The word ‘Automation’ when applied to the shipping industry seems to invoke in the individual mind such matters as direct control of propulsion units, planned bridge lay-outs, cargo plan computers, engine data loggers and such other items of ships' equipment. Automation is thus limited in effect and confined entirely to the ship internally. Clearly this ensures that the ship as a unit is as economically efficient as modern techniques allow and is a reflection of the up-to-date attitude of mind of many shipowners.

On the other hand there is a very large field open to automation which concerns sea transport as a whole in respect of the actual conduct of ships at sea both individually and in relation to their effect on each other. It is in this field of sea transport operations that the author sees many longterm possibilities and this paper tries to give some lead into these, which so far seem to have received little, if any, widespread thought or discussion.