If it were a typical newbuilding, the Yara Birkeland would be christened, delivered and start work.

But the containership, a joint project between Norway's Yara International and Kongsberg, is anything but typical.

We believe that we will receive approval to sail Yara Birkeland without crew in 2022 and then have a unmanned autonomous ship in operation

Bjorn Tore Orvik

The world’s first zero emissions, fully automated cargoship is under construction now, on track for testing later this year and due to be completed in 2020 before making the transition to automation.