Shipbuilding Study Identifies New Opportunities for Smart Ships Development
On July 21, The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers released the final report of a new regional shipbuilding study, which was conducted by a team from the University of Michigan's School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
The University of Michigan's shipbuilding study concludes that the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region is uniquely positioned to become a North American leader in smart and autonomous shipping. The report highlights our region's world-class research institutions, commercial fleet, shipyards, and challenging operating environment as ideal assets for developing, testing, and commercializing next-generation maritime technologies. Rather than focusing solely on fully autonomous vessels, the study recommends accelerating practical "smart ship" technologies—including digital twins, advanced navigation and sensor systems, predictive maintenance, ice and route monitoring, and other digital tools—that can improve the safety, efficiency, and competitiveness of the existing fleet while laying the foundation for greater autonomy.
Many of the study's recommendations align closely with the Smart Ships Coalition's mission. The report calls for implementing large-scale smart vessel and maritime autonomy pilot projects on existing commercial vessels to demonstrate new technologies and validate emerging cargo routes. It also recommends
- Using the Great Lakes St. Lawrence system as a controlled test bed for autonomous, ice-capable, and zero-emission vessels;
- Establishing formal pilot programs that engage multiple regional shipyards, suppliers, and technology companies;
- Strengthening binational partnerships with commercial and defense innovation programs; and
- Building a coordinated regional cluster for autonomous vessel production.
Together, these actions would help position the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region as a global center for smart shipping innovation while creating new opportunities for regional shipbuilders, technology firms, and manufacturers.
