Port terminals and ships will be able to be operated without the need for human elements. The possibility of independent ships and ports has been discussed for some years and now, finally, it seems to be close to being realized.
This last Wednesday, (13/07), it was announced that the possibility of operating ships and ports without the need for human help is real and is getting closer to becoming a reality, a transformation that shakes the port terminals and maritime activities on a global scale. The novelty marks the advance in operations and will guarantee more capacity to the ports.
Possibility of autonomy for ports and ships has been discussed for years
In this sense, the world maritime sector began to discuss the possibility of port terminal independence several years ago and since then a disruptive transformation has agitated maritime and port activities on a global scale. Now, it is probably not far from seeing ships and ports operating without the need for human elements.
Although its predominance in the maritime sector is uncertain for the time being, independence is now at the center of the competition arena. The maritime world quickly understood how technological innovations and artificial intelligence could accelerate and maximize the self-management of navigation and port terminals, attracting massive investments in the modernization of systems on board ships.
It is important to know that projects previously only possible in fiction have now become reality. For example, launched at the end of 2021, the Norwegian ship Yara Bierkeland, which harmonized technology and energy efficiency, was the first among independent ships, even if it did not completely exclude the presence of a human team on board.
Soon after, it was the turn of the Mikage, a ship from the Japanese Mitsui Lines, to be able to dock alone, using drones to release the cables for the port workers. The expectation is that the transformation has just begun and will bring more and more evolution to the operations of maritime activities.
Brazil is closely monitoring this progress and intends to accompany the transformations
In this way, it is valid to understand that Brazil is closely following the new scenario and does not intend to be left behind. That is why, since 2020, the country has had an artificial intelligence sector that brings together representatives of the government, the maritime academy, maritime companies and the industry to plan new technological solutions in partnership with research centers and attract investments for the new bets of the country for maritime transport and port activities.
In addition, Brazilian port cities already have centers of technological innovation of paramount importance. It is observed that the expected efficiency for maritime activities will only be achieved with the inclusion of the entire logistics chain involved in the movement of goods, from collection at the factories, storage, dispatch, transport, unloading and delivery to the final recipient.
In this sense, it is important to know that the current scenario of the war between Russia and Ukraine can slow down the transforming wave of the sector. In addition to the human tragedy and consequent increase in poverty, the conflict also poses risks to the full functioning of port terminals, ships and communications infrastructure, not restricted to the countries involved. No less relevant are the impacts suffered by cyber warfare between these nations.
Therefore, it is necessary to advance in the protection of communication conditions so that no ship operates in isolation, but as part of the global supply network, so that maritime activities can fully function. This is because the entrepreneurial agenda of intelligent and technological navigation requires an environment of peace and strong collaboration between nations.
