The world's first autonomous ship project has been put on ice due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The hull of the 3,200-dwt, 120-teu coastal vessel Yara Birkeland was launched at the Vard shipyard in Romania in February.

The vessel was due to arrive at a Norwegian Vard plant this month for fitting of various control and navigation systems, as well as to undergo testing before delivery to owner Yara International.