Deck Diaries 4: My Take On Autonomous Vessels & Data Quality

Deck Diaries 4: 

My Take On Autonomous Vessels & Data Quality

 

Over the decades at sea and now from the shore, I've watched our industry evolve in ways I never imagined when I first stepped on deck. Now, we're on the cusp of a transformation that, not long ago, sounded like science fiction: ships that sail with no crew on board.

It is worth emphasising that these crewless or autonomous vessels aren’t being built to replace seafarers, but to improve on-board safety and to compensate for the looming manpower gap. Recent industry reports warn of a deepening shortage of skilled officers, with the projected global shortfall reaching nearly 90,000 by 2026.   

 

Autonomous shipping promises safer and more frequent voyages with lower operating costs. However, I can tell you from experience that achieving this vision isn't simply about deploying a self-driving mechanism on a vessel. Unlike cars on roads, ships travel vast distances through unpredictable weather and tightly regulated waters. With low or no human intervention, this is risky. That's where high-frequency data (HFD) platforms and remote monitoring systems step in as silent co-pilots, ensuring decisions remain sharp and safe.
 

By capturing and transmitting a constant stream of performance, navigation, and environmental information, these control mechanisms become the vessel's eyes, ears, and even its "nervous system." Without this data and supervision backbone, autonomy will be reckless. With it, ships move closer to the future of truly self-reliant operations.

 

Inside the World of Autonomous Ships

At its core, autonomous shipping combines smart sensors, cognitive technologies, and automation to let vessels think and act with minimal human intervention. I've seen these systems firsthand: ships equipped with radar, LiDAR, cameras, GPS, and IoT-enabled devices that provide continuous data streams to onboard AI systems. The arrangement is devised to interpret the environment, plan routes, and even make instant collision-avoidance decisions. Onshore remote operation centres, from which human operators intervene if needed, provide a layer of safety, maintaining a balance between the machine's decisions and human judgment.

 

The benefits are clear to me: reduced errors, safer navigation, lower operating expenses (OpEx), and often greater fuel efficiency as well. Then why aren't all shipping companies fully there yet?

 

While I've observed several remotely operated and semi-autonomous ships embark upon their journeys, they sail in restricted environments. A complete transition requires further collaboration among ship owners, technology providers, and regulators.

 

How Regulations Shape Maritime Autonomy

In my years navigating international waters, I've learned that while autonomous shipping is primarily about technology, it also involves trust, safety, and compliance considerations, just like crewed ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken the lead in outlining how Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) will operate under international rules.

 

Through its MASS Regulatory Scoping Exercise, the IMO has been reviewing conventions such as SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and COLREGs (Collision Regulations) – regulations I've lived by throughout my career – to identify where amendments or new frameworks are required. The organisation plans to develop a non-mandatory MASS Code first, which will serve as a foundation for a subsequent mandatory code to come into effect by 2028.

 

Meanwhile, national authorities and regional bodies are conducting trials and establishing their own guidelines, which sometimes vary, making operations complex for us shippers. The common highlight in regulatory directions is clear: autonomous ships must prove they can operate as safely, if not more safely, than conventionally crewed vessels. Reliable data, transparent reporting, and robust remote monitoring systems are critical to compliance and industry-wide adoption.

 

Why High-Frequency Data and Remote Monitoring Matter for Autonomous Vessels

I've always believed an autonomous ship can be its own captain with superhuman reflexes. What it needs is a continuous stream of data to make decisions. A cloud-based HFD platform supplies those inputs, capturing them from engines, hull, propellers, sensors, weather instruments, and navigation systems in near real-time. It provides onboard AI and shore-based teams with a constant pulse of what's happening on the ship.

 

With rich, granular data, the vessel's control systems see, think, and act in real-time. They can respond to sudden gusts, optimise fuel consumption, and control speed or directions without waiting for directions from humans.

Let me give you an example from my experience: collision avoidance. Without HFD, an autonomous ship cannot accurately determine the speed and bearing of nearby vessels or regulate its own manoeuvres. Similarly, optimising energy use requires second-by-second adjustments to wind, current, and power load, something low-frequency datasets cannot achieve.

 

An HFD platform's live dashboards and alerts also enable onshore teams to observe a vessel's performance and intervene in emergencies. Its predictive analytics detect early signs of machinery wear or abnormal vibrations, allowing maintenance to be scheduled to prevent costly repairs and downtime. In addition, the reports keep shipowners and regulators informed about whether the ship is making safe and efficient choices in operations, with expected fuel economy, low emissions, and fewer breakdowns at sea.

 

Building Trust in Self-Navigating Vessels

For autonomous and semi-autonomous shipping to move from trial runs to mainstream adoption, trust is the real currency. Regulators, insurers, port authorities, and shipowners need confidence that autonomy doesn't compromise safety or efficiency.

 

Here's how I've seen HFD and remote monitoring solutions deliver that trust:

Smart Ship© Hub’s cloud-native vessel monitoring platform is built to meet the realities of autonomous shipping. Our solution streams comprehensive performance indicators, including high-resolution videos, over low-bandwidth satellite connections, enabling better control of vessels as they navigate into remote waters. High-frequency datasets and advanced analytics facilitate predictive maintenance, optimise routes, and continuously assess environmental conditions. 

 

Our AI-powered software also serves as the decision core of autonomous systems, helping them steer clear of obstacles. It adds a vital layer of operational safety and optimises routes based on weather and traffic conditions in a region. 

 

With secure vessel-to-shore connectivity, Smart Ship© Hub Remote also reinforces compliance with IMO frameworks and cyber-resilience standards. For shipowners and operators, it offers a direct path to safer, smarter, and trusted autonomous operations, making now the right time to leverage its capabilities.