Electrification and Automation in Maritime Applications: A Survey

The study covers the current state of the art of electrification of vessels, and addresses possible research lines to overcome the current limitation in electrification using automation and artificial intelligence. Many research studies are bringing the attention toward electrification of transportation in view of its potential to reduce polluting emissions in the atmosphere. However, electrification requires energy storage that nowadays is achieved mainly using electrochemical energy, i.e. batteries. The main barriers between theory and practical usage are (i) the low energy density in electrochemical storage compared to fossil fuels and (ii) practical difficulties in charging batteries while in operation. This work also includes an extensive literature review that investigates the potential of artificial intelligence and automation in maritime applications. Finally, a case study is presented regarding a service provider in the city of Gothenburg. Interviews explain the challenges involved in transferring from ferries operated on fossil fuels to battery-operated ferries.