ABSTRACT
Technology is a double-edged sword with various advantages and disadvantages in the marine sector. The marine sector is old as fine wine and has been used from time immemorial to transport goods. The impact of technology on the marine sector has been profound and a critical strategic business tool, reducing the cost of doing business. A review of the literature points out that modern technologies have made it difficult for ships navigation. Recent marine accidents support the argument that modern technology has made navigation difficult. Some technological advancements have been ineffective in the prevention of maritime accidents. A comprehensive investigation was done to determine how mariners use technology to comprehend why technology alone is not productive. Human-technology integration is crucial in the marine sector. Humans have to coordinate, work with devices and make important navigation decisions. Mariners are big-time integration partakers since machines cannot communicate. Replacing human labor with technology does not mean excluding humans from the operation but building a cooperative human-technology system. Humans are vital in navigation; even in integrated systems, they must perform integration duties. Technology created many problems and in itself cannot solve them. Fixing human errors through various technological advancements has been ineffective since it completely alienates the human mind from navigation. The research aims to provide an overview and impact of different marine technologies on the shipping sector.
KEYWORDS: Technology, Machines, Humans, Mariners, Marine, Shipping, Human-Technology Integration, Ship, Navigation
INTRODUCTION
The marine industry has developed technologically, just as every other human industry. The shipping sector has evolved, and various technological advancements have emerged that enhance ship operations management. Technology is essential for advancing the maritime industry. Technology is posing problems for ship operation management, though. It is believed that to comprehend their goal, one must first understand their origin. Therefore, before analyzing the challenges facing technology in the shipping sector, the global trends in technology will be examined first.
Artificial intelligence (A.I.) has been a significant trend in the shipping industry. It can end repetitive tasks and improve the quality of ship operations. A.I. helps with safety management and automation and enhances decision-making and route optimization. Sensor technology is advanced and well-developed technology in the shipping industry. It has reduced manual reliance on ship operations, saving time and resources. Marines and ship technicians use wireless technology to access the functionality status of the boats and other machines. Maintenance is easy and may be done regularly with sensor technology, hence suitable vessels’ operability.
Robotics have improved the industries in security, inspections, and maintenance of vessels. Some robotics are used to identify and record data in the ship and analyze it. Drones have a significant advantage to the shipping industry; they can survey, deliver goods and do remote inspections. Data analytics are essential in checking information from other ships and ports. It analyzes data about containers, ships’ data, weight, and place of destination. The use of data analytics makes ship operations efficient and increases the ship’s overall performance.
Autonomous control technology help in route decision-making (Davidson et al., 2009). It helps in the delivery of products with minimal interference. Autonomous systems increase shipping efficiency and eliminate possible human errors. Ship propulsion systems have been improved to control better and protect the ecosystem. The system is an intelligent technology that enables decision-making, hence higher accuracy. Due to environmental damage caused by ships to the environment, there has been massive investment in alternative energy management solutions to reduce pollution. Technology has been at the forefront in fighting environmental damage and corruption caused by sea vessels.
The trends discussed above are examples of technological influence in the maritime sector. The naval sector influences business activities globally. They rely on the industry for goods, expansion, and development of the global economy. The upshot is that technology provides a safe business environment and helps businesses to develop and increase their functionality.
Challenges with Technological Advancements in Ship Operation Management
Technology is like a sword; you can cut it both ways, and it has two sharp blades. It could not be accessible in a variety of ways. The operators of the ship are burdened by inefficient technological integration. They are governed, worn out, and under-resourced. This outcome was not intended, but the shipping industry and businesses worldwide have been affected due to poor regulatory practices, interim capital outlooks, and poor labor practices.
The Royal Majesty ran aground in 1995 with 1509 passengers on board; it is a classic example of an automation accident. The incident highlights the challenges of technological advancements in ship operation and management. The U.S. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB, 1997) investigated the accident, concluding that proper automation design and the right personnel could improve shipping efficiency and safety. However, untrained personnel’s poor design or misuse of automation systems can cause accidents.
According to Lützhöft and Dekker (2002), automation promises shipping efficiency by reducing human error and workload. However, the Royal Majesty demonstrated that automation does not entirely substitute human input with machine input. They resolved that technology only alters the nature of human mistakes. It generates new human weaknesses and intensifies existing inadequacies. Therefore, proper guidance is necessary to support human and technology integration in both foreseeable and unexpected situations. The goal is to always have technology as a team player and not an individual star in the shipping industry.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the U.K. reported (MCA, 2006) on mitigating human error in automated maritime systems. It pointed out human-related issues such as over-reliance on computerized systems, poor maintenance, and lack of situational awareness as contributory factors to marine-related incidents.
