The Electric Autonomous Cargo Ship

In 2017 the first all-electric and autonomous container ship, the Yara Birkeland was announced. When it enters full autonomous control in 2020, it will likely be under the auspices of the just-announced world's first autonomous shipping company, .

The Yara Birkeland is being developed in a partnership between Norwegian chemical company Yara, and Norwegian maritime technology company Kongsberg. is the result of a collaboration between Kongsberg and Norway's Wilhelmsen ship management company.

Plans call for to design and build autonomous ships, along with creating their control systems and logistics services. Land-based control centers will be used to monitor (and sometimes remotely operate) the vessels, both in Norwegian waters and internationally.

"Currently, we are at the very beginning of this development, but we see and believe that there will be a significant market for these types of services in the near future," says Wilhelmsen CEO, Thomas Wilhelmsen. "At first, short sea shipping will use autonomous ships. This also implies increased competitiveness to move transport from road to sea. The gains are increased efficiency and reduction of emissions."

will be based in Lysaker, Norway, and should be fully operational by August. The following video provides some more information.

Operating this type of cargo ship completely unmanned and powered by electricity will drastically reduce the operational costs, allowing people and companies to ship goods worldwide at an even lower cost.

In the air shipping world, we already have seen Amazon experimenting with flying drones; delivering packages across short distances. How far away are we from seeing autonomous electric cargo aircraft flying the long-haul routes? I know Elon Musk is working on an electric jet and I am wondering if he will beat the giants of Airbus and Boeing to the market. Elon Musk certainly has the brains, cash and the guts to pull it off. Watch this space…(pun intended!)

Fabrizio Poli is an independent aviation consultant specialized in aircraft sales. He is also an accomplished Airline Transport Pilot having flown both private Jets and for the airlines. Fabrizio is also a bestselling author and inspirational speaker & has been featured on Russia Today (RT), TRT World, Social Media Examiner, Bloomberg, Channel 5, Chicago Tribune, Daily Telegraph, City Wealth Magazine, Billionaire.com, Wealth X, Financial Times, El Financiero and many other Media offering insight on the aviation world. Fabrizio is also regularly featured as an Aviation Analyst on Russia Today (RT) and TRT World. Fabrizio is also aviation special correspondent Most Magazine. Fabrizio is also considered one of the world's top 30 experts in using Linkedin for business. You can tune in weekly to Fabrizio's business Podcast Living Outside the Cube available both in video & audio. You can also follow Fabrizio's aviation videos on Biz Jet TV  Fabrizio's latest book "Health4Flyers", the first natural-health book for and frequent flyers is now available worldwide.

You can reach Fabrizio [email protected]