Towards maritime autonomy
Vision
Digitisation will connect smart ships and vessels as well as smart ports and smart infrastructure. It will enhance data flows. It will also lead to a higher degree of automation and autonomy, automated and autonomous systems, ship operations (both maritime and inland navigation) and remote control from the shore by 2030. Future ships and vessels will be designed so that they can be continuously updated with the digital technologies throughout their lifecycle. Connectivity and automation will not only improve nautical operations, safety or the energy-efficiency of Waterborne transport, but will also improve logistics and mobility flows.
Mission
The European Waterborne sector will increase efficiency, flexibility and safety by means of the transformation of business models and automation of operations, thereby increasing the share of Waterborne transport in the worldwide and regional logistics and mobility chain. It will develop, implement and maintain automated and interconnected work processes in Waterborne integrated systems and infrastructures, enabled by smart and connected ships and vessels, with a focus on improving efficiency in Waterborne logistics.
The sector will aim at the largescale introduction of resilient and secure autonomous operations in 2050 and will extend its global leading position regarding the integration and automation of Waterborne systems, utilizing its strengths in developing creative solutions and cooperation with all stakeholders. Europe will keep its leading position in terms of the deployment of integrated automated systems and will set the standard in data exchange and communications.