Shipping Safety

A proposal for avoiding collisions at sea could affect the logistics process

Last week, the maritime world saw what was described as a "drastic collision" by industry officials, ­this time between the MV Stena Immaculate and the feeder containership MV Solong off Grimsby in the UK.

Such incidents occur fairly often, and while the investigation team will eventually pinpoint the causes, one fact is largely agreed upon: the vast majority of collisions at sea are caused by human error.

Meanwhile, in commercial aviation, mid-air collisions have been virtually eliminated thanks to the software application known as TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System). TCAS doesn't just alert pilots to potentially dangerous situations via visual and auditory warning, it helps them take evasive action to avoid disaster.

"So why doesn’t the maritime industry have its own version of TCAS?" asks Capt. Jørgen Grindevoll, Founder & CEO of maritime technology company SafeNav.

SafeNav produces a digital/AI-driven co-pilot and decision-support system that brings real-time, actionable guidance to the bridge of the ship. "Unlike standalone hardware-dependent solutions, SafeNav is a software module that seamlessly integrates with any existing navigation and situational-awareness systems, meaning shipowners don't need to invest in yet more expensive hardware," says Grindevoll.

SafeNav's unique collision-avoidance benefits include:

-Full COLREGS compliance ­– dynamically applies 34 out of 40 COLREGS to assess the best course of action in any navigational situation ­– far exceeding competing solutions, which typically cover only two or three.

-Aggregates and fuses data from multiple sources in real time – Radar, LIDAR, AIS, autopilot, CCTV, machine-vision camera systems and future connection to ECDIS ­– enabling detection of all types of hazards input into the SafeNav module.

-Provides explicit course-change recommendations, e.g. "Turn 20 degrees to starboard to avoid collision.”

-Designed to work with human decision-makers, allowing navigators to retain full control while making informed decisions based on digitally driven decision support.

The system is ahead of the IMO MASS Level 1 regulations, which will release their full guidance in 2028. There is growing concern in the industry over alarm fatigue among vessel crews and the tendency to switch off or mute alarms.

"This is not another autonomous vessel pitch. It’s not about replacing crews – it’s about giving navigators the tools they need to make better, faster decisions by leveraging technology already available, and still keeping the 'human in the loop'," Grindevoll adds.