Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance, a new alliance jointly promoted by China’s HNA Group and China Classification Society (CCS), has been launched in Shanghai yesterday.
The alliance is also joined by CSSC’s Marine Design & Research Institute of China, Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute, ABS, DNV GL, Wartsila and Rolls Royce.
The members of the alliance will work together on technology, standards, regulation, and marketing for unmanned cargo vessels.
HNA Technology & Logistics has allocated substantial funds to research and development for unmanned ships. According to Li Weijian, vice president of HNA Technology & Logistics, the alliance will facilitate the transformation of ship design and ship operation, and help complete the standards relating to the operations of unmanned ships.
Zhu Kai, vice president of CCS, believes unmanned cargo ship to be the next major structural innovation in shipping and logistics, and the alliance will be a pioneer in the exploration of the technology.
The alliance expects that China’s first unmanned cargo vessel will be delivered by 2021.
