GeelongPort keen to get on board autonomous ships

OPERATORS of Geelong’s port have flagged an interest in testing the development of autonomous vessels.

Rolls-Royce is planning to have the first remotely operated vessels running by 2020 and in international waters by 2025.

GeelongPort chief executive Brett Winter said the investment in autonomous vessels promised to make the “blue highway”, where domestic freight is processed through the Australian port network, more viable.

Automated ships have no crew members on-board and will be commanded from a shore operating centre, where the navigation and performance will be guided through detectors, sensors, high-resolution cameras and advanced satellite communication systems.

Mr Winter told the Victorian Agribusiness Summit at Geelong on Wednesday that automated shipping could reduce both the cost of sea freight and the economies of scale involved in shipping.

“If you can operate a vessel without the same cost, you can bring in smaller shipments to support the blue highway strategy that Ports Australia is looking at introducing,” he said.

“It is certainly one of those things that we are keen to explore and support as well, and see if GeelongPort can play a role with some of the shipping lines regarding testing and trials in that area.”

Mr Winter said that in the past decade, rail freight was up 210 per cent and heavy vehicle road transport freight was up 61 per cent but domestic sea freight had increased by only 1 per cent, due largely to legislative restrictions.

He said the blue highway would always be complementary to road and rail transport but could help ease congestion by using available capacity using shipping.

With the domestic freight task predicted to double by 2030, Australia’s peak maritime body, Ports Australia is exploring the role ports can play in lifting the freight burden and reducing costs.