No-one in control: unmanned control rooms for unmanned ships?

Abstract

This concept paper will discuss interaction between humans and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). MASS are highly automated, partly manned, or unmanned, ships. Human shortcomings will pose challenges for the design of the Remote Operation Centres monitoring MASS. These problems are related to automation complexity and automation surprise, human out-of-the-loop syndrome, Black Swan effects and human-automation teaming. In case of total loss of communication, the MASS need to cope without human supervision. In the meantime, the operator in the control centre must be kept in the loop by a digital twin sustaining a simulated reality.