Development, construction, and verification in real conditions of a prototype of a semi-autonomous cargo ship for sea navigation

The transport industry is responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions and there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce its environmental impact. One potential solution is the development of safe and environmentally friendly semi-autonomous ships.These ships would incorporate advanced technologies such as collision avoidance systems, machine learning and sensor systems to enable them to navigate complex waterways and operate autonomously or with limited human intervention. This would improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents caused by human error and enable ships to optimize routes leading to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.The development of safe and clean semi-autonomous cargo ships has the potential to transform the shipping industry and contribute to a more sustainable future. The paper presents the research results on the prototype of semi-autonomous cargo ship. For the purpose of research a new shape of the hull with bow insert is designed and main properties of the vessel are optimized (length, beam, tank capacities, payload). Semi-autonomous ship systems and proposed. Optional, lowered wheelhouse is designed to enable entering ports with limited permissible height.