate in near coastal waters and exposed to more danger of that nature than a vessel on the open ocean.

Speaking as someone who spent almost 40 years in computer security, the answer is “no.”

Cheers,

Earl

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I wonder how much in ransom a company would pay to get back control of their ship before it was intentionally run aground? Gonna cost more than $300 in Bitcoin.

More on the Yara Birkeland and the Future of Ships and Shipping: http://gcaptain.com/ships-without-sailors-it-cant-happen-soon-enough-opinion/

Looks like they’re falling into the Level 2 trap (robot primary, human backup):

The Yara Birkeland is a modest but important step forward. Although it can be operated remotely by a pilot, it will also be able to cruise on its own, using an array of sensors, cameras and navigation tools, all guided by sophisticated algorithms. Back on shore, an operations center will monitor its progress.

The SAE levels are (from Wikipedia):

SAE automated vehicle classifications:

Level 0: Automated system issues warnings but has no vehicle control.
Level 1 (”hands on”): Driver and automated system shares control over the vehicle. An example would be be Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) where the driver controls steering and the automated system controls speed. Using Parking Assistance, steering is automated while speed is manual. The driver must be ready to retake full control at any time. Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) Type II is a further example of level 1 self driving.
Level 2 (”hands off”): The automated system takes full control of the vehicle (accelerating, braking, and steering). The driver must monitor the driving and be prepared to immediately intervene at any time if the automated system fails to respond properly. The shorthand ”hands off” is not meant to be taken literally. In fact, contact between hand and wheel is often mandatory during SAE 2 driving, to confirm that the driver is ready to intervene.
Level 3 (”eyes off”): The driver can safely turn their attention away from the driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a movie. The vehicle will handle situations that call for an immediate response, like emergency braking. The driver must still be prepared to intervene within some limited time, specified by the manufacturer, when called upon by the vehicle to do so.
Level 4 (”mind off”): As level 3, but no driver attention is ever required for safety, i.e. the driver may safely go to sleep or leave the driver’s seat. Self driving is supported only in limited areas (geofenced) or under special circumstances, like traffic jams. Outside of these areas or circumstances, the vehicle must be able to safely abort the trip, i.e. park the car, if the driver does not retake control.
Level 5 (”wheel optional”): No human intervention is required. An example would be a robot taxi.

Level 2 is a complacency generator. Ford’s autonomous vehicle project observed that what often happened when a Level 2 robot took over was that the test driver dozed off. Now think of a Level 2 ship “captain” in a comfy chair in a climate-controlled room with no audible or motion cues. Zzzzzz. Crunch.

Cheers,

Earl

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If level 5; No Captain, nobody to fall asleep.
If Level 2; Motion sensors and loud alarm to wake up the “driver” if he falls asleep.

I believe the Yara Birkeland will initially have an “operator” or two on board.
This being a vessel purpose built for very short voyages, not much in form of facilities for crew comfort is required. Nobody living onboard.

After an initial test period of maybe 1 year, the vessel will have no “operator” on board, but will be remotely controlled from a shore based control centre.

After approx. 2 years it is intended that the vessel will be operating totally autonomous, but with monitoring from the control room ashore.

PS> I sincerely hope that the people developing this project doesn’t confuse a vessel at sea with a car on a busy road, with God knows what kind of “idiots” driving the other cars, falling asleep, or be too busy texting to pay attention to what is happening on the road.

Admittedly, they have to consider “numerous” pleasure crafts and WAFIs in that area during the summer season. Best of luck to them.

I gave a talk to a human factors class in a petroleum engineering school last month. My last slide was entitled “Takeaways” and one bullet said “Read Every Accident Report You Can Get Your Hands On.”

If you do that you’ll develop an appreciation for how hard situational awareness is to gain and how easy it is to lose.

Cheers,

Earl

Agree, but does that apply to computers as well??

I was referring to the human backup.

Cheers,

Earl

More opinions on the subject of autonomous ships and cyber security: http://emag.virtual-expo.com/article-long/autonomous-shipping-the-dangers-of-cybercrime/

And in shipping at Nor-Shipping this year: http://nor-shipping.com/crowdstrike/

Meanwhile things are moving ahead for Rolls-Royce Marine and their plans for more shorebased control of ships at sea: http://www.gloryjsc.com/en/news/nor-lines-rolls-royce-ink-1st-power-by-the-hour-service-agreement

Not quite Autonomous, but another step in that direction.

Japan is getting on the band wagon to develop autonomous ships: http://splash247.com/mols-autonomous-shipping-research-wins-state-backing/

Oh beautiful times at sea - we will miss them and they are never coming back.

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The future is already here!!
There were two candidates for this years “Ship of the Year” at Nor-Shipping:

And the winner IS!!!: http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/221375/nor-shipping-nkt-victoria-named-ship-of-the-year/

PS> Sorry, wrong link at first. Now corrected.
PPS> Correction to the article in WMN; The Color Hybrid is designed by Ulstein and will be built at Fosen, not the other way around.

I knew it when I saw the skinny hull with the ribs looking trough


correction - through