Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 10 December 2024, the First Autonomous Transport Conference will be held at Gdynia Maritime University’s Faculty of Navigation.

The conference is intended to be a recurring event, addressing research issues related to autonomous transport vehicles and their operation. It will serve as a forum for the exchange of views, research results, and the implementation of new technologies in autonomous transport.

The conference will be organised by Gdynia Maritime University, the Institute of Road Transport in Warsaw, and the Rail Transport Office. The organisers are now reviewing applications who would like to be a speaker at the event. Abstracts of papers should be sent in English to: auttrans [at] umg.edu.pl. The deadline for submissions in 15 November 2024.

Following peer review, papers will be published in English in TransNav, The International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation (70 pts) or as a prepared monograph.

Conference website: Konferencja Transport Autonomiczny (umg.edu.pl)

Additional Information

The steadily increasing use of automation in ship operations, along with the expected growth in the use of remote control and autonomous operation of key functions, will require a different approach, a new operational philosophy, and, consequently, adjustments to the established standards concerning manual intervention and control on board, as outlined in the SOLAS convention and other IMO instruments. This also includes a new approach to navigating MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships).

Ongoing work at the IMO regarding autonomous shipping, including the implementation of the MASS Code, has recently slowed. It has been decided to postpone the entry into force of the Code, with its application now planned for 2032. The adoption of a non-mandatory IMO instrument is planned in 2025.

The aim of the ongoing work on autonomous shipping is to provide consistent international regulatory frameworks that will enable the safe operation of MASS. The aforementioned Code also aims to support new solutions and the integration of new technologies, ensuring consistency in the approach to the design, construction, and operation of MASS.

The entire maritime industry, including offshore sectors, expects modifications to academic programmes, new programmes and training, especially in light of the growing offshore wind farm industry, which will require specialised vessels, some of which will operate at varying levels of autonomy.

The scope of activities presented at the IMO forum and within maritime administrations is linked to the need to undertake R&D work related to:

• Assessing the risks of maritime travel for MASS and in areas of offshore wind farms,
• Implementing new technologies related to the safe operation of MASS,
• The influence of human factors—specifically, the role, duties, and responsibilities of the captain and crew of MASS in ensuring navigational safety,
• Maritime rescue operations conducted by MASS,
• The tasks and responsibilities of the “remote operations centre” and the “remote operator”,
• The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in autonomous navigation,
• Cybersecurity, as well as the threats posed by terrorism and piracy in autonomous shipping.
• Since autonomous maritime vessels will be inextricably linked to multimodal and intermodal freight transport systems, research problems should be addressed jointly across all autonomous modes of transport: maritime, rail, road, and air.

The first Autonomous Transport Conference is intended to be a recurring forum addressing research issues related to autonomous transport vehicles, their operation, and providing a platform for the exchange of views, research results, and the deployment of new technologies in autonomous transport.

The patrons of the first Autonomous Transport are:

• HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit
• The Director of the Institute of Road Transport in Warsaw, Professor Marcin Ślęzak
• The President of the Rail Transport Office, Ignacy Góra
• The Centre for IMO Affairs at the Polish Registry of Shipping

Chair of the Organisational Commitee
Zbigniew Burciu