A task-based analysis of the economic viability of low-manned and unmanned cargo ship concepts

Journal article (2021)

Authors

C. Kooij Ship Design, Production and Operations - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
A.A. Kana Ship Design, Production and Operations - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
R.G. Hekkenberg Ship Design, Production and Operations - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Ship Design, Production and Operations (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 C. Kooij, A.A. Kana, R.G. Hekkenberg
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110111
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2021

Language

English

Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Ship Design, Production and Operations

Abstract

While successful trials for autonomously navigating ships have been conducted, commercially available unmanned cargo ships are currently unavailable. However, there are many solutions available that will allow for low-manned ship concepts long before fully unmanned ships are possible. There are many drivers for low-manned and unmanned shipping, ranging from availability of workforce, to increased safety to economic. This article investigates the economic viability of several low-manned ship concepts as well as the unmanned ship concept for a short sea container vessel. The operating cost of these concepts are compared to those of a conventional vessel. That way, an assessment can be made on the economic viability. The results show that the low-manned concepts investigated in this article are worthwhile for the ship owner, as some savings can be achieved. The economic viability of the unmanned concept is dependent on the chosen type of propulsion.