Analyzing the economic benefit of unmanned autonomous ships: An exploratory cost-comparison between an autonomous and a conventional bulk carrier
| Autor: | Lutz Kretschmann, Hans-Christoph Burmeister, Carlos Jahn |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Engineering
Operations research Cost effectiveness 020209 energy Strategy and Management Economics Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous) Crew General Decision Sciences Transportation 02 engineering and technology Management Science and Operations Research Discount points Net present value Transport engineering 0502 economics and business 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering Carrying capacity Business and International Management 050210 logistics & transportation Present value business.industry 05 social sciences Naval architecture Tourism Leisure and Hospitality Management Profitability index business |
| Zdroj: | Research in Transportation Business & Management. 25:76-86 |
| ISSN: | 2210-5395 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.rtbm.2017.06.002 |
| Popis: | Unmanned autonomous ships are seen as a key element of a competitive and sustainable European shipping industry in future. But even if the technology to further automate ships will principally be available at some point, this does not imply that autonomous vessels are also the superior choice for the ship owner. In the end the success of autonomous vessels depends on their impact on the profitability of shipping companies. Following a structured approach this paper analyzes the costs of running an autonomous bulker and compares them against a conventional vessel in a cost-benefit analysis. Hereby it provides insights on the (economic) benefit of autonomous vessels for a first-time. Results principally confirm an economic potential. The expected present value of cost of owning and operating the autonomous bulker over a 25-year period is mUSD 4.3 lower than for a conventionally manned ship. Assuming identical cargo carrying capacity this means that the required freight rate of the autonomous bulker which produces a zero net present value is 3.4% lower than the required freight rate of the conventional vessel. This advantageousness is based on one aspect in particular as the paper argues. Besides cost savings associated with reducing crew levels an autonomous ship brings along additional benefits due to changes in ship design. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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