Press release
Autonomous Ships Market to Reach USD 10.8 Billion by 2035, Driven by AI Navigation and Hybrid Defense-Commercial Use Cases

Autonomous Ships Market to Reach USD 10.8 Billion by 2035, Driven by AI Navigation and Hybrid Defense-Commercial Use Cases
This steady growth is propelled by rapid adoption of AI-driven navigation and collision-avoidance systems, rising demand for fuel-efficient and low-emission vessel designs, and growing defense and commercial interest in unmanned and remotely operated surface vessels.
MarketGenics positions autonomous ships as a strategic convergence of maritime automation, advanced sensor systems, and remote operations - a technology stack that improves safety, reduces crewing costs, and opens new mission profiles across defense, logistics, and specialized commercial shipping.
Get the Detailed Industry Analysis (including the Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables) - from the Autonomous Ships Market Research Report: https://marketgenics.co/press-releases/autonomous-ships-market-71108
Recent Developments Shaping the Market
AI Navigation Suite - Wärtsilä (June 2024)
In June 2024, Wärtsilä introduced an AI-powered autonomous navigation suite designed to improve safety and operational efficiency, accelerating maritime adoption of advanced situational awareness and route optimization technologies.
Autonomous LNG Carrier Partnership - Samsung Heavy & Kongsberg (March 2024)
In March 2024, Samsung Heavy Industries partnered with Kongsberg to develop a next-generation autonomous LNG carrier integrating remote-control capabilities and low-emission technologies - a milestone blending autonomy with sustainability for long-haul shipping.
Autonomous Vessel Portfolio Expansion - L3Harris (April 2023)
In April 2023, L3Harris expanded its maritime autonomy capabilities by integrating Seagrant Robotics, enhancing offerings for unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and remote operation systems across defense and civilian use cases.
Defense & High-scale Private Investment
Private funding and defense requirements are accelerating development. Large capital rounds and strategic shipyard investments for production-scale autonomous surface vessels underscore investor confidence in ASV (Autonomous Surface Vessel) commercialization potential.
Autonomous Ships Market Forecast 2035
The market is set to create an incremental opportunity of USD 6.3 billion between 2025 and 2035.
Asia-Pacific will be the most attractive region, led by advanced shipbuilding capacity, concentrated maritime trade flows, and coordinated public-private innovation programs.
Europe will show steady growth driven by shipyards and automation integrators focused on coastal and feeder vessel autonomy.
North America will expand through defense contracts and commercial ASV pilots for offshore services and surveillance.
By 2035, autonomy will be embedded across vessel classes - from partially autonomous coastal and service ships to remotely operated USVs for defense and inspection - shifting maritime operations toward safer, more fuel-efficient, and digitally managed fleets.
To know more about the Autonomous Ships Market - Download our Sample Report: https://marketgenics.co/download-report-sample/autonomous-ships-market-71108
Key Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities
Driver - Defense Sector Adoption and Mission Needs
Defense programs seeking safer, persistent, and lower-risk platforms for patrol, mine-hunting, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) are a major market pull. Autonomous systems enable missions that are too hazardous or monotonous for crewed vessels, accelerating development and procurement cycles.
Driver - Environmental & Efficiency Imperatives
Stricter environmental regulations and the push for fuel efficiency make autonomous and hybrid propulsion vessels attractive. Autonomous operation combined with optimized routing and fuel-efficient designs reduces emissions and operational costs.
Restraint - Regulatory Uncertainty and Liability Frameworks
Lack of harmonized international regulations, unresolved liability in incident scenarios, and variable flag-state approaches create deployment friction. Until international legal frameworks and standards mature, commercial scale-up faces non-technical bottlenecks.
Opportunity - AI, Sensors & Systems Integration
Integration of advanced AI, 3D vision, LIDAR/RADAR sensor fusion, satellite comms, and maritime cybersecurity creates high-value ecosystems. Vendors that deliver certified, interoperable systems and end-to-end integration will capture significant share as operators seek turnkey autonomy packages.
Key Trend - Collaborative Pilots and Public-Private Partnerships
The industry is moving through collaborative pilots and cross-sector alliances that pair shipbuilders with autonomy integrators and governments. These pilots validate technology, build regulatory evidence, and de-risk commercial rollouts - a necessary path from trials to operational adoption for both defense and commercial fleets.
