The Maritime Industry acts as the backbone of the global economy by offering the facility for around 90% of cross-border trade. Technological advancement has changed the outlook and work of every industry. Like other industries, technological innovations have also changed the Marine Industry significantly. The technological up-gradation in navigation devices for ships, vessel automation, and service containers has altered the way ships used to operate and bring a revolution in this Industry.

Technological advances in navigation devices for ships aim to ensure better navigation for ships in the way that they 1) minimize the risk of unfavorable incidents, 2) provide greater efficiency in navigating vessels, and, 3) result in lower emissions. The navigation system of a ship is regarded as its’ backbone as it dictates the accurate position of the vessel, guides vessel traffic to select the best course, and prompts about waterway hazards to ensure the safety and security of the ship. 

There are many innovations in this field that has revolutionized navigation devices. The automated celestial navigation system has been introduced in recent years to aid the people who monitor the ship on the bridge with better navigation and position. With the help of computer technology embedded in this system, one can continuously locate the exact position of the ship whether it is day or night time. Such systems eliminate the risk of human error as well as GPS spoofing. You must be wondering how GPS spoofing can hurt a ship. Well, by jamming and spoofing GPS, the wrong location of the ship can disrupt its’ entire course and can also be hijacked without alarming the bridge watchers and authorities. The latest technological development in navigation devices has come up with the concept of Resilient PNT to deal with this issue of GPS jamming and spoofing. This technology not only detects the signs of spoofing or jamming on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) but also alerts the vessel and shares alternative navigation sources with them for smooth operations. The improved navigation devices also allow ships to share the navigation data digitally. But this also comes with the possibility of cybercrime risk and it is thanks to technology that this is now much more safe. The Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) improves the security and safety of digitally transmitted data and thus, significantly reduces the risk of cybercrime. 

One other revolutionary innovation is the development of vessel automation systems which help in minimizing accidents, ensures efficient operations, and results in fuel savings. It also helps the maritime industry by reducing the staff requirements, stabilizing maintenance costs, improving asset management, and lowering the risk of unfortunate incidents especially due to human error.  The automation system ensures that ship machinery and auxiliary parts are working perfectly. Efforts are being made to employ 5G technology, artificial intelligence, and infrared cameras to locate other vessels and obstacles along with situational awareness so that unmanned ships can also operate efficiently. Similarly, hybrid technology, automation, and battery-powered ships are being made for service containers to save fuel and improve the efficiency of such vessels.

Thus, technology is certainly being used to improve the operations of the Maritime Industry and enhancing its’ efficiency.

At Royal Van der Leun, we strive toward utilizing technological advancements to enable us to provide the best products and services out there to our clients. Get in touch with us to find out more.