As the world fleet continues to grow, Dor Raviv, CTO and Co-Founder of maritime technology company Orca AI, argues that AI-powered technology is key to helping shipping companies navigate increasingly complex and congested waters safely.
The recent BSU (Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation) accident investigation report detailing the allision of a multipurpose cargo ship with a wind turbine in the North Sea in April 2023 that severely damaged the ship, serves as a stark reminder of the growing navigational challenges facing vessel operators.
The report reveals that at the time of the incident, the vessel was being steered via autopilot with only a single officer on watch and no additional lookout. Moreover, critical alarm systems that could have provided timely warnings were muted or went unnoticed. This sequence of events underscores the urgent need for a new approach to watchkeeping – one that leverages digital technologies to significantly enhance situational awareness.
Changing seascape with increased risk
As offshore wind farms proliferate in coastal waters (Wind Europe expects 200 GW of capacity will be added during the period 2024-2030 in the EU alone, at an average of 29 GW annually), the risks associated with navigating near these installations are rising. Wind Europe expects 200 GW of capacity will be added during the period 2024-2030 in the EU alone, at an average of 29 GW annually.
Wind farms introduce new obstacles that require enhanced vigilance, particularly in poor visibility conditions such as night-time operations or bad weather/fog. With increasing traffic in congested waterways, reliance on traditional watchkeeping methods — with bridge crews often subject to fatigue and thus more prone to error – is, I believe, no longer sufficient.
Compounding the issue, global shipping traffic is expected to grow significantly in the coming years (anything between 20% and 250% by 2050, according to the IMO), likely further increasing congestion in busy maritime corridors.
As more vessels operate in already crowded environments, the likelihood of incidents will continue to rise unless new safety measures are adopted.
The BSU report makes it clear that a dedicated lookout, or a better alarm system, could have prevented the ship from hitting the turbine. The reality is that many vessels continue to operate without additional personnel to maintain a proper lookout, particularly outside mandatory hours. This gap in watchkeeping highlights the need for digital solutions that can supplement human oversight and provide reliable, continuous monitoring.
Help is at hand
I propose that a digital watchkeeping solution could have made a significant difference in preventing allisions similar to that described in the BSU report, as well as collisions between ships.
By integrating AI-powered navigation assistance, real-time hazard detection and automated alerts, vessels can increase the probability that potential dangers are identified in time and acted upon before an accident occurs. Key benefits of automated situational awareness include:
- Continuous monitoring: AI-driven surveillance operates 24/7, identifying targets and potential collision risks even when human sight cannot.
- Real-time alerts that demand attention.
- Automated risk assessment: The system analyses vessel trajectory, nearby obstacles and ambient conditions, alerting crew members well before a hazardous situation develops.
- Integration with bridge systems: Advanced digital solutions seamlessly integrate with existing navigational tools to augment human decision-making.
The case for industry-wide adoption
Incidents resulting from insufficient watchkeeping or ineffective alert mechanisms are still not infrequent. Given the expected rapid expansion of offshore wind capacity and growth in the global shipping fleet, shipping companies must proactively adopt technologies that enhance safety as navigation in coastal waters becomes more complex.
I believe regulatory bodies and classification societies should consider mandating the adoption of AI-powered digital watchkeeping systems as part of standard navigational protocols, particularly in high-risk zones.
Ensuring a dual-layered approach – human oversight supported by traditional navigation systems (Radar and Ecdis) and new AI monitoring systems – is crucial to reducing maritime accidents in the years to come.
The BSU report serves as a clear example of the limitation of today’s human watchkeeping procedures. By empowering crews with computer vision solutions, shipping companies can reduce risk and improve safety. The operational integration of AI and automation is not just a technological advancement, it’s one more step towards a smarter and more resilient industry.
The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
