Digital transformation is reshaping the world as we know it, revolutionising fields such as science, business, agriculture, communication, and education. The marine and offshore industries are no exception as they stand at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – also popularly known as Industry 4.0, the revolution of the digital era and a paradigm shift driven by cutting-edge technologies.
A 2020 McKinsey report outlined four key technological pillars with the potential to transform value chains across industries:
· Connectivity, data, and computational power: Including sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud technology, and blockchain.
· Analytics and intelligence: Featuring advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).
· Human-machine interaction: Encompassing virtual and augmented reality, robotics, automation, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
· Advanced engineering: Highlighting additive manufacturing, renewable energy, and nanoparticles.
As with past industrial revolutions, Industry 4.0 is driving profound changes in operations, machinery, and systems architecture across sectors. However, the impact on the marine and offshore industries is particularly significant.
The marine industry forms a vast global network of ships, supply chains, and ports, facilitating over 80% of global trade. Meanwhile, the offshore industry, once dominated by oil and gas, is now a key player in renewable energy. In 2023 alone, 10.9 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity were added globally, contributing to a cumulative total of 72.7 gigawatts of offshore wind energy.
These industries are not only pivotal to the global economy, but are also poised to experience immense technological disruption. The implications are profound, with the potential to redefine efficiency, unlock new opportunities, and drive sustainable development on a global scale.
Industry 4.0 heralds a new era of innovation for the marine and offshore sectors. From enhancing operational efficiencies to advancing sustainability, the transformative power of these technologies promises to shape the future of both industries in remarkable ways.
The Digitalisation and Automation of Singapore’s Ports
The exciting part is, this ‘future of maritime innovation’ is already unfolding in Singapore. With an early adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, PSA Tuas Port is on track to becoming the world’s largest automated port. As of 2024, much of the work at Tuas Port is already handled by a fleet of over 200 driverless Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) – the largest in the world.
As the operator of the world’s busiest container transhipment hub, PSA Singapore is shaping the maritime port of the 21st century. Its efforts extend beyond technological advancements to cultivating a new generation of talent. Through initiatives like the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) scheme, PSA is attracting individuals with expertise in areas integral to Industry 4.0, such as:
· Agile development and IT infrastructure
· Engineering and automation
· Supply chain sustainability
· Cargo solutions and platform digitalisation
· Data analytics
· Architecture and engineering
· Cybersecurity and operational technology security
If these skills form the strategic foundation of operations, the AGVs are the workhorses. Operating 24/7, these driverless vehicles seamlessly transport containers across the port, much like the robotic systems revolutionising modern warehouses.
At the core of this impressive automation is PSA’s adoption of the Solace PubSub+ platform and its event-driven architecture (EDA). This software framework serves as the backbone for real-time data exchange, enabling interconnected systems, devices, and AGVs to communicate efficiently.
EDA facilitates the instantaneous flow of critical data – from vessel and container movements to equipment status updates. This real-time connectivity empowers responsive, data-driven decision-making, optimises resource allocation, and enhances operational workflows.
By embedding EDA into its enterprise IT systems and connecting devices, equipment, and AGVs through a robust real-time network, PSA has harnessed the full potential of Industry 4.0. These advancements are propelling Tuas Port to the forefront of global innovation, positioning it as the world’s largest fully automated port.
Autonomous Shipping is on the Horizon The marine industry in Japan has lofty goals of its own – to make fully autonomous shipping a reality as early as 2025. Building on technologies like information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), and image analysis — many of which underpin autonomous driving — this initiative takes automation to an entirely new scale.
At the heart of this effort is the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Program. The project envisions achieving fully autonomous navigation for half of Japan’s coastal fleet by 2040. However, if Stage 2 of the initiative is successful, practical implementation could arrive much sooner, as early as 2025.
Autonomous shipping relies on the seamless integration of systems across sea, land, and air. At sea, ships are equipped with advanced automated systems for navigation, berthing, and unberthing. On land, a centralised Fleet Operation Centre manages and supports these vessels, while satellite-based communications systems link all elements, ensuring real-time data exchange and control.
Stage 1 of MEGURI2040, completed in March 2022, saw six vessels and five consortia of around 50 Japanese companies conducting functional tests on fully autonomous systems. These tests covered a wide range of ship types, including container ships, ferries, amphibious vessels, and sightseeing boats.
Stage 2, which began in late 2022, focuses on achieving autonomous navigation equivalent to Level 4 autonomous driving — where vehicles operate independently in most conditions without human intervention. Key priorities include improving collision-avoidance technologies, refining auto-berthing and unberthing systems, and fostering public acceptance of fully autonomous vessels.
A significant milestone was reached on 18 July 2024 with the completion of the world’s first Fleet Operation Centre for multiple autonomous ships in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. This centre, a cornerstone of the MEGURI2040 project, enables remote navigation support for up to four autonomous ships simultaneously. It will play a pivotal role in the next phase of testing, planned for July 2025.
While Japan is leading large-scale initiatives, Singapore is making significant strides in its own right. Homegrown technology and engineering group ST Engineering has developed the AUTONOMAST™ system — a modular kit that converts crewed vessels into Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). It is the first system of its kind to be operationally proven, with over 10,000 successful hours logged in the heavily trafficked Singapore Straits.
