In September, Rolls-Royce revealed its plans to create a 197-foot-long autonomous vessel by 2020. In the meantime, Automated Ships has signed an agreement with Kongsberg Maritime of Norway to construct the first small automated ship for delivery by 2018. And there is more to come in the new era of autonomous shipping.

However, development from automatic to autonomous vessels will have ramifications for a topic that is often overlooked: seafarers’ mental health.