Captains are limited in their perspective from the bridge, relying on sight and cameras. Multipurpose drones could help, and perform a number of other tasks as well
Roaming autonomous wind farms that would adapt and move to winider areas would generate more electricity more consistently than fixed-seabed or floating-moored systems
Aerial drones equipped with electromagnetic and infra-red sensors provide thickness measurements for vessels traversing the NSR.
Folding containers would allow ships to transport more empty containers more efficiently, and also to decrease the number of necessary and costly crane movements
Constructing steel containers instead with high-strength lightweight composite materials would allow for higher stacking, lower fuel expenses and thereby reduce emissions
Offshore platforms need underwater maintenance on subsurface systems and infrastructure; automated ROVs would reduce costs by around 60% compared to current practice
A multi-use platform for extracting ocean resources, producing hydrogen, and providing a base for detection of illegal fishing by drones, powered by thermal energy
Combining tsunami detectors with renewable wave energy systems could allow for more frequent data transmissions and lower the amount of manual battery replacement visits
In the next 7 years, 150 oil and gas platforms will be decommissioned. Actualizing knowledge base of best practices and risks would lead to more sustainable practices
The implementation of Smart Technology in cruise ships will allow for both vessel and crew performance optimization as well as an increased user experience.
Rapid deployment drones, equipped with thermal sensors, would detect people who have fallen overboard, deliver flotation devices, and even pick them out of the water
Repurposing offshore wind parks' infrastructure by installing wave energy systems would offset the cost of decommissioning and increase renewable energy generation
Very large ice-class certified container vessels, sailing through the Arctic's Northern Sea Route and North West Passage, would reduce shipping distances by up to 40%
Installing drone stations at offshore platforms would provide continuous monitoring, reduce trips to and from the platform, and improve safety.
Hydrogen gas tanks, recharged at tidal power plants, could be swapped on and off of medium-sized vessels to help with the greening of the maritime and offshore industries
Hull damage is costly and time consuming to repair. Composite materials - applied underwater for hull repair - would increase structural integrity and asset utilization
Offshore oil field decommissioning is done with a seabed cement plug. These crack and oil leaks out. Thermite would be a reliable and long-term solution
Vessels are regularly undergoing safety inspections. Using swarms of drones to undertake these could significantly reduce time spent and costs.
Using screw piles for subsea structures instead of foundation piles would reduce installation time, costs, and allow for the construction of platforms in deeper water
Transport of wind turbine blades can amount up to 20% of wind park development costs. 3D printing turbine blades on-site on jack-up rigs would lower these costs
Fires and explosions have resulted in 112 large vessel losses in the past decade. Composite materials, however, are highly resistant to fire compared to wood and steel.
Co-locating a container terminal at an offshore wind energy park would be able to use excess electricity to desalinate water for hydrogen for powering feeder vessels
Biofouling on hulls is a leading cause of inefficiency. Antifouling foil, applied underwater, would reduce application times and eliminate the need for dry-docking
3D Printing heating coils that prevent ice build-up on wind turbine blades would eliminate the current practices of taking down, retrofitting, and/or replacing blades
Lashing containers is one of the most dangerous jobs in maritime. Drones can support the experts undertaking these operations
Increasing sizes of container ships will outgrow port facilities. Offshore container terminals would provide space for unlimited growth and flexibility for ships
Self-propelled autonomous containers, released from container vessels at sea that can navigate directly to customers, would significantly reduce port bottlenecks
Electricity-generating offshore wind kites would fly at 800 meters, 4 times the altitude of industrial windmills, reaching stronger and more consistent wind streams
Over 4,000 offshore wind turbines require ongoing replacement of worn-out parts. On-site 3D printing, refurbishing, replacement of spares would improve efficiency
Using launch boats to deliver documents to ports ahead of vessel arrival is expensive. Providing this service by aerial drone would be cheaper and more efficient
Offshore wind turbines could provide electricity to recharge the battery-equipped vessels that service and maintain them, reducing fuel requirements and emissions
Aquaculture firms can lose up to 15% of their fish because of seagulls and cormorants. Autonomous drones, stationed at fish farms, could be used to scare them off
The US Navy has replaced periscope control station systems with game controllers. Game controllers would provide cheaper steering for vessels with integrated bridges
Dry docking ships or sending divers to inspect ship hulls is time-consuming, expensive, and imprecise. Underwater laser scanners would improve reliability and efficiency
Fish farms, located far out to sea, could go fully electric by using wave energy, and use surplus power to charge the electric vessels that make voyages out to the farm
RoRo vessels carry 234 million tonnes of goods around Europe annually. Artificial intelligence for cargo stowage could limit delays, ensure balance, and lower ballast.
