Autonomous Ships Market Report 2025

The autonomous ships market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.71 billion in 2024 to $8.17 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industry initiatives & pilot projects, early technological development, maritime safety concerns, military & research initiatives, shifts in trade and transportation.

The autonomous ships market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.75 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to public perception & acceptance, infrastructure readiness, safety improvements, global shipping industry trends, environmental sustainability demands. Major trends in the forecast period include digitalization of maritime industry, safety and efficiency improvements, regulatory framework development, environmental concerns and regulations, remote fleet management.

The rise in marine accidents due to human errors, which result in significant financial losses, is anticipated to be a key factor driving the growth of the autonomous ship market. Unmanned vessels or autonomous technologies can help mitigate accidents linked to human mistakes, thereby reducing the likelihood of onboard incidents. For example, in July 2023, a report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), a UK government agency, revealed that nearly 700 marine pilots conducted over 96,000 transfers using pilot ladders, leading to more than 400 incidents. Among these incidents, 25% were due to shackles instead of rolling hitches securing the side ropes, 23% were attributed to the poor material condition of the ladders, and 13% were caused by inadequate handhold stanchions. Consequently, the adoption of autonomous ships to minimize the rising number of accidents resulting from human error and the associated financial losses is expected to drive demand for the autonomous ships market in the coming years.

The increasing maritime emissions are likely to stimulate growth in the autonomous ships market going forward. Maritime emissions refer to air pollutants released by ships and other vessels, which can have a significant negative impact on human health and the environment. Autonomous ships are designed to be more fuel-efficient and operate more safely and effectively than traditional vessels, potentially leading to substantial reductions in maritime emissions. For instance, in July 2022, the Department for Transport, a UK ministerial agency, published a report stating that the government’s target for net zero by 2050 encompasses all UK economic sectors. In areas where complete decarbonization is not feasible, greenhouse gas (GHG) removals will help offset remaining emissions. The British Energy Security Strategy of 2022 aims to increase hydrogen production to 10GW by 2030, with at least half coming from electrolytic hydrogen. Thus, the rise in maritime emissions is expected to drive the autonomous ships market.

Major companies are implementing various strategic initiatives, such as the development of fully autonomous ships, which is expected to be a significant trend propelling the growth of the autonomous ship industry. For example, in April 2022, Rolls-Royce, a UK-based firm, partnered with Sea Machines Robotics, a US company, to launch a new line of mtu NautIQ products designed to provide advanced intelligent crew support systems for the marine sector. This product range includes mtu NautIQ CoPilot, an advanced pilot assist system that autonomously manages planned voyages, mtu NautIQ CoOperate, which facilitates off-boat remote control of onboard payloads, and mtu NautIQ CoDirect, a wireless remote helm system that allows operators to manage vessel functions from distances of up to 1,000 meters. These innovations are intended to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in maritime operations, underscoring Rolls-Royce's commitment to driving technological progress in the marine industry.

Leading companies in the autonomous ships market are actively involved in developing innovative technologies such as centralized remote operation to offer reliable services to their customers. For instance, Vard Electro AS, a Norway-based provider of marine electrical systems, launched SeaQ Remote in June 2022. This technology integrates all automation systems into a single user interface accessible from shore, enabling remote monitoring and control of propulsion, navigation, and automation systems during unmanned operations. Beyond automation and navigation, SeaQ Remote facilitates smart, data-driven capability for operational technology on the ship, allowing remote control of existing mechanical systems such as thrusters, engines, and propellers, streamlining preventive maintenance for increased safety and reduced downtime.

In July 2023, Nabtesco Corporation, a Japan-based company known for a range of engineering solutions, including the production of gearboxes, rotors, motors, and robotics, acquired Deep Sea Technologies, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition facilitates the integration of Deep Sea's advanced AI technologies, especially its software platforms such as Cassandra for monitoring vessel performance and Pythia for optimizing voyages. These tools assist shipping companies in minimizing fuel consumption and emissions, supporting global sustainability objectives. Deep Sea Technologies, Inc., based in the US, specializes in engineering and manufacturing products and equipment for subsea oil and gas field development projects.

Major companies operating in the autonomous ships market include Mitsui E&S Holdings Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, General Electric Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., ABB Ltd., BAE Systems plc, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Holding plc, L3 ASV Global Ltd., Wärtsilä Corporation, Wärtsilä Corporation Inc., Valmet Corporation, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen AS, DNV GL AS, Fugro N.V., Vigor Industrial LLC, Rh Marine Ltd., Ocean GNS, ASV Global Limited, Praxis Automation Technology B.V., Automated Ships Ltd., SELSAN A.Ş., Autonomous Knight BV, Mapsea Corp. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the autonomous ships market in 2024. Western Europe was the second largest region in the autonomous ships market share. The regions covered in the autonomous ships market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the autonomous ships market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Autonomous ships are vessels that operate and navigate without direct human control, employing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, sensors, and automated systems to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in maritime operations.

The autonomy within the market for autonomous ships encompasses full autonomy, remote operations, and partial autonomy. Partially autonomous ships denote vessels that prioritize safety and operate through artificial intelligence, mitigating the risk of ship accidents. Propulsion options include fully electric or hybrid systems. The range of fuel options encompasses carbon-neutral fuels, LNG, electricity, and heavy fuel oil/marine engine fuel. The end-users in this market consist of both commercial and defense sectors.

The autonomous ships market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides autonomous ship market statistics, including global market size, regional shares, competitors with an autonomous ship market share, detailed autonomous ship market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the autonomous ship industry. This autonomous ship market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The autonomous ship market consists of sales of autonomous container ships, maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), and crewless vessels. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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