Autonomous passenger ferry concepts are already in operation and are expected to become an everyday reality. Ensuring a similar or improved level of operation and safety compared to traditional ferries, is key to broader acceptance and adoption of this concept.
– Human Factors is all about examining and designing technology, workspaces, and processes with people in mind. It’s about supporting us in everyday life by aligning design with how we think, feel, behave, and operate, while respecting our abilities and limitations, explains Nicole Costa, project leader at RISE.
– The goal is to ensure things work intuitively and safely. In my work, that means understanding people and organizations. How they adopt and integrate new technologies and processes and identifying their needs and requirements to inform designs that are not only smart, but also human-centered and socially sustainable.
Emergency preparedness
The EMERGE project, coordinated by RISE and financed by Trafikverket, in collaboration with Norwegian operator Torghatten AB, aims to use a Human Factors and Human-centered approach to investigate and improve emergency preparedness on autonomous passenger ferries and in remote operation centers.
Autonomous ferries are vessels that navigate and operate with minimal or no human intervention, using advanced sensors, GPS, and AI-based control systems. It is envisioned that such vessels will be monitored by a land-based operator in a remote operations center.
A real-world example is MF Estelle, launched in Stockholm in 2023 by Norwegian company Zeabuz in collaboration with Torghatten. It is the world’s first autonomous electric passenger ferry. Initially operated with onboard staff, it is expected to transition to fully unmanned operations, with remote supervision from land.
– We need to reframe man overboard and passenger evacuation procedures and prepare for potential loss of connection between the ferry and the shore-based control center, says Nicole.
The EMERGE project
EMERGE stands for Emergency preparedness on autonomous passenger ferries and remote operation centers (project page). Three main perspectives are in focus:
• the remote operations center (ROC) perspective
• the onboard perspective (crew and passengers)
• the rescue network perspective
– Each of these perspectives presents unique challenges. For ROCs, the lack of direct sensory input and physical presence complicates situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies. Onboard, the reduction or complete absence of crew means passengers may need to take on unfamiliar roles in critical situations.
From the rescue network’s point of view, coordination with autonomous systems and remote operators introduces new communication and procedural complexities.
Using user-centered design (UCD) methodology, the project explores requirements and possible solutions related to information sharing, usability, and user experience, as well as procedures and training for emergency situations.
– The goal is to map current emergency procedures, identify safety challenges, and adapt protocols for autonomous ferries and interactions between the MASS/ROC system.
The project aims to contribute recommendations for specific training, the design of onboard and ROC systems, and rescue organization protocols, as well as to develop and test prototypes for safety solutions. The results aim to improve safety and guide future research.
Man overboard scenarios
The AHFE (Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics) Conference paper presented by RISE in 2025 in Orlando, Florida — Reframing Procedures and Teamwork for Man Overboard (MOB) Scenarios on Small MASS Passenger Ferries (open-access link) — highlights how traditional MOB procedures must be adapted for autonomous contexts. It emphasizes the importance of clear role distribution, remote support strategies, and the integration of rescue services into autonomous ferry operations.
– These insights are directly feeding into EMERGE’s development of new procedures, training, and design concepts, says Nicole Costa.