The main theme of the symposium was the technological and legal conditions enabling the construction and operation of autonomous and unmanned ships.

The subject matter of the symposium covered the legal issues concerning the construction and operation of autonomous and unmanned ships, the challenges related to development and testing of the autonomous ship technology as well as ship safety and security. The plenary sessions were also devoted to the human factor and the potential economic benefits.

The participants of the symposium included ship designers and owners, representatives of classification societies, equipment manufacturers and representatives of research units of the maritime sector from all over the world. The Maritime University of Szczecin was represented by an employee of the Faculty of Navigation, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, DSc. Eng., Professor of MUS, whose presentation entitled “Decision making in autonomous shipping - challenges” was accepted and published on the symposium website.

The symposium was held simultaneously with the international exhibition and conference concerning boat and ship maintenance, repair and service technologies as well as the international exhibition of electrical and hybrid technologies and components of ship propulsion systems.

The symposium provided an opportunity for exchange of views, research results and experience in order to make the vision of autonomous and unmanned ships the reality.