Unmanned ships to be reality soon

THERE are several projects bankrolled by big companies underway, aimed at developing developing autonomous, that is, unmanned vessels. I must admit I have taken little notice of these developments, mentally consigning them to the "Pie In The Sky" folder.

But two things have since made me sit up and pay more attention. The first was a recent statement from China's Maritime Safety Administration (MSA), which announced that it has unanimously given the green light for a research and development project on unmanned multifunctional maritime ships.

If China is working in this field, then perhaps this is all leading somewhere, I thought.