Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market Size, Share Report, Analysis, Trends, Growth 2032

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Industry Prospective:

The global maritime autonomous surface ships market size was worth around USD 4.30 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow to around USD 9.74 billion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 9.50% between 2024 and 2032. 

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Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Overview

Vessels that navigate, operate, and maintain control on the water's surface without a crew are referred to as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). These vessels exhibit varying degrees of autonomy. With the use of cutting-edge technologies including sensors, GPS, radar, artificial intelligence, and communication systems, MASS can range in size from small unmanned boats to massive cargo ships, all while enabling smart and safe navigation. Through decreased crew requirements, cheaper operating costs, and increased safety, these ships have the potential to completely transform the marine sector. Many uses, including transportation, research, surveillance, and environmental monitoring, are driving their development. The maritime autonomous surface ships market is being driven by several factors including an increase in demand for cargo transportation, an increase in operational safety of ships, an increase in marine safety norms, demand for remote operation and many others.

Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global maritime autonomous surface ships market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 9.50% over the forecast period (2024-2032).
• In terms of revenue, the global maritime autonomous surface ships market size was valued at around USD 4.30 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 9.74 billion, by 2032.
• The growing electrification trends are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
• Based on the ship type, the commercial segment is expected to capture a significant market share over the forecast period.
• Based on the propulsion, the fully electric segment is expected to grow at a rapid rate over the forecast period.
• Based on region, Europe is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

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Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Growth Drivers

Growth in the market for maritime cargo transportation drives market growth

There is an increasing need for freight to be transported via waterways. This is because the safe and secure character of marine transportation allows for the efficient transfer of a large number of cargo to other ports. Furthermore, compared to road and air transits, cargo ships are less expensive for delivering products since they can move a larger volume of cargo farther faster. According to UNCTAD data, 998 billion tons-miles (about 1.68 billion tons) of cargo are transported annually in 177.6 million containers. Global demand for autonomous cargo ships is expected to increase as a result of recent advancements in commercial boats and major companies' creation of cargo ships outfitted with cutting-edge technology, including sophisticated sensors, navigation systems, and other components. For example, the first autonomous cargo ship is scheduled to be introduced in 2020 by Norwegian-built Yara Birkeland. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the deployment of autonomous marines, particularly in cargo ships, will increase demand for maritime freight transportation. Therefore, all of these factors contribute to the rise in demand for maritime cargo transportation.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Restraints

The risk of exploitation by hacking hinders market growth

The transportation industry places a high priority on security in this fast-paced period. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is used by the autonomous marine. The ships are experiencing major problems as a result of the improper usage of navigational data via hacking. For instance, a major multinational ship was the victim of a hack in February 2019 that left the ship stranded in hot water. Additionally, in 2017, a destroyer ship of the United States Navy collided with an oil tanker in Singapore that was reportedly the target of a cyberattack. Therefore, it is expected that this cargo ship risk will impede the expansion of the autonomous ship market.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Opportunities

An increase in marine safety norms offers a lucrative opportunity for market growth

Traveling by water is subject to several safety regulations known as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). This covers several treaties about autonomous marine safety, including those that address pollution control and response, ship system equipment, navigation communications search and rescue (NCSR), ship design, and ship construction. Furthermore, as technology advances and needs change, these standards will be continuously improved. Therefore, the market for autonomous ships has a chance to grow in the near future due to the rise in marine safety regulations.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Challenges

The complexity of networks poses a major challenge to market expansion

The autonomous marine must have a certain number of components to function properly. Each component's connectivity solution gives the system as a whole a complicated structure. These parts each have their working relationships, which can occasionally produce a lot of data. When it comes to self-governing vessels, the navigation system depends on external infrastructure like satellite or terrestrial connection. This adds to the network's complexity because the components are deployed by the requirements of the service providers. Therefore, it is projected that the network's high cost and complexity will impede market expansion.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Segmentation

The global maritime autonomous surface ships industry is segmented based on autonomy, ship type, end-use, propulsion and region.

Based on the autonomy, the global maritime autonomous surface ships market is bifurcated into Partial Autonomous, Fully Autonomous and Remote Operation.

Based on the ship type, the global maritime autonomous surface ships industry is segmented into defense and commercial. The commercial segment is expected to capture a significant market share over the forecast period. It is expected that the expansion of autonomy in the commercial segment will be driven by the development of new autonomous naval boats with technological advancements and the integration of sensor systems with commercial vessels, such as freight vehicles, passenger ferries, and other platforms. Since new technologies are adopted more slowly in the maritime sector than in other transportation systems, integrating autonomy is an expensive and time-consuming process. Consequently, commercial operators are preparing to replace traditional ships with autonomous ships in the long run, starting with remote-controlled vessels.

Based on the end-use, the global maritime autonomous surface ships market is segmented into retro fit and line fit.

Based on the propulsion, the global maritime autonomous surface ships industry is segmented into hybrid, conventional and fully electric. The fully electric segment is expected to grow at a rapid rate over the forecast period. The efficiency, reliability, and practicality of totally electric MASS are increasing because of ongoing developments in battery technology, electric propulsion systems, and energy management technologies. The market for totally electric MASS is anticipated to rise as these technologies advance and become more affordable, which will boost revenue growth for businesses engaged in their creation, production, and implementation.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Report Scope

Regional Analysis

Europe is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

Europe is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period. The industry is expanding primarily due to the growing initiatives and investments in autonomous ships from European governments and businesses. The largest European partnership with ABB, Ericsson, Cargotec (MacGregor and Kalmar), Meyer Turku, Rolls-Royce plc, Tieto, and Wärtsilä Corporation is called One Sea - Autonomous Maritime Ecosystem. To facilitate commercial autonomous maritime travel by 2025, it started in 2016. Similarly, the Ecosystem for Autonomous Ships is a research project being worked on by companies based in Finland. By 2025, this cooperative platform hopes to launch the first autonomous sea transportation system in history.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Market: Competitive Analysis

The global maritime autonomous surface ships market is dominated by players like:

• ABB LTD.
• WÄRTSILÄ
• MARINE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
• L3 ASV
• ROLLS ROYCE
• HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL
• ULSTEIN GROUP ASA
• NORTHROP GRUMMAN
• KONGSBERG GRUPPEN
• MITSUI O.S.K. LINES

The global maritime autonomous surface ships market is segmented as follows:

By Autonomy

• Partial Autonomous
• Fully Autonomous
• Remote Operation

By Ship Type

• Defense
• Commercial

By End-Use

• Retro Fit
• Line Fit

By Propulsion

• Hybrid
• Conventional
• Fully Electric

By Region

• North America

  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa