Page 55 - Next Generation 2015 - Digtial Issue

Next Generation The future

THE CONNECTED
ASSET OF THE FUTURE

Unmanned ships will be just one of the features
of the next 50 years, writes Craig Eason

THIS is an era of technological change. The drive for asset optimisation is likely to reach a level where remote diagnostics becomes
That is the view of a panel of five more common

leading technology experts approached MAN Diesel’s Ole Groene does not Unlike the innovation promises
by Lloyd’s List for their insights on believe that the end of oil-based fuels of 20 years ago that were not fastened
innovation over the next five decades. will happen within 50 years, but says in regulation or did not have the
It is also reflected in the views of the UK there will be an increased mix of fuels increased levels of communication
class society Lloyd’s Register and the that will develop. He is more positive and data to back them up, there
recently formed International Wind- about the potential to use nuclear is a belief in the power of a more
Ship Association, which shared their power in vessels than most. determined regulatory landscape,
opinions on future fuels and power. and real-time asset oversight, to create
The future fuel scenario will be fundamental change.
It is not surprising that this is an diverse and additional power will be
era of change. More interesting are the harnessed from the wind, and recently OUTSOURCING AND THE
areas of consensus and disagreement matured technologies such as air DEMAND FOR DATA
among our experts on what 2065 will bubbles will grow in popularity.
look like for shipping, particularly The shipowner of the future will not
how ships will be built, handled and The next decade and the coming be the shipowner of today. Shipping
controlled. half-century will see a continuation will continue to outsource to service
of the rapid asset development seen providers, and this in turn will lead to
First, there is the prophecy of over the last decade, in which the some fundamentally new dynamics.
unmanned ships. Wärtsilä’s Tomas focus has been on securing safer and
Aminoff and ABB’s Heikki Soljama more efficient performance. For these As we look to how transformative
point to the need for crew training to engineering companies, and one can technology can be, one wonders if
develop rapidly, yet recognise that read their individual forecasts, there is there is enough desire in industry to
shore-based monitoring and decision confidence in the future. take it all on board.
making will increase and could well
lead to remote-controlled tonnage.

But before we reach the age of
unmanned vessels and the shore-
based control centres that Rolls-
Royce’s Oskar Levander and BMT
Smart’s Peter Mantel say are a part of
shipping’s future, the industry will
need fewer mechanical engineers
and more electrical and software
engineers on board ever more
complex ships.

All five agree that asset
complexity will grow, as will the
ability to collect and utilise increased
amounts of real time data.

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