Operational support framework for maritime autonomous surface ships under onshore operation centers

Abstract

In recent years, the concept of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs) has gotten attention both from the research community and shipping industry. The recent development in advanced sensing, communication, and control technologies makes it possible to operate such vessels remotely through Onshore Operation Centers (OOCs). However, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed before such ships can be used safely and effectively in ocean environments. To handle these challenges faced by MASSs, a large-scale acceptance procedure from commercial industries and regulatory authorities, an on OOC framework is proposed in this research study. However, this study is limited to an OOC operational support framework for operational monitoring, guidance, and support. It shows how the proposed framework will support online MASS operations in ocean environments. This opens the ways to develop and operate the MASS concept through OOCs to control future vessels remotely by the crew sitting in onshore centers. It will enhance the MASSs technology acceptance both from the technological and regular regulatory perspectives. The study also identifies such challenges and their viable solutions in the aspect of operational support framework as well.