In what now seems to be a mainstay at the commencement of any new year, there’s an ever-increasing list of published predictions and forecasts which claim to give us insight into the near future. These predictions cover a broad range of topics including global financial performance, healthcare and, of course, where technology is moving and the changes it will make to our day to day lives.
Technology predictions are becoming increasingly bold and aggressive, with the web containing many credible and influential lists. A quick search on the web identifies the following technology as trends for 2025: artificial intelligence, generative AI, spatial computing, digital twins, virtual reality, augmented reality, internet of things, 5G expansion, autonomous vehicles, green energy technologies, intelligent transport systems, voice activated technology, edge computing, quantum computing and much, much more.
New realities
Those who regularly follow these predictions and those following technology will probably suggest that many of these technologies have been previously published, which I would agree with. However, when you delve into the list and consider the growing range of products using this technology, it’s evident that these technologies are set to become a bigger part of our life, and maybe more importantly, make a more profound impact and change to the industries we work in, including the maritime industry.
Simulation and virtual reality have been part of modern transportation training systems for some time, with spatial computing and augmented reality now improving the connection between virtual simulations and the real operating environment. The virtual-reality environment has been significantly enhanced by digital twins, or more simply, the virtual creation of physical objects and processes. These are now converging and seeing augmented reality increasingly utilised to support real-time operations across various industries.
The opportunity for these technologies in the maritime industry is significant and conceivably includes all aspects of vessel operation and maintenance and also the full suite of seaside and landside operations for ports.
Internet of things
The internet of things (IoT) is not all new and is in many ways an extension of legacy operational technology and systems such as SCADA (or supervisory control and data acquisition). Where the IoT comes into a world of its own is with the cheapness and mobility of the IoT devices and, in particular, the ability of modern IoT devices to connect and interface with legacy infrastructure and machinery, and from there, provide meaningful data to a core operational or maintenance system.
The opportunity for these technologies in the maritime industry … conceivably includes all aspects of vessel operation and maintenance and also the full suite of seaside and landside operations for ports.
The IoT systems are further enhanced by modern networks and connectivity, and in particular, the growing availability of high bandwidth and low latency 5G networks provided for public access or, in some cases, fully provided via dedicated private mobile networks.
Again, the application of this technology for the maritime industry is significant, with the value enhanced by the relatively simple task of retrofitting modern IoT devices to legacy infrastructure and machinery. The aim with all of this is to use this new data to make improved maintenance decisions (interventions) enabling a shift into an optimised or just-in-time maintenance regime.
The use of predictive technology and the shift into optimised maintenance has many benefits including minimising equipment downtime and reducing the total cost of ownership for the assets, with this technology and methodology fully applicable to the various pieces of machinery and infrastructure that make up the modern-day maritime supply chain.
Intelligent transport systems
Intelligent transport systems (ITS) are common in road and rail transport and are relied on to safely ease and prioritise traffic through a road or rail network, with much of this technology now moving towards direct integration and communication with the vehicles themselves.
While we have made some progress with automation of seagoing vessels in controlled environments, as remote-controlled and automated shipping progresses, it is likely that some form of external system to aid operation and navigation will be required – an ITS for the sea!
This “system” could potentially combine traditional aids to navigation, metocean systems, surveillance systems and real-time ship movement and operational data, connected via point-to-point radio frequency, cellular, satellite or similar systems, thus forming the foundation of a global maritime traffic network.
Going a step further with the global maritime traffic network concept and bringing together the various developments covered above – and using some imagination – global shipping traffic could then be managed in a calculated and controlled way to improve safety, drive efficiency, move at optimal speeds, optimise routes, reduce energy (end emissions), reduce exposure to weather and other hazards, reduce queuing across the entire journey, and perhaps even enable the value of any commodity being transported to influence the vessel’s position in a “global” sequence.
While the scenario described above might be a little way off yet, what is certain as we look into the future, is that there is a significant amount of technology-based transformation underway across all areas of the maritime industry, with this transformation well and truly set to make further inroads in 2025.
* Simon Brooks is a director with Vecturys and an expert in the design, delivery and sustainment of mission-critical transport technology and systems across land, sea and air domains
This article appeared in the February | March 2025 edition of DCN Magazine
