Shipping Can No Longer Afford to Overlook Automation

摘要

As it doesn't constitute a large part of the budget at the initial construction and design stage, it's often low on the list of design considerations. Owners elect to use automation systems that come bundled in with other elements, such as the propulsion or cargo management systems. This can be a costly oversight. If the basics of automation are not addressed, ship owners and operators can miss out on significant efficiency savings and enhanced performance and even risk mild to mission-critical failures and delays. As the industry remains under pressure to find new areas of efficiency and cut costs without compromising safety, ship builders and designers can no longer afford to ignore the need to take automation seriously.