MARIN sees opportunities for safe navigation with reduced crew levels on remotely controlled vessels, but stresses that a qualified person must remain on board to take over control if the data connection fails. This conclusion follows from research conducted by MARIN on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat.
The outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Robert Tieman informed Dutch Parliament of the findings in a letter dated 16 December.
The study, “Exploration of safety risks in remote controlled sailing”, examined the risks associated with remote vessel control, including scenarios involving crew reduction and support from onboard Track Pilot automation (TGAIN). Unlike earlier studies focusing on individual ships, MARIN applied a broad safety analysis to the overall concept of remote-controlled navigation, providing input for future policy development.
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Crew reduction in inland shipping
More inland vessels are being equipped for remote control, with operators investing in Remote Control Centres (RCCs) in the hope of sailing with fewer crew or increasing sailing hours. Currently, remote operation in the Netherlands is only permitted under exemptions and requires a full, fully qualified crew on board.
According to MARIN, gaining practical experience is essential when assessing the safety of remote-controlled sailing. Until now, safety assessments have largely been carried out by market parties and limited to individual vessels. This study is the first independent and fundamental analysis of the concept as a whole.
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Key assumptions
MARIN based its research on several assumptions. A responsible skipper must always be on board while crew are present and must be able to quickly take control if needed.
Technical requirements for the wheelhouse should, as far as possible, also apply to the RCC, which must be equipped with high-quality navigation components. Both the onboard skipper and the remote operator must meet the qualification requirements set out in the European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels (ES-TRIN).
Safety first
MARIN emphasises that vessels must not become uncontrollable if the data link fails. Until technology can ensure safe autonomous behaviour in such cases, a sufficiently qualified person must remain in the wheelhouse. The report recommends defining clear training requirements for this role.
The RCC should be at least “functionally equivalent” to the wheelhouse, enabling all navigation-related tasks to be carried out remotely. Other risks — such as inadequate monitoring of weather, traffic, obstacles or critical systems, poor voyage planning, or unclear handover procedures — must also be mitigated.
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Policy implications
The study underlines that smart shipping must enhance, not compromise, safety. Its conclusions will inform future policy and the assessment of exemptions. MARIN’s recommendations on technical standards for RCCs will be adopted, and the Ministry is exploring under what conditions crew composition requirements could be adjusted. The findings will also be discussed at international level, including within the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine.
