May 19, 2021
02:15
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Currently in its infancy, autonomous navigation opens up new perspectives for the design of the boats of the future and reducing the carbon footprint of maritime transport. But the legislation still needs to be changed before casting off without a captain on board.
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As small marine drones and underwater robots are about to invade the North Sea, a few visionary entrepreneurs are already working on the next step in shipping automation: freight and passengers on autonomous vessels, that is to say without crew.
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In the field of inland navigation, this no longer surprises us. In recent years, entrepreneurs like Antoon Van Coillie (Zulu Associates) et Louis-Robert Cool (Seafar) worked on inland navigation vessels capable of navigating without a captain. While Antoon Van Coillie wants to bet on completely autonomous ships full of sensors and artificial intelligence, Seafar has opted for “semi-autonomous”, remotely controlled models. From a control room located in Antwerp, the different ships are steered using large screens and joysticks.
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From a control room located in Antwerp, the various ships are steered using large screens and joysticks.
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Western Scheldt
The shift to autonomous ocean-going vessels is not far off. In February, Seafar already launched an “estuary” link between Zeebrugge and Antwerp. A 110 m long container ship is guided from a distance on the Western Scheldt. “Technologically, this is no longer a problem and we want to demonstrate it to the sector”, explains Louis-Robert Cool. The next step will logically be coastal navigation and the crossing to the United Kingdom.
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Unmanned vessels offer many advantages. The absence of manpower reduces operational costs – relatively high – but also risks and therefore insurance premiums. Humanly, it is also more tempting to manage ships from the coast than to spend days at sea. economic return is also higher since ships can sail longer non-stop.
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Last but not least, the design of unmanned ships can be optimized, given that no human presence on board must be taken into account. “As soon as the last person on board is gone, it will be possible to build totally different ships,” says Antoon Van Coillie. “It will no longer be necessary to provide living spaces, toilets with their water treatment system, drinking water production facilities, etc.”
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Cigar shaped
“The design of the ships of the future will depend on their function and their cargo. There will no longer be a single type of ship,” explains naval architect Niko Fierens. Within the engineering company MULTI.Engineering, the teams are already thinking about the design of the ships of tomorrow.
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“For a ship that has to carry liquid cargo, it will be possible to consider a cigar shape, the ideal design to carry maximum volume with minimum resistance.”
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“For a ship that has to carry liquid cargo, it will be possible to consider a cigar shape, the ideal design for carrying maximum volume with minimum resistance. Wave resistance decreases markedly when a large part of the boat is lying. below the waterline, much like a submarine. Even if that presents other challenges. “
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Experts also expect that the ships of the future are modular, with parts that can be easily removed or replaced. It also offers the possibility of repairing certain modules ashore, without taking the whole ship out of service.
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Luxury glass yachts
What materials will the robot ships be made of? Here, too, new possibilities emerge. In any case, the era of steel hulls seems over. “We will have more plastic, but also more glass. Today glass is used for windows and portholes, but it is actually holes in the steel that affect the strength of the hull. To replace them. , we are looking for a system in which the glass can really strengthen the structure. A research project is underway concerning the use of glass for load-bearing structures“, explains architect Niko Fierens.” For luxury yachts, a booming market, this could be a game-changer. We are working on this with the University of Ghent and Oceanco, one of the market leaders in the construction of luxury mega yachts. “
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There are also many new options opening up for the propulsion of robot ships, the one thing in common is that they will be smaller and more economical, so that we can hopefully get rid of polluting marine diesel. “What you save in the costs of building a simpler ship you can reinvest in using sustainable fuels such as batteries or fuel cells,” explains Antoon Van Coillie. The entrepreneur adds that “greening” is for him the determining factor of his investments in autonomous navigation. Fierens stresses, however, that the use of hydrogen as fuel is not for tomorrow. “Maybe ammonia or methanol will be used in the first phase,” he says.
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Rotors and wings
Wind energy could also be used for part of the propulsion of certain ships. Antoon Van Coillie does not believe in using conventional sails or kites because they are so complex that they again require human intervention, but he sees an interest in wind turbine blades or rotors called “Flettner”. It is Giant cylindrical rotors installed on the upper part of the ship and which provide propulsion thanks to aerodynamic forces. “This technology requires major structural adjustments, but if we integrate it effectively, it will make it possible to design vessels that are lighter and more durable,” continues Fierens.
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The Swedish group Wallenius announced last September its intention to build an ocean-going vessel (Oceanbird) by 2024 using metal and plastic “sails” 80 meters high. Another technique that is gaining more and more attention is the use of hydrofoils or hydrofoils, which “float” a ship above water at higher speeds.
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Legislation
According to experts, it is not so much technology that is holding back the breakthrough of these futuristic ships: in many ways, the industry is still trapped in its past. The international maritime legislation is not foreseen for unmanned ships and can only be changed after extensive international consultation.
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Ports and other infrastructures are not yet equipped for the mooring of autonomous vessels. There is a need for maritime connectivity to become more affordable – this problem should be solved in the years to come thanks to the fall in the prices of satellite communications. The entire logistics chain will also have to follow, as well as maintenance companies and navigation training.
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When all these questions are resolved, unmanned maritime transport should lead to a real logistics revolution. Going forward, Antoon Van Coillie expects relatively small and self-sufficient vessels to use shipping routes that are not yet profitable today, which will reduce road transport and revive small inland ports. .
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The summary
- After conquering the inland waterways, unmanned navigation is preparing to rule the seas.
- Unmanned vessels offer many advantages, including the possibility of optimizing their design.
- There will not be one single type of unmanned ship. The shape, the materials used and the propulsion can vary according to the needs.
- But the international maritime legislation is not intended for unmanned vessels and can only be changed after extensive international consultation.
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