Finnish government to launch autonomous cargo ships by 2025

Plans to launch robotic cargo ships took another step forward this week when the Finnish government announced plans to launch a suite of unmanned maritime products and services by 2025.

In pursuit of that goal, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation—known as Tekes—will help finance the development of an autonomous marine ecosystem by a combination of information and communications technology (ICT) startup firms and established marine suppliers. And once those new teams are ready to test their robo-ships, Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has promised to apply flexible standards for the trials of autonomous vessels in the country’s waters.

“We are especially enthusiastic about colliding our world class ICT start-up scene with strong maritime players,” Tekes program manager Piia Moilanen said in a release. “New networks will boost exchanging ideas and create pioneering community for intelligent shipping.”

As a first step toward that goal, the shipping initiative has convened a group of industry partners led by Finnish incubator DIMECC Ltd., an acronym for digital, internet, materials & engineering co-creation. The group hopes to draft a common roadmap for reaching autonomous marine operations by coordinating development between businesses, research institutes, engineering societies, and government authorities.

One of those partners will be Rolls-Royce, the marine, automotive, and aeronautic engine manufacturer that recently announced a plan to build a demonstration version by 2020 of a shore-based control center for remote-controlled cargo ships.