[bragr]

Watching some mariners on youtube [1] and they take a pretty dim view on the idea of ghost ships, except in certain short haul scenarios. They cite that almost all of the maintenance takes place continuously while the ship is underway. While automation may reduce the bridge crew, until there are cheap robots that can perform all maintenance tasks - from overhauling engines, maintaining equipment, painting everything to protect from marine air, troubleshooting reefer units, to inspecting internal voids, not to mention routine tasks (docking, cargo operations), and emergency tasks (firefighting, damage control) - there's always going to be a decent number on board.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/@JeffHK

[0cf8612b2e1e]

The Ever Given that got stuck in the Suez, was carrying $750+ million worth of cargo. I do not see how a few sailors on hand does anything for the profitability of the ship. Even if they were idle 99% of the time, seems like a reasonable investment.

[s1artibartfast]

Cargo value seems irrelevant to profitability. I wonder what the actual cost and profit for a cargo ship

[0cf8612b2e1e]

Fine, but it stands for a proxy for the money involved. Nobody is going to agree to underwrite a voyage worth the better part of a billion on an automated ship. The largest container ships cost well over $100 million.

[s1artibartfast]

On that front I agree. The largest ships now push 200 million to build and cost maybe 100k a day to operate. When you're looking at operational and financing expenses of that magnitude, labor seems like a very small portion

[bjelkeman-again]

Most people seem to underestimate how corrosive ocean water and spray is to nearly everything.

[yamazakiwi]

I have chipped, primed, and painted a ship many times because of this. Fortunately it was only around the equipment I "owned" so the space was only about 10x10 ft.

The amount of rust created is INSANE

[pinko]

Just curious, in what kind of situation did you "own" (I read the quotes as implying you had responsibility for the upkeep & use of) a small well-defined piece of a larger ship?

[yamazakiwi]

In the Navy, while aboard a ship, you generally have spaces that you or your team "own" whether it's the walkways right out side your work space or aloft.

[interactivecode]

Also the number of people steering a cargo ship isn’t that much, i mean it doesn’t take hundreds of people to sail it so how much is actually gained?

[LarryMullins]

> While automation may reduce the bridge crew,

The guys who get paid the most, are also the easiest to replace with computers?

Robot ships crewed with human sailors sounds a bit dystopian.

[GauntletWizard]

The steering part has long been automated. Captains are still on board ships to make decisions and to serve a management and diplomatic role. They're there to be the line-boss of the people repairing the engines and doing maintenance. They are the human responsible for port paperwork, and are in many ways the fall guys should something happen. They can fulfil both those roles because automation and that most of the paperwork and diplomacy can be done remotely though it still needs a human present for the important bits.

The Navigator used to be a position, and sometimes still nominally is, but it's now an officer position for management reasons and not because of a high degree of specialized skill.