Jonathon Savill reports on the revolutionary impact marine AI technology is about to have on all areas of life at sea
Innovative technology has always created fresh new chapters in how we approach sailing. You only have to look back at the most advanced and sophisticated navigation systems of the mid-twentieth century, such as Decca and LORAN, to see how they are now nothing more than half-forgotten marine curiosities, trampled into extinction by GPS and the plethora of electronic navigational devices born in its digital wake.
Now though, it’s time to prepare ourselves for what is likely to be the most fundamental technological change the marine environment has ever seen – the AI (artificial intelligence) transition – an advance that will touch and transform every aspect of life at sea, from naval operations and commercial shipping to yacht marina manoeuvres, autopilots and search and rescue.
Naval Operations
Those sailing the waters of the Solent over the last year or so may have been lucky enough to witness the Royal Navy testing out its new fleet of swift airborne autonomous drones designed to rescue crew who have fallen overboard. The new drones can quickly locate a casualty, drop a lifejacket down to them, then hover above to keep a steady mark of their location.
Lookout’s augmented reality view of a harbour approach
The Senior Service has also been trialling new types of unmanned vessels along the south coast for potentially dangerous naval applications, such as mine hunting, where having a crewless vessel would always be preferable. The semi-autonomous boats, known as MADFOX (MAritime Demonstrator For Operational eXperimentation) are controlled by navy personnel using laptops and joysticks as they sit comfortably on a nearby beach.
Search and Rescue
The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), meanwhile, has just begun a partnership with AI specialist firm Faculty to create the next generation of search and rescue procedures. Faculty is said to be carrying out advanced analytics using AI machine learning technology to analyse historical data on more than 9,000 search and rescue calls received over the last three years. The results will then be used to inform the planning for the country’s future helicopter search and rescue capability, which will be known as Search and Rescue Second Generation (UKSAR2G).
Baltic Yachts is now using AI technology throughout its design process
Better Boatbuilding
Over in Finland, luxury yacht builder Baltic Yachts has also now started incorporating AI technology into all of its latest designs. ‘By integrating cutting-edge machine learning AI technology into the design of our yachts, we are not only enhancing safety but also increasing the comfort aboard our yachts whilst at sea,’ explains Henry Hawkins, Baltics Yachts’ vice president.
Autonomous Ships
According to a recent report by Lloyd’s Register, the global AI marine market is now worth $1.5 billion a year – a figure expected to double within five years. Big business is therefore extremely keen to promote the use of Marine Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), which can sail, berth and perform manoeuvres without any human intervention at all, in order to reduce costs while increasing efficiency and profits. Every part of the technology required to achieve this aim is currently available – the only hold-up right now is the establishment of international regulatory agreement, something the IMO (International Maritime Organization) is urgently wrestling with…
How soon until search and rescue and pilot operations are fully autonomous?
Skeleton Crew
In Norway, the first of eight highly advanced 78m offshore research vessels have been launched to perform tech-enabled lean-crewed operations.
The Armada Ships as they are known, have been equipped with advanced marine electronics to carry out remote deep sea operations, including collecting offshore sea bed data with minimal environmental impact. The onshore-controlled vessels will initially use a skeleton crew on board, but the near-future plan is for the vessels to be capable of working with no personnel on board at all.
Augmented Reality
The USA, of course, isn’t far behind in the marine AI stakes. Notable among its latest yachting AI navigational aids is the new Lookout system designed to be fitted to medium size recreational craft. Lookout uses a camera sited high on the boat, then bringing together radar, AIS, electronic charts and machine learning to create a 3D augmented reality view of the craft’s surroundings on a tablet, phone or helm MFD. Coming in at around £11,000, it can also see through low visibility, spotting lobster buoys or casualties in the water at a distance of 50 metres.
Smart Shipping
Britain, with its long and proud history of maritime technological development, is particularly keen on establishing itself as early as possible as the world’s leading marine AI pioneer. Earlier this year, the UK government launched an £8 million fund to boost the country’s position at the forefront of machine-learning maritime technology. The investment will be used to stimulate the development of a wide range of new digital assets, from self-driving boats to autonomous port operations, as stimulants for an improved sea-based economy and support for, often neglected, coastal communities…
‘Artificial intelligence will deliver real change in shipping and the marine environment with greater use of autonomous vessels and automated data analysis,’ insists Peter Aylott, policy director at the UK Chamber of Shipping. ‘These technologies will help generate jobs, improve supply chains and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.’
Marina Manoeuvres
In the realm of recreational boating, UK-based marine technology specialist Raymarine recently launched Docksense, an AI-supported system to help craft manoeuvre in a marina…
The system uses sophisticated cameras and a joystick and is said to be particularly useful on any boat that can pivot, such as a yacht with a bow thruster. While not fully autonomous, it has, however, been designed to intervene and prevent any chance of a collision…
Even sextants have now succumbed to the new digital age
Crowded Waters
Raymarine has also developed a second new consumer AI product, Neuboat, which can be mounted on the top of a yacht’s mast to help the boat navigate through crowded waters…
‘This AI system provides a virtual buffer zone around the vessel,’ explains Jamie Cox, product director at Raymarine. ‘It will be especially useful for larger boats where the skipper has no direct view of the entire hull.’
Italian Coastguard
Meanwhile, over in the Mediterranean, the Italian Coastguard has successfully deployed an autonomous lifeboat and drone combination, as part of a large search and rescue exercise…
Collision Avoidance
In August, the world’s first passenger fast-ferry equipped with an AI vision system was launched in the Canary Islands. The new AI vision system, SEA.AI, takes this a step further, being able to alert navigators and bridge officers to anything floating in the water that hasn’t been identified and recorded by the other systems…
‘AI vision is the next safety standard in the marine world and is now being used on commercial vessels and recreational yachts,’ explains Solenn Gouerou, head of marketing at Sea.Ai. ‘AI technology will undoubtedly save lives at sea.’
Ocean Racing
High-speed ocean racing yachts are also now using SEA.AI machine learning technology…
Will AI be the future of marine technology?
As we look to the future, the integration of AI in the marine industry promises to enhance safety, efficiency, and innovation across all sectors of maritime operations.
