This report looks at the future for commercial shipping, the naval sector and the health of the oceans.
In asking ‘what’s next’, GMTT 2030 was researched to be an aid to business, policy makers and society in trying to understand the future for the maritime industries and the oceans.
Assessing 56 technologies and then focusing on 18 specific areas of technology, GMTT 2030 builds on the work covered in Global Marine Trends 2030 and Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030 to provide insight into the impact and – critically – the timescales of ever moving technology.
LR was the lead partner on the commercial shipping parts of the report and focused on eight technologies that will transform commercial shipping.
As LR’s marine marketing director, Luis Benito explained, "The marine world in 2030 will be a connected and a digital one, bringing closer integration between people, software and hardware in a way that could transform the way we operate. We know technology is changing our world and there is a great deal of overlap between technologies and how they combine will be important."
The report identifies two groups of technology drivers - those that will transform the ship design and build space – leading to advancement in shipbuilding, propulsion and powering and the development of smart ships. In addition, the report covered the technologies that drive safety, commercial and operational performance – advanced materials, big data analytics, communications, sensors and robotics.
In the report, LR introduced what it called ‘Technomax’ scenarios for tankers and other types of vessels. These scenarios are not concept ships but give an indication of the potential maximum technology uptake relevant to four ship market sectors, which include tankers.
Tom Boardley, LR’s Marine Director commented: "Shipping is likely to evolve quickly now. That evolution is likely to be uneven but while 2030 is not far away, we think that shipping is likely to have changed significantly."
At the report’s launch this week, the three partners outlined some of findings, which were garnered in discussions with shipyards and owners.
For example, the shipbuilder is the integrator of all things fitted on board a vessel. There is a move towards the e-run ship, which will be a flexible hybrid powered vessels, which will be able to automatically change propulsion modes and could be run by itself.
The development of the so called ’smart ship’ will lead to less dependency on the human element, as it will be highly automated. Advanced materials will be used, which are essentially lighter than those used today thus saving energy and will result in cheaper maintenance costs.
Robotics will be used in situations where humans are deemed unsafe, such as surveying tanks and other enclosed spaces on board ship. For example, Benito told Tanker Operator that LR is currently investigation the use of drones for surveying purposes.
Other advancements include the greater use of sensors on board ship, which can be interrogated by the use of wireless thus alleviating the need for expensive cabling, plus greater use of satellite communications to transfer the data. A satellite could be used to operate the vessel at sea as well as from the shore. New algorithms could be developed for ‘big data’.
The partners conceded that the regulators, social interests and legal/insurance bodies need to be involved in any fundamental change to vessel operations.
Perhaps the most clever ship will be the one that is of modular construction, thus allowing new technology to be slotted in with little or no cost.