Segmental Insights
Level of Autonomy - Partially Autonomous Dominates (~83% share)
Partially autonomous vessels - those that automate navigation, collision avoidance, and route optimization while retaining human oversight for complex decisions - hold ~83% of the market in 2025. This hybrid approach balances operational gains with regulatory and safety comfort, making it the practical near-term adoption path.
Solutions - Systems Lead
Systems (sensors, navigation modules, propulsion control, situational awareness suites) are the dominant solution category as shipowners invest in hardware and software stacks that enable autonomy. These systems form the backbone for further integration into remotely operated and fully autonomous vessels.
Buy Now: https://marketgenics.co/buy/autonomous-ships-market-71108
Regional Highlights
Asia-Pacific: Market leader, driven by shipbuilding scale, increasing cargo volumes, and technology partnerships that accelerate ASV deployment.
Europe: Focused adoption in feeder routes, coastal services, and technology integration centric to established shipyards.
North America: Defense procurement and ASV innovation drive demand for advanced autonomy and production capacity.
Competitive Landscape
The autonomous ships market is moderately consolidated, with the top five players accounting for over 63% of market share in 2025. Competition centers on system integration, sensor fusion, secure communications, and the ability to certify solutions for regulated maritime operation.
Tier-1 players (examples cited in report):
ABB Ltd.
Wärtsilä Corporation
Rolls-Royce plc (systems & integration)
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
L3 (L3Harris)
Tier-2 / specialists: Shipyards, autonomy software houses, sensor and satellite communications firms, and naval contractors building specialized USVs and retrofit solutions.
Future Outlook
By 2035, the autonomous ships market will have matured into a stratified ecosystem where:
Partially autonomous systems dominate commercial routes and service vessels as the pragmatic standard.
Remotely operated and fully autonomous platforms scale in defense, offshore services, and constrained coastal corridors where regulatory frameworks and operating models permit.
Systems providers that bundle certified sensors, AI navigation, satellite connectivity, and hardened cybersecurity will capture the high-margin install and retrofit market.
Standardization and legal clarity will be the final accelerant - harmonized rules and liability models will transform pilots into repeatable commercial programs.
Autonomy will reduce operational risk, lower crewing costs, and improve fuel efficiency - reshaping ship design, port operations, and maritime labor models across the next decade.
Get a preview of our Autonomous Ships Market Playbook - your guide to GTM strategy, competitive intelligence, supplier dynamics, and Consumer Behavior Analysis: https://marketgenics.co/playbook/autonomous-ships-market-71108
Prominent Companies Operating in the Global Autonomous Ships Market:
ABB Ltd., Wärtsilä Corporation, Rolls-Royce plc, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3 (L3Harris), Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Samsung Heavy Industries, Thales, Rolls-Royce collaborators and other key system integrators and shipbuilders.
About Us
MarketGenics is a global market research and management consulting company empowering decision makers across healthcare, technology, and policy domains. Our mission is to deliver granular market intelligence combined with strategic foresight to accelerate sustainable growth.
We support clients across strategy development, product innovation, healthcare infrastructure, and digital transformation.
Contact:
Mr. Debashish Roy
MarketGenics India Pvt. Ltd.
800 N King Street, Suite 304 #4208, Wilmington, DE 19801, United States
USA: +1 (302) 303-2617
Email: sales@marketgenics.co
Website: https://marketgenics.co
This release was published on openPR.
Permanent link to this press release:
Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
You can edit or delete your press release Autonomous Ships Market to Reach USD 10.8 Billion by 2035, Driven by AI Navigation and Hybrid Defense-Commercial Use Cases here
News-ID: 4205557 • Views: …
More Releases from MarketGenics India Pvt. Ltd.
