At first glance, these might appear to be two unremarkable cargo vessels. With one remarkable exception...
Meet the 'ghost ships' —
At first glance, these might appear to be two unremarkable cargo vessels. With one remarkable exception...
Courtesy Rolls-Royce
Engineering company Rolls-Royce has unveiled designs for unmanned cargo ships. The streamlined vessels would be operated by remote control onshore, requiring around 10 captains per 100 boats.
Futuristic fleet —
Engineering company Rolls-Royce has unveiled designs for unmanned cargo ships. The streamlined vessels would be operated by remote control onshore, requiring around 10 captains per 100 boats.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce predicts unmanned cargo ships could be sailing our seas within the next decade. But this would depend on approval from maritime regulators.
Shipping shake-up —
Rolls-Royce predicts unmanned cargo ships could be sailing our seas within the next decade. But this would depend on approval from maritime regulators.
STR/AFP/Getty Images/File
Without the need for crew accommodation, vessels would have more space for cargo and use less fuel, says Oskar Levander, Rolls Royce's vice-president of innovation, engineering and technology.
Ship shape —
Without the need for crew accommodation, vessels would have more space for cargo and use less fuel, says Oskar Levander, Rolls Royce's vice-president of innovation, engineering and technology.
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But what happens when technology fails, asks Simon Bennett of the International Chamber of Shipping? "It's important for seafarers to have celestial navigation, getting out their sextants or looking at the moon to work out where they are," he said.
Old school sailors —
But what happens when technology fails, asks Simon Bennett of the International Chamber of Shipping? "It's important for seafarers to have celestial navigation, getting out their sextants or looking at the moon to work out where they are," he said.
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Cargo ships have come a long way from this hulking vessel, pictured easing down a slipway in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1945. "If you go maybe 150 years back, a normal cargo vessel had about 250 crew. And it's been reducing ever since -- now we are down to 12 or 15," said Levander.
Full steam ahead —
Cargo ships have come a long way from this hulking vessel, pictured easing down a slipway in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1945. "If you go maybe 150 years back, a normal cargo vessel had about 250 crew. And it's been reducing ever since -- now we are down to 12 or 15," said Levander.
Edward G Malindine/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images/File
Long gone are the days of wooden merchant vessels, like this one pictured in London in 1893. "No-one is completely dismissing the idea of unmanned ships at some point in the future," said Bennett. "But I say that in the same way that no-one dismisses the idea that robots will be running society at some point in the future."
Sail away —
Long gone are the days of wooden merchant vessels, like this one pictured in London in 1893. "No-one is completely dismissing the idea of unmanned ships at some point in the future," said Bennett. "But I say that in the same way that no-one dismisses the idea that robots will be running society at some point in the future."
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