AUTONOMAST™ offers a practical and scalable approach to building autonomous fleets, especially for organisations looking to enhance their USV capabilities without investing in entirely new vessels. Integration takes between 6 to 12 months and has already been successfully applied to a range of vessels, from 15-metre craft to large roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships. This flexibility makes it a standout solution for overcoming cost and scalability challenges in autonomous shipping development.
Singapore’s proven deployment of AUTONOMAST™, alongside Japan’s MEGURI2040 programme and its large-scale ambitions, reflects the different but complementary paths both countries are taking toward autonomous shipping. Together, they highlight the practical and strategic progress shaping the future of maritime transport.
Enhancing Safety and Efficiency with Subsea Robotics
Whether it’s offshore wind farms or oil rigs, the offshore industry’s priorities remain consistent – ensuring the safe and efficient installation, inspection, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of offshore structures. However, the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the deep-sea environment make these tasks challenging, often putting human crews at significant risk. Enter subsea robotics — a transformative solution at the intersection of safety and efficiency.
Autonomous robotics took a historic step forward in 2018 when Taurob, an Austrian company, in collaboration with Germany’s Technical University of Darmstadt, deployed the first autonomous robot in the offshore industry. This robot, deployed at French oil company Total’s gas plant in the North Sea, was tasked with visual inspections and gas leak detection — marking the beginning of a new era for offshore operations.
Fast forward to today, and a growing number of offshore companies are turning to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to optimise operations, enhance safety, and reduce environmental impact. While both types of robots excel in underwater data collection, inspection, and surveying, their key difference lies in autonomy. ROVs are tethered to surface operators, requiring real-time control, while AUVs are fully self-propelled, operating independently without human intervention. This autonomy significantly lowers costs by reducing the need for surface vessels to support operations.
Industry 4.0 technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, are further enhancing the capabilities of subsea robotics. With AI-driven algorithms, AUVs and ROVs can make human-like decisions in real-time, adapting to their surroundings and optimising movements. These advancements allow subsea robots to detect structural anomalies, predict maintenance requirements, and improve operational efficiency. For example, during inspections, AI-enabled robots can identify issues outside standard parameters, offering insights that improve safety and reduce downtime.
The potential of subsea robotics is enormous. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the global market for subsea robotics is projected to exceed US$7 billion by 2025, driven by a robust annual growth rate of 15.1%. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead this expansion, fuelled by increased interest in oil and gas exploration and the rising demand for seabed mineral resources.
As subsea robotics continue to evolve, they are redefining how offshore industries approach safety and efficiency, paving the way for a more sustainable and innovative future beneath the waves.
The Offshore Industry’s New Frontier: Deep-Sea Mining In a groundbreaking discovery between April and June 2024, Japanese scientists identified an estimated 230 million tonnes of rare earth minerals on the seabed near Minami-Torishima island, Japan. Valued at an astonishing US$26.3 billion (S$35.5 billion), this find captured global attention for its economic potential and strategic significance.
The deposit, rich in nickel, manganese, and cobalt, is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting Japan’s green economy over the next decade. These minerals are essential for producing electric vehicle (EV) batteries, a cornerstone of sustainable transportation. Historically, Japan and many other nations have depended on imports from China and African countries, which dominate the rare earth mineral market. This discovery marks a significant step towards reducing Japan’s reliance on foreign sources.
As nations and corporations increase efforts to access underwater resources, the deep sea is becoming a critical focus for exploration and extraction. The offshore industry, supported by advances in subsea robotics, plays a key role in these developments. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are essential tools for surveying and extracting resources in the challenging conditions of the deep ocean, where extreme pressures make human exploration impractical.
The integration of cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies, such as high-resolution sonar, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, and underwater cameras, is enhancing the capabilities of subsea robotics. High-resolution sonar enables penetration of murky waters, while LiDAR generates precise 3D maps of underwater terrains. These tools are set to revolutionise resource exploration and extraction in the deep sea.
Currently, many of the AUVs deployed in Japan are manufactured overseas. Recognising their strategic importance in marine and offshore activities, the Japanese government is advancing plans to industrialise domestic AUV production by 2030. These plans outline the development of three distinct AUV models:
· A cutting-edge model capable of operating at depths beyond 3,000 metres.
· A small, cost-effective model designed for shallow waters and mass production.
· Specialised models tailored to specific tasks.
As the offshore industry steps into this new era of deep-sea mining, the synergy between technological innovation and national strategy is setting the stage for transformative developments. With its immense potential, deep-sea mining promises to reshape the global resource landscape and drive forward the industries of tomorrow.
The Marine and Offshore Industry: Innovating into the 21st Century
As we move further into the 21st century, the demand for renewable energy and sustainable development continues to grow.
The offshore industry is meeting these challenges by leveraging advanced technologies to build and maintain offshore wind farms and to explore critical resources like rare earth minerals. At the same time, the marine industry is transforming global trade through Industry 4.0 technologies such as data analytics, automation, and autonomous shipping.
These advancements are driving a new era for global commerce, where automation and autonomous shipping are poised to revolutionise how ships navigate and ports operate – marking an exciting, transformational shift in the maritime sector.