Subsurface dredgers, working autonomously under the water and out of sight, could maintain inland waterways and increase draft limits for vessels calling at ports
3D scanning technology, leveraging machine learning algorithms, would allow for more cargo inspections at ports to detect contraband and tax-evading shipments
A delivered digital twin of a newly built ship can be used to check the planned specifications with reality, avoid mistakes for rework, and guide physical inspections
Lashing and de-lashing containers is one of the most dangerous jobs in maritime. Specialized robots would improve the safety and reliability of lashing operations
Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor can offer an inexhaustible supply of valuable minerals and metals. Plume filtering techniques could be environmentally friendly
An autonomous-unmanned vessel can perform simple tasks and reduce both construction and crew costs and increase a vessel’s operational efficiency
Hyperloops use magnetized tracks to move goods friction-free through a vacuum-sealed tunnel and has the potential to speed up logistics and bypass bottlenecks at ports
Heavy lifting drones able to move containers around at ports would be able to reduce crane movements and make operation more efficient and cheaper
Offshore platforms require regular inspection and maintenance. Drones, equipped with tools such as welders and grinders, would provide a safer and cheaper service
The development of lasers that could package and transmit data from seafloor to surface vessels would improve robotic applications for untethered exploratory voyages
A network of autonomous solar-powered vessels could provide on-call recharging services en route, enabling increased speeds and radii for other electrified vessels
Enhanced energy storage and utilization systems at large ports, powered by renewable energy, could play a role in decarbonizing the maritime and transport industries
Online weather buoys could send real-time updates on weather and sea state conditions to shore for analysis in order to improve navigational data
The decommissioning of offshore oil & gas platform infrastructure is increasing. Underwater laser cutting technology would be faster and easier than grinders and saws
Ports and shipping companies entering into virtual arrival agreements, enabling ships to arrive at ports just as space is opening, minimizing fuel consumption.
Cleaning wind turbine blades is a necessary procedure which is currently done manually. Automated drones could perform this service 24/7 while reducing risks and costs
The installation of subsea drone charging platforms at offshore wind farms will allow for autonomous subsea drones to undertake maintenance and reduce costs.
Wind farms are moving further and further out to sea. Remotely-operated drones stationed there could perform inspections, reducing trips and thereby costs.
LiDARs - light detection and ranging, would assist vessel navigators in preventing collisions. This technology would complement or replace current sonar and radar systems
Forcing a layer of air between a ship’s hull and the water could effectively make the ship “fly” through the water, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions
Ships above 5,000 gross tonnes in the EU are required to monitor and report on fuel consumption and emissions. However, there is a lack of transparency and enforcement
Renewable methanol can be produced from renewable electricity, such as wind. Using it as a fuel to power ocean-going vessels would make shipping virtually emission free
Ice build-up on wind turbine blades lowers electricity production up to 50% and damages turbine components - intelligent drones would spray the blades instead
Using autonomous underwater robots to inspect and apply spot treatment to ship hulls at berth would eliminate the need for expensive and time-consuming drydocking
Enclosed spaces such as storage tanks and cargo holds are difficult, dangerous, and often impossible for humans to access; service drones would improve practices
Ships generate hundreds of millions of data points every day about weather and wave conditions that, when shared, would help optimize ship speed and route for all fleets
Ships contain hundreds of kilometers of weld lines that need to be inspected. Using drones for this task will reduce both time and costs.
