Event recap: Maritime Innovation – Autonomous Shipping

Feb 19, 2019 was the first content related topic on the RMSC calendar. As innovation is becoming more important in the industry, the RMSC has sought cooperation with Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT) and Innovation Quarter to organize the event on A Vision to Autonomous Shipping. The event was held at the STC Group – directly at the Maas river. Over 70 people attended to broaden their knowledge on this topic.

Martin Bloem of RMSC Member Marstrat moderated the masterclass. He started off with some questions for the audience to think about. With a presentation by Marnix Krikke of NMT on the different (inter)national projects and initiatives regarding autonomous shipping, it directly showed how fast these developments go.

Vincent Wegener of Captain AI explained how they are able to let an algorithm learn from various nautical situations via Machine Learning. Ultimately this will be used to completely automate a ship.

According to Erwin van Geyte of RMSC member AON it is still unclear what the effects of these developments on insurances and legal aspects will be. Is an autonomous sailing vessel still legally a ship?! And who will be responsible when something might occur?

Lastly Patrick Potgraven of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement (I&W) elaborated the program Smart Shipping NL, in which the government gives room to testing on the Dutch rivers.

Bloem rounded off with the commonly accepted idea that this will not be the last time Autonomous Shipping will be the focus of an event. So a next event on this topic will be organisec somewhere this year. If you wish to attend, or have ideas on the topic, please get in touch with Hilde.Veeken@InnovationQuarter.nl or Linda Treuman via Info@RotterdamMaritimeServices.Com