ECMO Machine Market to Reach USD 0.7 Billion by 2035, Asia Pacific Leads with 51 …
According to the report, the global ECMO Machine Market is anticipated to grow from USD 0.4 Billion in 2025 to USD 0.7 Billion in 2035 at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast. The ECMO machine market is growing rapidly, driven by enhanced awareness and use of the devices globally, especially during the pandemic and preceding COVID-19 effects, and demonstrated applications in cardiac and respiratory failure. Growth in the…
AI in Telehealth & Telemedicine Market to Reach USD 59.1 Bn by 2035, Growing at …
According to the report, the AI in telehealth & telemedicine market is anticipated to grow from USD 3.9 Billion in 2025 to USD 59.1 Billion in 2035 at a CAGR of 31.2% during the forecast. The AI in telehealth and telemedicine market is developing quickly given the growing need for remote care, the proliferation of remote chronic disease management, and technology-assisted care journeys for digitally native patients. With intelligent diagnostic…
Near-infrared Spectroscopy Market to Reach ~USD 1.3 Billion by 2035 as AI Miniat …
Near-infrared Spectroscopy Market to Reach ~USD 1.3 Billion by 2035 as AI Miniaturization Expands Real-Time Quality Control
The near-infrared spectroscopy market is undergoing a shift in both purpose and scale as the technology moves from lab-centric use cases into real-time, field-based applications. The market is valued at approximately USD 0.7 billion in 2025 and is expected to approach nearly USD 1.3 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.6%. The…
Animal Genetics Market to Reach USD 6.2 Billion by 2035, Europe Leads with 53% S …
According to the report, the animal genetics market is anticipated to grow from USD 3.4 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.2 Billion in 2035 at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast. The fishing gear market is changing rapidly, fueled by a surge in recreational fishing, increasing interest in outdoor wellness and eco-friendly purchasing behaviors. With innovative new gear in terms of functionality and design emerging such as modular, tech-enabled,…
More Releases for Autonomous
Autonomous a2z Surpasses 310,000 Miles in Urban Autonomous Driving
Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/a6d18c1130baedcbc75eef61f83ee2be.jpg
In Seoul, South Korea, Autonomous a2z, a company globally recognized in the autonomous driving sector, announced on August 16 that it had achieved a significant milestone: a cumulative urban autonomous driving distance of over 310,000 miles. This achievement marks the longest recorded distance for urban autonomous driving in South Korea, reaching the milestone just seven months after surpassing 250,000 miles in January.
This entire record was achieved on urban roads,…
The Road Ahead : Navigating the Semi-Autonomous & Autonomous Bus Market
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Semi-Autonomous & Autonomous Bus Market," The semi-autonomous & autonomous bus market is expected to be valued at $791.2 million in 2025, and is estimated to reach $2,904.1 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 14.6% from 2026 to 2035.
Europe region is expected to dominate the semi-autonomous & autonomous bus market in terms of revenue, followed by North America,…
Semi-Autonomous & Autonomous Truck Market Next Big Thing | Prominent Companies
Semi-autonomous and autonomous trucks control all the safety functions on their own as they sense the driving conditions of the surrounding. Semi-autonomous trucks are operated in longer distance with less human effort. Semi-autonomous trucks help the driver to regain controls by providing sufficient transition time. In addition, trucks can help reduce traffic congestion, leading to efficient delivery of goods and services. Furthermore, autonomous driving technology helps to reduce errors made…
Autonomous Tractor Market Growth by 2027| AGCO, Autonomous Solutions, Autonomous …
The "Global Autonomous Tractor Market Analysis to 2027" is a specialized and in-depth study of Automotive and Transportation industry with a special focus on the global Autonomous Tractor Market trend analysis. The report aims to provide an overview of the Autonomous Tractor Market with detailed market segmentation by components and by application. The global autonomous tractor market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides…
Autonomous Tractor Market Growth by 2027| AGCO, Autonomous Solutions, Autonomous …
The "Global Autonomous Tractor Market Analysis to 2027" is a specialized and in-depth study of Automotive and Transportation industry with a special focus on the global Autonomous Tractor Market trend analysis. The report aims to provide an overview of the Autonomous Tractor Market with detailed market segmentation by components and by application. The global autonomous tractor market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides…
Autonomous Tractors Market Key Players| AGCO Corporation, Autonomous Solutions, …
A Comprehensive research study conducted by KD Market Insights on " Autonomous Tractors Market - by Component (Sensor, GPS, Vision System, and Others) and Application (Tillage, Harvesting, Irrigation, Seed Sowing, Spraying, and Fertilizing) - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025 " report offers extensive and highly detailed historical, current and future market trends in the global and regional/market. The Autonomous Tractors Market report includes market size, growth drivers, barriers, opportunities, trends and other information which…