Robotics is increasingly being applied to maritime environments. According to a text published by the TechXplore website and prepared by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the world is one step closer to autonomous maritime transport. The technology and regulations are still under development, but the International Maritime Organization has already adopted the first voluntary regulatory framework for autonomous ships.

The basic idea is simple: some vessels may not need a traditional crew on board in the future. The ship would be able to navigate largely on its own and, if necessary, request assistance from operators in a control center on land. Sailors could then work in a similar way to those on a ship's bridge, but physically located on land.

An example is the unmanned surface vessel Reach Remote 1, which is 24 meters long and is used for mapping and inspecting the seabed. According to the article, it is the first vessel of its kind in the world. Its use can reduce emissions by 90 percent and the need for a crew by 75 percent. However, for cargo ships, remote control alone is not enough, as they transport goods and must be able to operate reliably in a wider range of conditions.

The development is being carried out by the SEAMLESS project, which involves companies such as SINTEF Ocean and Kongsberg Maritime. The goal is to create technologies for automated, cost-effective, and resilient maritime transport on shorter routes and inland waterways.

It is also important to address the shortage of qualified sailors. If some of the work can be moved to land, the profession may be more accessible to people who cannot work at sea for extended periods. The project has already demonstrated in the Oslofjord that it is possible to manage multiple vessels in a single fleet in real-world conditions.

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