heal.abstract |
As can be seen through continuous research on the design and construction of autonomous commercial ships in recent years, several positive and optimistic results have emerged, but also several concerns. Shipping has invested in the creation of autonomous ships and in general in the automation of systems. Obviously in such a case the safety of the autonomous ships should be ensured at levels at least equivalent to the existing manned ones.
Automation, both in shipping and in general, aims to reduce or even completely eliminate mistakes and accidents due to the human factor, which currently accounts for 60-90%.
On the other hand, there will be an impact on jobs and therefore also on the economic situation of workers who work as crew on ships.
This paper, after a brief reference to the operation of autonomous ships, reports the present scientific researches, examining the economic, environmental and social benefits, but also the related challenges that arise due to the development of such ships in the immediate future. There is also an analysis of the risks inherent in the construction of such ships as well as ways of managing the risk.
Then, using the EAST-BL [Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork Broken Links] methodology, a scenario is analyzed in which the risk inherent in the navigation of an autonomous ship capable of making decisions on its own without human intervention will be studied. This methodology has never been used before to analyze an autonomous shipping system. Finally, an approach is made to the term risk and how this variable will determine the possibility of building such ships as well as measures to limit the risk which, as seen through this work, will play a decisive role when the design and construction of autonomous commercial ships begins. |
en |