Starship
The maritime sector is facing a shortage of officers and seafarers because fewer young people are choosing the profession and experienced personnel are moving ashore more quickly. That is why technologies are being developed to enable ships to sail autonomously with fewer crew members, supported by shore control centres. This requires adjustments to processes and skills within the port ecosystem. The project investigates what changes are needed and how cooperation between the parties involved can be organised effectively.
What is the reason for the project?
Fewer young people are choosing the profession, and experienced crew are moving more quickly to shore-based jobs. This is leading to a decline in the number of seafarers. At the same time, shipping companies such as Samskip are ordering autonomous-ready ships, whilst it remains unclear how these should be handled safely and efficiently in ports.
Because the current port ecosystem — boatmen, pilots, towage services, terminals, bunkering companies and port authorities — is entirely geared towards manned ships, there is an urgent need to adapt processes, skills and cooperation. The sector indicated that these requirements have barely been developed or researched, whilst the first autonomous short-sea ships are already underway (Rotterdam–Oslo corridor). That is why STARSHIP was launched: to identify what is needed to safely receive, handle and guide autonomous and unmanned vessels, and to prepare the port ecosystem for this.
What problem does the project solve?
Autonomous and unmanned vessels will soon be operational, yet the current port ecosystem is not yet equipped to handle them. Reduced crew numbers require new processes, roles and skills, but boatmen, pilots, towage services, terminals and port authorities are still operating according to procedures designed for manned vessels. This creates risks to safety, efficiency and cooperation. STARSHIP is developing knowledge, processes and guidelines to prepare ports technically, operationally and organisationally for autonomous ships, so that they can be handled safely, smoothly and cost-effectively.
Project team
Within the STARSHIP project, NHL Stenden is building on the earlier research by Carmen Kooij, which focused on task allocation, crew reduction and the impact of automation on maritime operations. In the current project, this work is being further developed by Lars Finnema, who, as a researcher, is contributing to deepening our understanding of the role of crew on board autonomous-ready ships and the implications for the port ecosystem.
In addition, professor Welmoed van der Velde is involved in the project through the Maritime Law research group, focusing on legal and regulatory issues surrounding autonomous shipping. The project offers the opportunity to involve students from the Maritime Officer programme. They can take part in practical assignments, simulations and research cases, thereby enhancing both their learning environment and the research itself.
Project partners
Research institutions
Logistics & Nautical Operators
Technology & Maritime Service Providers
Community Partners
Other organisations (Advisory / Network)
The project team’s approach
The team is building on Carmen Kooij’s earlier research into task allocation and crew scenarios, and is expanding on this with new analyses and case studies. This involves the use of methods such as optimisation models, interviews, scenario development and validation with industry partners.
In addition, NHL Stenden is exploring the possibility of involving students from the Maritime Officer programme in practical assignments, simulations and analyses within the sub-studies. This approach ensures that new knowledge is developed and that future seafarers gain experience with the transition to autonomous-ready ships.