UK transport secretary Chris Grayling has pledged Britain will be at the forefront of a technological revolution in shipping.
At tonight's Smart Shipping event in London, the minister will outline his vision to make the industry faster, safer and more environmentally friendly.
The UK Ship Register added its first semi-autonomous vessel last year, but this is only the start, Grayling believes.
The transport secretary said: “Autonomous shipping is just one aspect of a maritime technology revolution which has the potential to radically transform the industry, making it safer, cleaner and faster than ever.
“As a country with a proud maritime history, the UK is absolutely determined to be at the forefront of this exciting time of change in the industry."
He added: “We are already working with the International Maritime Organization to pave the way for this new era of shipping and we want to work closely with the industry to ensure we are doing everything possible to allow this new technology to thrive.”
One potential avenue to explore is augmented reality technology to train new seafaring cadets and familiarise them with vessels before they have even left the shore.
Artificial intelligence could also be used to plot more efficient routes.
And there is talk of magnetic berthing to make the mooring process safer.
