Rolls-Royce is developing a "drone transport ship" that carries unmanned cargo

AmazonReplace warehouse employee with robotOrPlan to deliver drone unmanned aircraftRolls · Royce, Inc., a manufacturer of luxury cars and jet engines for aircraft, has further scaled up as planned, as an unmanned "sailing on the sea"Drone transport shipIt is clear that we are progressing the development of "

Rolls-Royce Drone Ships Challenge $ 375 Billion Industry: Freight - Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-25/rolls-royce-drone-ships-challenge-375-billion-industry-freight.html

A prototype of a simulator reproducing a 360-degree view is set up in the office of the development team of Rolls-Royce's "Blue Ocean" project in Norway, and display of video and data sent from a ship navigating the sea It is simulated. In the company's plan, it is supposed that in the future it will concentrate control of hundreds of transport vessels from the "virtual bridge" installed on land, the future bridge seems to be as follows.

Rolls-Royce presents the future of tug bridge controls - YouTube


FedExYaDHLAlthough maritime transportation by vessels accounts for 90% of the world's transportation volume, while the air cargo transport represented by such as airport freight transportation is expanding, the company has a maritime transportation which is said to be 375 billion dollars (about 38 trillion yen) It is said that we are promoting the development of a drone transport ship as a transportation method that is safe, cheap and less polluted in the market.


The company's Oscar-Lavender vice president said, "From the technical point of view, it is already a feasible level.I think that it will be started in the waters like the Baltic Sea in the last ten years, Hurdle, because there are objections from industry and union, it will take time to develop on a global scale, and if the shipping industry gets goin-in, we can move on at any time. "

On the drone ship, equipment such as the living space where the crew live and the accompanying power, air conditioning, water circulation etc are unnecessary, and it is possible to increase the amount of cargo that can be installed. It is said that the hull weight can be cut by about 5%, and the fuel cost for operation can be saved from 12% to 15%.

ByDavid Wallace

As a matter of course against this movement, voices of opposition and doubts are rising from each side. It is the world's largest shipowner organizationInternational Shipping CouncilSimon Bennett, a spokesperson for Mr. Simon Bennett, said, "In many of the existing laws there are provisions that determine the minimum number of personnel during the operation of the ship, and unmanned transport vessels are illegal in view of this I will. " It is one of the specialized agencies of the United NationsInternational Maritime Organization(IMO) spokesperson said, "The country in which the ship is registered is responsible for managing vessels within that area and complying with international law." It is stipulated that IMO rules are operated internationally except for battle vessels and fishing vessels and applied to vessels weighing more than 500 tons.

Cover 90% of ship insuranceInternational group of P & I ClubAndrew Bardot, executive officer of the company, said, "It is judged that unmanned vessels are not in line with the IMO rules, it is judged not to be suitable for operation, and insurance can not be applied." In addition, more than 4.5 million members of ship members joinInternational Transport Workers' Federation"It is impossible to replace the eyes, ears, and thinking process of a professional crew member with a dronon, and it is only people who can rely on when they break down at sea or when an unexpected situation occurs." We are clarifying our position.

ByGreg Bishop

On the other hand, Rolls-Royce says, "We believe the transition to drone will gradually proceed,Dry bulk shipI think that it will advance from the field such as. We believe that it will take time for a tanker to move to a drone that carries dangerous goods such as oil and liquid gases. "

At the same time, Rolls-Royce thinks that drone ships are also effective in countering piracy. Because there are no crews to be captured in the first place, the risk of putting the human life at risk is reduced, making it possible to lower the possibility of damage to cargo.

ByEarl

It is said that the cost of the crew accounts for about 44% of the total cost of bringing the ship to operation. With Rolls-Royce, it is possible to lower the operation cost by reducing the number of personnel involved in the operation, the captain who steers the ship at a remote office, the port operator who handles the equipment and handling the load It says that you can get better quality of life compared to not having to spend a long period at sea.