Future container ships may have not only new engines, but also their own “digital brain.” CMA CGM, China’s SDARI and Bureau Veritas are developing a concept for an AI-assisted vessel.
The shipping industry is gradually bringing artificial intelligence from digital services directly onto ships. A new project involving CMA CGM, the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) and Bureau Veritas aims to develop a container ship concept capable of using AI to support crew members and assist with operational decision-making.
According to Splash247, the partners will conduct a technology-neutral study to determine which navigation, energy management and operational tasks can be automated and which should remain under direct crew control.
CMA CGM will provide information on real-world operational requirements and use cases. SDARI will be responsible for vessel design, systems engineering and smart-ship technologies, while Bureau Veritas will focus on classification, safety, human factors and regulatory risks.
The project will define how responsibilities should be divided between the crew, shore-based support and automated systems. Once the concept is selected, it will be developed into technical specifications and submitted for approval in principle.
However, the project is not aimed at creating a fully autonomous container ship. Human control will remain a key part of the system, while the partners will also explore the potential application of the future IMO Code on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).
The specifications of the future vessel, project timeline and budget have not yet been disclosed.
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