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2024 Journal Impact Factor - 0.6
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ISSN 2083-6473
ISSN 2083-6481 (electronic version)
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Prof. Tomasz Neumann
Published by
TransNav, Faculty of Navigation
Gdynia Maritime University
3, John Paul II Avenue
81-345 Gdynia, POLAND
e-mail transnav@umg.edu.pl
The Transition of the Maritime and Port Industry Toward Automation: A Focus on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
1 Maritime University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
ABSTRACT: The maritime and port industry is undergoing a profound technological transformation, driven by the need to improve operational efficiency, safety and the protection of both the maritime and land environment. At the heart of this transformation is the development and deployment of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). This article examines the technological foundations, benefits, challenges and future prospects of MASS, as well as their interaction with port automation systems. It provides an overview of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) framework for autonomous shipping, key real-world case studies and critical regulatory, cyber-security and operational integration challenges. The findings indicate that while significant barriers remain, the momentum towards a more automated and intelligent maritime ecosystem is irreversible.
KEYWORDS:
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Citation note:
Bąk A.: The Transition of the Maritime and Port Industry Toward Automation: A Focus on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 19, No. 4, doi:10.12716/1001.19.04.23, pp. 1249-1255, 2025