Page 20 - Navigator 19

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AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING ON THE
pilots
AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE MOST DISCUSSED TOPICS IN THE MARITIME SECTOR. THE DUTCH MARITIME PILOTS’ ORGANISATION IS ACTIVELY THINKING ALONG ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF SEA SHIPPING AND FOR THE PROFESSION OF MARITIME PILOT AS WELL. ONE RECENT EXAMPLE IS THE PARTICIPATION IN THE DUTCH JOINT INDUSTRY PROJECT AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING.
Autonomous shipping is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a wide variety of different plans and ambitions. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) actually distinguishes four different levels for a Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (see box): from futuristic and crewless to a more practical approach in which autonomy is used to make navigation safer but the ship still has a crew on board. On behalf of the Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Organisation, registered pilots Martijn Drenth (Rotterdam-Rijnmond), Hubert ’t Hart (Amsterdam-IJmond) and Edwin Schoon (Scheldemonden) closely monitor all developments. After all, autonomous shipping may also directly impact the daily operations of the pilot in the future.
20 NAVIGATOR NL 2019 N°19