Maritime Optimisation & Communications editor Martyn Wingrove reviews the highlights and the technology trends impacting the maritime world in 2023
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has transformed maritime satellite communications in 2023. When the Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation was commissioned, no one could forecast its rapid implementation in shipping for crew welfare and connectivity. In 2023, Starlink was the key trend in communications and a major transformer for life at sea.
But shipping is also being transformed by another major trend – global decarbonisation. The maritime industry is under pressure to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for IMO’s Carbon Intensity Index (CII), coming into force in January 2024.
Data is key to CII compliance. Owners need to record their carbon intensity for the index and be willing to implement optimisation solutions to improve their ratings.
Long-term solutions involve building new ships powered by low or zero-carbon fuels, but in the short term, digitalisation and voyage optimisation are key to improving a ship’s CII and cutting fuel consumption, operating costs and emissions.
New LEO constellations take on established GEO
LEO satellite communications have taken the maritime sector to new heights in terms of providing connectivity and welfare support to seafarers. SpaceX’s Starlink is leading the field and service distributors have added this to their portfolios.
Another LEO constellation, Eutelsat OneWeb, is also making waves in the communications industry, albeit at a slower pace.
Their growing popularity stems from easy hardware installation and commissioning services as add-ons to existing satellite communications on ships. But they do owe thanks to the first LEO solution, Iridium, which celebrating providing crucial reliable connectivity over L-band for 25 years in 2023.
There are gaps in Starlink and OneWeb services due to regulatory and construction reasons, which is why ships need to keep reliable geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite communications and there is still demand for very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity, using Ku-band and Ka-band, and highly reliable L-band from Inmarsat and Thuraya.
Distributors of Inmarsat Fleet Express, which combines Ka-band from Global Xpress constellations and L-band services, are reporting growth in vessel installations, as are providers of VSAT and Iridium Certus. But Starlink is reporting accelerated growth in users and more shipowners see this LEO service as a primary solution and perhaps stand-alone, leaving the rest behind or keeping them for regulatory reasons.
In the offshore and passenger shipping sectors, there is still high demand for integrated solutions, with Ponant the first to install a triple LEO service on one of its exploratory cruise ships as an example for the future, while many cruise ships have dual-band or triple-band antennas to service VSAT and medium Earth orbiting satellites, such as SES O3b, while offshore support vessels were the first to test OneWeb. All offshore vessels and passenger ships also require L-band as back-up.
Rising cyber attacks drive demand for advanced protection
Cyber-security attacks and ransomware incidents are on the rise in the maritime industry, as ships and ports become more connected and threats become more prominent. After ship collisions and groundings, cyber attacks are the top risk to shipping companies and terminal and port operators.
Research carried out in the maritime industry in 2023, discovered the prevalence of cyber threats and their growing impact on shipping. According to a recent study by law firm HFW and maritime cyber-security company CyberOwl, 14% of the maritime industry professionals responding to a survey said they had paid ransomware in 2023 to unlock IT networks and computers, compared with just 3% in 2022.
This study found the average cost of unlocking computer systems in the maritime sector reached US$3.2M this year. In addition, several global ports had been hacked in 2023 and more seafarers have been victims of malware incursions.
This has prompted an arms race of ever-more advanced cyber-security solutions for vessels and the first maritime-dedicated cyber insurance cover.
Communications companies are introducing new solutions combining cyber-security suites, including firewalls, unified threat detection and antivirus software, with dedicated remote IT teams to protect networks on board vessels, ensure regulatory compliance and improve ship security. New services are also available to enable shipping companies to recover from cyber attacks and return to business.
We can expect more advanced and integrated solutions to be unveiled and new innovative cyber threats to emerge in 2024.
Autonomous navigation takes the next step
Prophecies of fleets of crewless ships sailing unmanned between ports relying on smart computers and artificial intelligence have not quite come to fruition just yet, but there are steps towards this goal.
The world’s largest shipping groups have been testing autonomous navigation in 2023, resulting in ships sailing port-to-port and round trips without crew. These are sea demonstrations and proof-of-concept tests for autonomous navigation systems – and the early results are promising.
Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) was the latest to trial autonomous navigation on roro vessel Hokuren Maru No. 2 at sea, completing three voyages in October on a 1,600-km round-trip route between Hitachi Port and Kushiro Port. Full-scale commercialisation of fully autonomous ship technology is expected by 2025.
Tests carried out in 2023 confirmed recognition, analysis and decision making by the autonomous navigation module, plus controlled steering, situational awareness, hazard avoidance and navigational safety, which is very positive for the future of this technology.
Solutions focus on providing bridge teams with additional information and suggestions for enhanced safety, and this is where developments will continue in 2024.
CII comes into force in January 2024
Shipowners, managers and operators are implementing digitalisation and advanced voyage planning to optimise ship operations to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. If commercial reasons are not enough to invest in these technologies, IMO’s carbon intensity indicator (CII) regulation is.
CII comes into effect 1 January 2024 for vessels 5,000 gt and heavier and requires shipowners to collect and report data that measures a vessel’s annual operational carbon intensity. This data feeds into the CII rating system that ranks vessels in alphabetical bands from A through E, with A being the highest rating for the vessels with the lowest carbon intensity in their operations.
Vessels that fall into the bottom two categories, D and E, have to take remedial efforts to lower their carbon intensity. Ships rated D for three consecutive years and ships rated E for one year will need to submit their corrective action plans to regulators.
Ways to improve a ship’s CII rating include optimising voyages to burn less fuel per tonne-mile, lowering waiting times outside ports or finding different ways to cut onboard energy use. Software suites are available for recording data and analysing it to optimise vessels and voyages… the question is how effective are they?
Transformational potential of artificial intelligence
Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have accelerated in 2023, with more shipowners and managers implementing elements to advance their fleets and enhance operations. AI will transform the shipping industry, providing the potential to optimise voyages, reduce fuel consumption and emissions and improve safety. It is seen as a game-changer for the sector and for the whole global supply chain.
Expected benefits from AI include faster data processing to provide greater insights for seafarers and managers, safer navigation, better predictive maintenance and improved crew training.
AI can be used to discover issues with machinery before they cause incidents and failures, identifying navigational hazards during voyages and processing data from onboard equipment to provide insights to crew and shore staff.
Ship voyages could be optimised by AI to avoid adverse weather and sea conditions, or to reduce fuel use and emissions. AI can also be used to manage cargo, ship trim and weight distribution.
However, there are potential pitfalls to avoid in implementing AI, including ensuring humans are involved to collaborate the intelligence and to monitor the results.
Shipowners need to ensure AI is cyber secure and does not amplify bias in data, or use incorrect information and inputs.
If safeguards are introduced and AI is rigorously checked regularly,the benefits can be achieved across the maritime industry.
Riviera Maritime Media kept the debate going during 2023 on which services and products deliver solutions for owners for data sharing, crew welfare, operational efficiencies and seafarer communications through webinars, conference sessions and roundtables. These will continue into 2024.
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