AI brings innovation to shipping: Human factor central

A workshop on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in navigation took place during Digital Weeks in Leer on September 24, 2024. Titled "Artificial intelligence for navigation and route planning in shipping - the human factor," experts explored the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, with a special focus on human-machine interaction.

The workshop, organized as part of the INTERREG project Ferry Go!, highlighted the opportunities offered by AI to make shipping processes more efficient and safer. AI technology, already successfully deployed in autonomous vehicles on land, also offers promising applications for shipping. In addition, the workshop discussed the problem of "alarm fatigue." This arises because captains today face an overwhelming 175% increase in alarms in recent years, reducing the effectiveness of alarms. AI can manage and filter this flow of information so that only the most crucial alerts are transmitted.

While AI offers tremendous opportunities, the speakers also stressed the need for intensive training for the crew. AI is not a replacement for humans, but an assistive technology that helps with complex processes. This means that staff must learn new skills to work optimally with autonomous systems. In addition, it is important that passengers also be informed about the benefits of these innovative technologies.

"Participants in the discussion agreed that sailing without crew is still very far away and may never be an option. But they also noted that the maritime industry cannot ignore the development of AI. By deploying it as a tool to make sailing safer, more efficient and sustainable, people are getting used to the idea of the machine doing the thinking for them. So who knows where we will be in 20 years with autonomous boating." said Marianne Jager of EDIH NN.

Practical examples were also presented during the workshop, such as autonomous test boats for waste collection and passenger transport, and the use of AI for waterway maintenance. These applications are not only promising for shipping in the Wadden Sea, but can be used worldwide in the future.

The Ferry Go! project continues to focus on testing and developing (semi-)autonomous ferries in the German-Dutch Wadden Sea. This project, made possible in part by the Interreg VI A program Germany-Netherlands, will contribute to the sustainability and safety of shipping in this unique area in the coming years. The cooperation partner in organizing the event was the initiative EDIH NN (European Digital Innovation Hub North Netherlands).EDIH NN works on the development of autonomous systems in the manufacturing industry in the north of the Netherlands.

Photography: Jürgen Bambrowicz