Ship-to-shore “AI CCTV” at sea: safety tool, or governance trap?
Ship-to-shore AI CCTV promises unprecedented visibility: engines leaking oil miles away, a drowsy watchkeeper, a parted mooring line—all flagged in real-time to the office. But is this a safety revolution, or a governance trap where the Master’s authority erodes under constant remote scrutiny?
AI Lookouts on the Bridge – Assistance, Authority, and the Mental Model
Vigilance on watch is not just ‘staring at screens.’ It is an active, continuous process of building and updating a mental model of the ship’s situation: What traffic is likely to appear? How are wind and current affecting us? What can our ship and crew do right now? What ‘smells wrong’ in the pattern of lights and echoes outside?
Meet the Digital Kraken: Why Coastal Autonomy Doesn’t Mean Crewless Deep-Sea Shipping Is Imminent
Autonomous ships exist. But ‘crewless, commercially routine, transoceanic shipping’ is a different species of problem. Once you’re out of sight of the coast, a kind of digital Kraken waits for anyone who thinks autonomy is ‘software + sensors.’ Not a monster in the mythological sense — a monster in the engineering sense: rare failures, degraded modes, and long stretches where the ship must survive without help.
A Day of Celebration on the Awards Stage at Europort!
The spotlight turned to Europort’s Rising Stars, where ELNAV.AI received the Rising Star Award, including a €10,000 media package from HANSA.
ELNAV.AI is a finalist for the 2025 SMART4SEA EUROPORT Smart Shipping Award!
We’re thrilled to announce that ELNAV.AI has been shortlisted for the prestigious Smarter, Safer Shipping Award! We stand alongside five other innovative companies—Bachmann, Datum Electronics, Kaiko Systems, Pole Star Global, and Zelim—all united by a single vision: making shipping smarter and safer for everyone.
Why Seafarers’ Fatigue Is Unique and More Dangerous Than in Other Transport Sectors
Fatigue in the transportation industry is a well-known issue, but seafarers face unique and far more dangerous challenges. The combination of prolonged work hours, isolated environments, irregular sleep patterns, and physical and psychological stress make fatigue among seafarers particularly hazardous. Multiple studies show that 43% of seafarers suffer from fatigue due to the working conditions onboard. Unlike other transport sectors, fatigue at sea often results in catastrophic accidents that could have been prevented with better regulations and industry-wide acknowledgment of this critical issue.
Grounding of MV Ever Given
In the early hours of Tuesday, 23 March 2021, the 20,000 TEU containership M/V EVER GIVEN grounded whilst transiting northbound through the Suez Canal. The grounding occurred in an area where traffic cannot pass in both directions, having as a result the closure of the Canal and an increasing backlog of ships waiting to transit.
Collision between US John S McCain and Alnic MC
On 21 Aug 2017, the US destroyer John S. McCain, overtaking the Liberian tanker Alnic MC in the westbound Middle Channel of the Singapore Strait, lost steering, veered port into Alnic’s path, and collided at 0524.
The loss of HMNZS MANAWANUI
On Saturday 5 October 2024, the Ship was conducting survey operations on the southern side of Upolu, Samoa, in support of the upcoming CHOGM. The wind was from a direction of 120° at 20 -25 kts with a high sea state 3, and visibility at greater than 10 nm.
Costa Concordia Disaster
Discover the critical role human error played in the Costa Concordia disaster and how innovative AI-driven solutions like the Helm Order Monitor are transforming maritime safety. Learn about the last moments before the tragedy, the impact of helmsman mistakes, and the future of safer navigation at sea.