The Future of Shipping is Now

Design freedom, efficient customisation, waste reduction and managing virtual inventory will drive the development for future shipbuilding technologies

Apart from the breakthrough in products’ operational efficiency, environmental impact is a major driver in adopting new shipbuilding technologies. For instance, 90% of raw materials may be in traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. By contrast, the introduction of additive manufacturing deposits materials only where they are required.

Future engines, alternative fuels, propulsion energy-saving devices, renewable sources of energy, hybrid power generation, and emissions abatement technology will be a significant area of technological development. Notably vessels are claiming 20% reducing in fuel costs with hybrid propulsion whilst significantly reducing emissions.

Ship propulsion and power generation will be a significant area of technological development. It is not only the scope of applicable technology, which includes future engines, alternative fuels, propulsion energy-saving devices, renewable sources of energy, hybrid power generation, and emissions abatement technology.

It is also, and perhaps more importantly, the scale of future environmental challenges for commercial shipping which makes propulsion and powering a key technological theme. Notably vessels are claiming 20% reducing in fuel costs with hybrid propulsion whilst significantly reducing emissions.

10% of the new buildings will be smart ships - arguably, smart ships are not a revolution but an evolution.  Today’s concept of unmanned machinery spaces may be considered another manifestation of the smart ship, as are data-driven services such as vessel performance monitoring and weather routeing – the modern smart ship will integrate a variety of connected technologies to improve operational efficiency, ship management, regulatory compliance, decision making and communication

IT infrastructure will be upgraded to retrieve, store, and process data in real time

Archived data can be stored either onboard a ship or onshore, thanks to the support of communication technologies. Furthermore, cognitive systems will act as data interpreters for humankind. These systems will combine machine learning and natural language processing to offer an intuitive interface between a person and a machine

Developing advanced materials for ship applications will be a critical component of improving future ship performance. New features will be introduced, and multi-functional materials can be created.

There are three new types of robots that will be in use by 2030. The first will be a learning robot, the second will be a practical robot (one that can handle an asset), and the third type will be a mini-robot, useful for inspections in harsh, dangerous environments. These robotics will leverage: cognition, versatility, imitation, sense and adaptability.

The capture of vessels’ top-quality data by means of robust and reliable sensors will open up new ways of optimising vessels’ life cycles. Real-time monitoring and analysis strategies will be the key to improving the commercial shipping sector.

With the integration of 5G, WiFi and new generation satellites, as well as conventional marine radiocommunication networks, we will see transformation everywhere. Stakeholders will be able to monitor live audio and high definition (HD) or 3D video collected onboard. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags will support through-life asset management, including the tracking status of cargoes, as well as structural and machinery components.

The augmented reality has unlimited possibilities in increasing the productivity and operations of the shipping sector. For instance, the crew at the ship can look at the entire ship in the form of a 3D model on a tablet right in front of them. The 3D model can assist in analyzing the vessel from all the angles, highlighting the areas of concern, displaying the main engine, etc. Hence, the interaction becomes more realistic and natural than watching the general agreement drawing plan (GA) on a screen.