As ship designs grow more complex and dry dock schedules tighten, the physical work of docking and handling vessels is becoming one of the most consequential — and least discussed — frontiers for automation. This panel examines the mechanical systems, control systems, and real-time data driving a new discipline: autonomy in dry docking.
Panelists will share field-tested approaches to automating docking evolutions, managing dry dock loads, and integrating naval architecture with intelligent control systems. They will also discuss how these capabilities can scale across shipyards of every size to meet the readiness demands of the future U.S. fleet.
Attendees will learn:
- What autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies are already deployed in docking and vessel-handling operations today
- How mechanical systems, control systems, and real-time data are improving precision, repeatability, and safety in docking evolutions
- What barriers exist to adopting these systems across small, mid-sized, and large shipyards — and how they’re being addressed
- How autonomy in dry docking supports fleet readiness and aligns with defense priorities
- Where this technology is headed over the next 5–10 years
