The company’s Blue Ocean development team has created a virtual-reality prototype that simulates 360-degree views from a vessel’s bridge. The idea is that captains on dry land will use control centres to command crewless ships.

Rolls-Royce claims drone ships would be safer, cheaper and less polluting. Significant regulatory hurdles as well as safety concerns and union opposition will have to be overcome before the concept is viable.

The FTSE 100 company also unveiled a win in a more conventional arena, with a $182.7 million contract from the US Air Force to expand support of the C-130J transport fleet.

Rolls-Royce employs over 21,300 people in the UK, with 12,000 in Derby, where many work in the Civil Aerospace and Submarines businesses.