Naval Historical Society of Australia in association with Chatswood RSL
First prize $1,000
Second prize $250
Unmanned vessels are an attractive option to fleet managers as a developing technology which potentially dramatically reduces manpower and associated costs. Autonomous ships meaning those with a high level of automation and self-governance in their operation obviating the need for direct human intervention, are now being tried and tested, in commercial and military applications.
Autonomous ships may well herald the next maritime revolution with as great an impact as the move to containerisation of cargoes. Naval applications are evident in the fields of surveillance, hydrographic surveys and mine countermeasures, with the potential for a growing number of further initiatives.
Entry is open to all interested persons. You don’t have to be a member of the Naval Historical Society. You are invited to submit an essay on this topic outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the introduction of autonomous ships into the naval inventory.
Essays should be limited to 3,000 words and be accompanied by illustrations which demonstrate a thorough understanding of this topic. A prize of $1,000 is offered to the winning essay and $250 to the runner-up. Winning essays will be published in the Society’s magazine and website, with the Society retaining publication rights.
The closing date for submissions has been extended to 31 March 2019. Submissions should include the author’s name, address, telephone and email contacts.
Prize winners will be announced in June 2019 in Society publications, website and FaceBook.