Seaborne trade expanded by a healthy 4% in 2017, the fastest growth in five years, with a similar growth forecast this year, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2018. Volumes across all segments are set to grow in 2018, with containerized and dry bulk commodities expected to record the fastest growth at the expense of tanker volumes. Healthy trade growth aside, the 2018 edition of the report also looked at the key opportunities and challenges faced by the shipp

As digitalization continues to reshape the maritime industry, the first commercial autonomous vessels are due to launch in the next several years. To help build a safety culture around these new technologies, DNV GL has released a new class guideline covering autonomous and remotely operated ships. “A new set of sensor, connectivity, analysis, and control functions in maritime technologies is laying the foundation for remote and autonomous operations in shipping,” says Knut Ø

An EU-funded research project which aims to create conditions for autonomous vessel navigation is in its Concept Definition phase and will move on to the Technology Adaption and Integrations Work Package (WP03) this summer, Kongsberg said. Hull to Hull (H2H) was established in November 2017 to develop technical solutions for safer navigation in close proximity of other stationary or moving vessels and objects. Such solutions would be developed by using the European Global Nav

The introduction of autonomous ships, often described as the next step for the maritime industry, is looming as projects have already been launched to make the smart ship concept a reality. One of the examples is the construction of the world’s first electric and autonomous containership, Yara Birkeland, which is expected to start autonomous operation in 2019. Numerous benefits of autonomous ships have been identified including lower costs, more efficient use of space in ship