Challenges in the Management of Information
The evolution of information systems over the years has adversely impacted ship management’s function. Shore management monitors what occurs on the ship through technological interconnectedness and automated reporting. Shore management is responsible for managing the ship even after it leaves the port. The application of technology management neglects the human element of information management systems. Abuse of the information system may be detrimental to the ultimate goal of the ship management system. It can alter the safe conduct of the ship, timely delivery of goods, and security concerns. Provision of data requires all parties on board. Shipboard staff may wonder why they are asked to provide their information. Where the communication is opaque, seafarers may be frustrated and resent the management operations of the ship (Knudsen, 2009). They may also be burdened by the overwhelming paperwork, reporting forms, and information requests from maritime parties. Using mobile phones in information communication between the shore and ships has positively impacted business. Still, it has occasioned unwarranted demands on the master and his officers. They have to answer various organizations and business people.
Challenges in the Operations with Automation
Reliability of equipment and technology has impacted the ship’s staff’s demand. Technology use leads to a decline in maintenance and repair work, reducing crew members. The sea-going team is less exposed to learning experiences, reducing their effectiveness in dealing with emergencies (Davidson et al., 2009). Reduced and inexperienced crew leads to a stressful working environment in a modern complex vessel that leads to fatigue and long work hours. Despite improvement in the physical conditions of the ship and means of communication, crew levels are on the decline, and the workload has increased significantly over the years. Therefore, the seafarer has little benefit from the positive side of globalization and technological advancements.
Automation relies too much on a few highly trained persons in senior positions. Operational safety necessitates involvement from all persons who are part of the ship’s crew, no exception. The seafarers’ contract may allow them to move from one vessel to another in the same company, with different equipment and technicalities. It makes it difficult for the personnel to be trained efficiently.
Technical Limitations of Automation
New technologies have improved efficiency and productivity in the shipping sector, yet they are prone to technical errors. Technological development poses security risk factors, including ICT failures, information leakage, and unauthorized access. Machines cannot work alone; they require human input. Humans make decisions and calculated risks, especially in emergencies. Automation needs to be used to support human-based choices rather than dictating situations.
Recommendations
Technological advancements have dramatically impacted the marine sector. The industry is also facing significant pressures, such as strict regulations, environmental restrictions, and cyber-attacks. The risks involved are many. Below are recommendations to counter the adverse effects of technological advancements in the marine sector.
Un-crewed ships are prone to cyber-attacks, but they can be efficiently managed to ensure that business is not disrupted. The biggest threat is human interference on un-crewed ships. Responding to emergencies is complex, and there is a lack of clarity regarding collision regulation. The transition to uncrewed ships leads to long-term erosion of navigational skills. Therefore, to avoid all these challenges, marine actors should ensure that human labor in crewless vessels should be increased. Training should also be offered to the ship operators to ensure they are in line with technological advancements.
Businesses are expected to be impacted by intelligent shipping since it will track worker and fleet performance. The monitoring helps in the prevention of future failures and business interruption.
Energy management is a crucial issue, and stakeholders in the marine sector have supported cheaper energy options. The advantage of having an energy management solution is to reduce fuel consumption, enhance efficiency, and improve corporate reputation. The existing regulations favor energy management changes. Hence ship operators should adopt alternative and sustainable fuel sources.
Green technologies. Regional and international regulations have addressed green technology issues. Therefore, vessel operators should ensure that they comply with environmental regulations. They should also keep an eye on innovations and consider renewable energy sources.
Leadership and human cognition are principal factors of the modern shipping industry. Human involvement and expertise are crucial for technology to impact the shipping industry substantially. Over-reliance on technology seriously impairs situational awareness. Ship operators should emphasize team interactions rather than sole machine-based reliance. It minimizes individual human error as co-workers monitor each other and intervene where there is a challenge. The perfect combination is machine-human as both will try to avert the mistakes and supplement each other.
There will be many technological challenges shortly. Likewise, there are a lot of new opportunities for the shipping industry. Technology can help in solving environmental issues and better operational efficiency in the maritime sector. However, predicting marine technologies’ positive or negative impact is challenging. Despite the challenges facing technological advancements, the marine industry should embrace innovations and transformative technologies.
References
Lützhöft, M.H. and Dekker, S.W., 2002. On your watch: automation on the bridge. The Journal of Navigation, 55(1), pp.83-96.
Knudsen, F., 2009. Paperwork at the safety service? The concept of ‘seamanship exemplifies workers’ reluctance against written procedures.’ Safety Science, 47(2), pp.295-303.
Davidson, F.J., Allen, A., Brassington, G.B., Breivik, Ø., Daniel, P., Kamachi, M., Sato, S., King, B., Lefevre, F., Sutton, M. and Kaneko, H., 2009. Applications of GODAE ocean current forecasts to search and rescue and ship routing. Oceanography, 22(3), pp.176-181.
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