Addressing future skills shortages in artificial intelligence, robotics and automation is essential to the future of the shipbuilding sector, according to a new report by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland 

Developed in collaboration with industry partners and Innovate UK’s Workforce Foresighting Hub, the report looks ahead to the next five years and beyond, highlighting the need to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to adapt to evolving technologies.

While automation and robotics are already being used in shipbuilding, the report predicts an increasing demand for technology in tasks such as welding, joining and inspections in confined or hazardous spaces.