To test autonomous vessels, the German government is currently searching for suitable waterway networks. (picture alliance/Daniel Reinhardt/dpa)
The German government wants to find suitable test sites for autonomous robotic ships and remote-controlled systems with an aim to promote growth in the technology.
After initial discussions within the business sector, several sites across Germany are being considered for testing, said Bundestag parliamentary member Bernd Reuther from the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) to dpa.
Sites that are considered suitable are urban areas with waterway networks such as Berlin, the lower reaches Elbe river and large-scale ports, however, when asked, Reuther declined to give a definite answer on the location of the test sites.
Before the testing of autonomous ships can get underway the rules of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) must be adjusted.
The development of autonomous robotic ships has been researched for some time in Germany and abroad. One country leading the way has been Norway where there are already prototype vessels and three testing sites.
But the projects are still in their infancy - even by 2020, there may not be a fully autonomous vessel on the market. But the German government expects significant progress to come soon in the sector.
The German Federal Transport Ministry said in a comment, "Highly automated, remote-controlled or even fully autonomous vessels and systems will have far-reaching effects on the entire maritime sector."
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