Rolls-Royce Rolls to Develop Drone Cargo Ships

The Heat

British-based engine giant Rolls Royce is working to develop drone cargo ships. Imagine large container vessels sailing through the sea without a single crew member on board. These ships would be equipped with cameras to transmit 360-degree views from the vessels back to dry land where teams of operators steer them to their destinations.

Meanwhile, the European Union is funding a 4.8 million dollar study of unmanned vessels. And the U.S. Navy has just announced launch of its first destroyer that has a mind of its own. The new USS Zumwalt was designed to prepare itself for battle and lock onto targets all by itself.  It will require a crew, but only about half the hands of other ships its size.  What is the future for drone ships? And how would they impact the world’s 375 billion-dollar shipping industry—one that currently delivers 90 percent of world trade? CCTV’s Anand Naidoo interviews John Murray, Marine Director at the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents about 80% of the world’s merchant tonnage to find out more.