Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)


Maritime digitalisation

Digitalisation is:

the process of integrating digital technologies into business processes to enhance and improve them.

The main goals of digitalisation in the maritime sector are:

  • increase navigation safety
  • reduce emissions
  • provide economic advantages. 

The industry is keen to introduce the next generation of technologies. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has acknowledged this in several documents. For example, the IMO e-Navigation strategy has been improving the safety and efficiency of shipping operations since 2008. 

Digitalisation helps to:
 
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Increase safety

  • navigational assistance data services
  • increased situational awareness
  • reduced human errors
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Reduce emissions

  • implementation of new requirements for carbon-free fuels
  • traffic optimisation
  • just-in-time arrival
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Increase economic advantages

  • increased efficiency
  • real-time information
  • reduced workload
 
Specific benefits for Australia
  • Environmental benefits through enhanced protection for Australia’s unique marine ecosystems
  • Incident reduction in Australian waters through better navigational safety and traffic management
  • Economic benefits by boosting Australia’s capacity to keep up with trends such as towards Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
  • Increased compliance with international legislation and recommendations (e.g., Maritime Single Window, e-Navigation)

Technical advances are going to drastically change the maritime industry in the next decade. Digitalisation is necessary for Australia to protect its marine eco-systems and stay competitive.

Digitalisation isn’t a process that simply replaces the old with the new.

Rather, digitalisation enhances existing infrastructure and processes.