Abstract
The economic performance of autonomous ships is considered to be one of the key determinants for larger-scale commercial uptake. It is therefore not surprising that a growing number of researchers and industry-driven initiatives aim to provide investment and cost estimates. However, the extent to which these assessments are comparable, transparent and methodologically sound remains unclear. Based on a structured review of 23 studies, this paper systematically examines and synthesizes the existing body of economic analyses on autonomous cargo ships. The study identifies the markets, operational contexts, methodological approaches and key assumptions that affect cost estimates. The findings reveal a highly heterogeneous research field in which scenarios and autonomy concepts, methodological approaches and reported results vary considerably. Empirical cost data and original cost estimates remain scarce, leading some studies to rely significantly on secondary sources, which are sometimes adopted without critical evaluation. As a result, misunderstandings or optimistic biases risk being propagated through the literature. Furthermore, a lack of transparent assumptions or ambiguous documentation makes it difficult to understand, assess and reproduce individual results. Taken together, these issues ultimately limit the practical value of scientific economic assessments of autonomous cargo ships. To address this issue, the paper proposes transparency guidelines that researchers and reviewers can use to ensure assumptions and decisions are disclosed in a manner that allows for systematic interpretation and comparison across economic assessments. In this way, the framework contributes to more robust knowledge development and better-informed decision-making regarding the economics of autonomous shipping.