# Autonomous Cargo Ships Rolls-Royce Holdings is Imagining Crewless Cargo Ships for the Future By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-06-28 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cargo-ship References: [digitaltrends](http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/rolls-royce-cargo-ships/) & [rolls-royce](http://www.rolls-royce.com/) [Rolls-Royce Holdings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-taxi) is now in the phases of researching and developing concepts for an [autonomous cargo ship](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ewagon) for the year 2020 that could be controlled remotely. This autonomous shipping concept from Rolls-Royce Holdings was recently discussed at the Autonomous Ship Technology Symposium in Amsterdam, where it was also made known that tests for [crewless ship systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cstar) are already being conducted in Finland. While a captain is typically thought of as one of the most important people on a ship, Rolls-Royce Holdings imagines that a "captain" could be stationed just about anywhere in the world and given the ability to oversee the vessel. One of the biggest advantages to a crewless ship is that it would not require any cabin space, which means that a higher volume of cargo can be transported. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.7/10 - Popularity: 97% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Autonomous Cargo Ships:** Rolls-Royce Holdings is developing an autonomous cargo ship that could be controlled remotely, opening up disruptive innovation opportunities in shipping logistics and transportation. - **Crewless Ship Systems:** Tests for crewless ship systems are already being conducted in Finland, presenting disruptive innovation opportunities in maritime technology and automation. - **Remote Vessel Oversight:** With the ability to station a "captain" anywhere in the world to oversee the vessel, remote vessel oversight offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the maritime industry and global logistics. ### Who This Affects Most - **Shipping Logistics:** The development of autonomous cargo ships presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the shipping logistics industry. - **Maritime Technology:** Tests for crewless ship systems open up disruptive innovation opportunities in the maritime technology industry. - **Global Logistics:** Remote vessel oversight offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the global logistics industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Wind-Powered Cargo Ships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/windpowered-cargo-ship.md) - [Autonomous Sailing Research Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/research-vessel.md) - [AI-Powered Sail Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sail-system.md) - [Ammonia-Powered Ships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/novel-ship.md) - [Innovative Maritime Transportation Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maritime-transportation-system.md) - [Living Area-Equipped Shipping Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/geely-homtruck.md) - [Water-Mapping Autonomous Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-vessel.md) - [Digital Twin Ship Builders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holoship.md) - [Water-Mapping Autonomous Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/watermapping-autonomous-boats.md)