Concept design of an autonomous and modular naval vessel

Abstract

The private sector and authorities are both showing increasing interest in autonomous ships, making it necessary to examine and determine the best approach for transition- ing toward uncrewed vessels. The maritime legislative landscape regarding autonomous ships remains in a stale mate, as legislators wait for guidance from the International Mar- itime Organization before formulating national laws to govern these vessels, and private companies wait for the legislators and classing societies before investing large sums into autonomous vessels. This study investigates the transition from crewed to uncrewed vessels from both a naval architecture and legislative perspective. Based on these findings, an intermediary vessel is proposed through an iterative design process. The transition pathway is examined in depth, considering the technical, operational, and regulatory challenges involved. The resulting vessel concept is designed to operate flexibly in both crewed and uncrewed modes. Emphasis is placed on modularity, with a fully detachable crew compartment that houses crew essential systems such as toiletry and galley. This approach ensures that the vessel remains streamlined and functionally optimized when operating autonomously.