Many countries are experimenting with the ships without a crew. At home could driverless ferry boats be a reality.

For the first time China has sent a førerløst cargo ship at sea.

It is well to notice a smaller ship - apparently a forsøgsfartøj - which recently gathered in the chinese province of Guangdong.

The writing fagmediet Seatrade Maritime News.

the Development of technology for driverless ships is in full swing and is a hot topic - not only in China, but in many places in the world.

It explains the professor at the Department of electrical engineering at the Danish Technological University (DTU), Mogens Blanke.

- We also do experiments with autonomous sailing at home.

- In the nordic countries, England, the UNITED states and the Netherlands have been sailed without crew for a few years unless the vessels - for example, by the military, surveying and monitoring, he says to Ritzau.

Although China has chosen to let a small cargo ship sail without a captain, it's unlikely the cargo ships, which in future will sail without a crew.

In any case, not large cargo ships on the long stretches.

this represents the cost for the crew namely a very small share of the total costs, and here it is particularly problematic if the machinery breaks down along the way, and there is no manpower to repair it.

- As it looks now, there is no one who believes that there is a commercial advantage by developing førerløs technology for large ocean-going ships.

- One should never say never, because technology is evolving all the time. But it will require a very different type of machinery on board a ship, if it is to be able to go without maintenance for up to three-four weeks, says Mogens Blanke.

On the other hand it is more likely that remote-controlled and driverless ships becomes a reality on coastal routes. In Denmark, it is the most obvious to introduce driverless ships on routes to and from small island communities, assesses the professor.

- Small boats can be disproportionately expensive to operate. To sail without a crew can make them cheaper. It will be of benefit to small island communities, because the operation can be more flexible, says Mogens Blanke.

It will then demand that the islanders receive a shorter course in vessel safety, and that they then can even start the ferry, when they need it.

There are already plans to deploy a førerløs ferry in the Limfjord, with departure from Aalborg, denmark. Here is the DTU to develop the technology for the vessel, says Mogens Blanke.

And in the Port of Copenhagen has conducted experiments with a radio controlled tug.

/ritzau/