The Danish Maritime Authority is planning a study into unmanned ship concepts in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Being conducted under a DTU project on research-based maritime consultancy financed by Danish Maritime Fund, the pre-study also aims to develop projects to provide technological and economical benefits to Denmark’s shipping industry.
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Under the collaboration, both DTU and Danish Maritime Authority aim to increase understanding of unmanned ships.
The collaboration further intends to establish preliminary frames for development and use of autonomous ships.
Denmark business and growth minister Troels Lund Poulsen said: “This is a really interesting area and, in the short-term, the technology can be used to make our ships safer and more efficient.
“In the longer term, research in autonomous ships may become a great advantage for Blue Denmark.
“The global maritime sector is faced with a number of challenges that will also be considered during next week's Danish Maritime Days, and this technology could turn out to be part of the solution."
It is reported that the use of autonomous ship could help in reducing operation costs, as well as providing safer and more energy efficiency than conventional shipping.
Various projects have already been completed, including the European Union (EU) financed Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks (MUNIN) project.
Furthermore, Norway has recently launched a test area for unmanned ships at Trondheim city.
In addition, Denmark will organise Danish Maritime Days in the upcoming week to discuss the challenges and solutions of the maritime sector.
