Over the last 30 years, improved road infrastructure has led to a shift from short-sea shipping to economically more convenient, albeit less environmentally friendly, truck transport. This trend may now be reversed as road congestion increases and greener solutions emerge.
With the use of autonomous controls and a generally higher degree of automation, it is possible to make waterborne logistics competitive to those on land, potentially revitalizing short-sea shipping. This is the area where Norwegian company Massterly can make a difference, as it aims to promote a shift in transport from road to sea through cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly logistics.
Blazing the trail
Established in 2018 as the world’s first ship management company tailored for the operation of remote-controlled and autonomous vessels, Massterly was set up to lead the future of maritime transport by integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative operations.
Tom Eystø, Massterly’s Managing Director, reflects that the decision to venture into these unchartered waters was a bold step. “Massterly’s inception can be traced back to 2016 when the discussion around automation and autonomy in shipping became a strategic focus.”
“To transition from a conceptual project to an operational reality, it was crucial to establish an entity that could manage and operate autonomous ships. Kongsberg and Wilhelmsen saw an opportunity to form Massterly, making it the first company dedicated to operating autonomous vessels – a company that would offer a complete value chain for autonomous vessels, from design and development through to control systems, logistics services and vessel operations.”
Eystø, who has been with Massterly since its beginnings, was involved in the decision process leading to Kongsberg deciding to start developing technology for low- and unmanned vessels and has since been part of the process. Following his 5-year engagement in the Royal Norwegian Navy, he spent most of his career in Kongsberg Maritime where his tenure included managerial roles in the project execution department, customer support in Singapore and product development, as well as serving as a Vice President of Bridge Systems.
“From the beginning, one of the key challenges was transitioning from a project-based approach to a fully operational model,” he says, pointing out that no existing company was willing to take the risk associated with pioneering autonomous shipping. Massterly, therefore, positioned itself as a ship operator for autonomous vessels, providing a bridge between technological development and real-world applications on the one hand, and operational logistics on the other.
Pioneering projects
“The plan was to have land-based control centres monitor and operate autonomous ships globally, tapping Kongsberg’s tech solutions and Wilhelmsen’s logistics and ship management operations. It is important to point out that Massterly is not a technology provider – we are utilising new technology to build a new way of operating highly advanced vessels from shore. By leveraging our two owners’ strong organizations we offer the skills, resources and experience needed to provide a full-service offering.”
One of the early projects that helped define the company’s direction was Yara Birkeland, a collaborative project between several actors, and the world’s first fully electric, autonomous, and zero-emission container ship, began operations in 2022.
“As that project developed, we saw how the new technology could enable a new kind of ship management, combining the role of a ship manager with a remote control centre, and with crew competence shifting from onboard to shore,” reflects Eystø, saying that in 2024, Massterly opened its remote control centre in Horten, Norway, a significant milestone on the company’s journey from the testing phase to full operational capability.
Massterly currently manages and operates three future autonomous and unmanned vessels (currently low-manned), for two different owners in Norway. In addition to Yara, there are the Marit and the Terese owned by the grocery distributor ASKO, serving as a logistic ferry service for trucks between three ports in the Oslo fjord.
With Reach Remote into uncharted waters
To present a fully autonomous vessel was the next milestone. Massterly is now in the final stages of testing its Reach Remote vessel designed to operate without a crew from the outset. The project, aimed to develop future-proof, sustainable solutions for subsea services, is carried out by Reach Subsea in cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly.
“The testing of Reach Remote has been conducted in phases, with significant milestones such as the installation of an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and TMS (Tether Management System),” says Eystø, explaining that the 24m long unmanned surface vessel is equipped with technology for seabed mapping, inspection and light maintenance tasks offshore. Reach Remote will cut emissions by 90%, simply by reducing the size of the vessel needed for these tasks.
Last year, Reach Remote was named Ship of the Year at the 2024 Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology trade fair in Hamburg. Still, the way forward is not without hurdles. “One of the biggest challenges facing the autonomous shipping industry is the lack of prescriptive regulations,” says Eystø. “Traditional maritime laws were not designed for unmanned vessels, creating uncertainty in certification and operational approvals.”
“Despite having built and tested five vessels, regulatory authorities are struggling to define approval processes. We are actually ahead of the regulations and are working closely with the maritime authorities to prove safety and compliance through extensive documentation and testing.”
Synergy of humans and technology
A common concern in the shift toward autonomous shipping is the impact on maritime employment, however, Eystø affirms that the recruitment process has been smoother than expected, partly due to changing career expectations in the maritime industry.
“Many professionals now seek shore-based opportunities after a decade or two at sea. Massterly provides such opportunities. Autonomous vessels are equipped with sophisticated sensors, cameras, and AI-driven algorithms for navigation and collision avoidance. These technologies enhance decision-making and operational control, reducing the risk of human error.”
“However, I believe that for some functions, humans can never be replaced; there are many tasks onboard that cannot or should not be automated. I believe the future lies in a hybrid model, where humans and technology work in synergy.”
Looking back at what Massterly has achieved, Eystø says: “We were lucky get involved in a full-scale project on a commercial basis. Now, the task ahead of us is to get a proof of concept, and to utilise our experience and the documentation to move the market to solutions based on prescriptive rules.”
As regulatory frameworks mature, he expects a wider adoption of autonomous solutions. By integrating automation and human expertise, the shipping industry can achieve greater safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Massterly’s work is at the forefront of this transformation, proving that autonomous solutions are not just theoretical concepts but are also viable commercial propositions.
