Autonomous shipping technologies, trends and prospects

In the article, the authors highlight the current state of existing autonomous navigation technologies, trends and prospects for autonomous ships. Currently, sea transport, against the background of an increase in traffic volumes, has faced such problems as an increase in accidents in the fleet, high operating costs, and a shortage of specialists to work with. These conditions cause serious interest among the participants of the shipping market in the creation of technologies for autonomous and remote control of ships. Such technical solutions will allow, in the future, shipping companies to make sea cargo transportation safer, while reducing part of the operating costs. The international regulation of the issues of the regulatory framework, classification, testing of maritime autonomous and remotely controlled surface ships is considered. Information is given about European research projects recognized as leaders in the field of autonomous navigation Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks, Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative and Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships. The development of autonomous navigation in the Russian Federation is described. Since 2019, a number of major projects have been implemented aimed at creating technical and legal conditions for the widespread operation of autonomous commercial vessels under the flag of the Russian Federation. A feature of the o projects is the principle of full functional equivalence, which allows the operation of autonomous ships within the framework of existing international conventions. The result of the implementation of domestic projects may be Russia's leadership in the field of national regulation and commercial operation of autonomous ships.