Safe navigation and monitoring of ships are becoming increasingly challenging in the world’s heavily trafficked waterways. How can ships be reliably located and monitored without the need for additional onboard technology?
SeaSentry addresses this challenge – a pioneering research project aimed at developing new real-time ship monitoring technology to sustainably improve maritime safety.
The project is being realised together with the consortium partners Covadonga GmbH, Knowtion GmbH, in-innovative navigation GmbH, the DLR Institute of Systems Engineering for Future Mobility, and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. Thanks to the collaboration of these partners, SeaSentry will play a key role in shaping the future of maritime traffic control.
Technology for the Future of Maritime Traffic Control
SeaSentry aims to develop a land-based sensor network for passive detection and real-time localisation of ship movements, which functions without requiring additional installations onboard. This technology enhances and improves existing monitoring systems, providing an innovative solution for maritime traffic control.
A key aspect of the project is the testing of the sensor technology in the eMIR testbed in the German Bight, which extends from the Elbe estuary to the port of Emden. This test area offers a variety of maritime scenarios to evaluate the technology under real conditions. To test applications with greater range, the eMIR testbed will be extended to the Heligoland site.
The developed technology will be integrated into VTS systems to improve efficiency and safety in maritime environments. The passively operating sensor network enables reliable detection of ships without the need for additional devices onboard. SeaSentry thus contributes to maritime safety and has the potential to revolutionise the monitoring of ship movements in complex environments.
The role of in-innovative navigation GmbH
IN’s role in the SeaSentry project focuses on integrating the passive sensor network to detect ship radar signals and integrating this technology into existing VTS systems. This will expand and enhance the operational situational awareness in maritime surveillance. To achieve this, the technology will be tested in a real VTS system, and detection probability as well as accuracy will be assessed in various scenarios.
Another goal of the project is the reliable detection of ships that have turned off their AIS systems but continue to navigate with active radar. The SeaSentry system aims to detect such ships with a probability of over 95%. This not only improves maritime safety but also contributes to environmental protection by detecting potential accidents early and preventing them.
IN is also developing two AI-based decision-making tools: a ship radar operational status tool that provides VTS operators with information about the operation of onboard radars, and a ship classifier that automatically categorises ships based on camera images. These tools are designed to complement the situational picture, validate the passive sensor network, and be usable even without the sensor network within VTS systems.
SeaSentry thus makes an important contribution to hazard prevention and enhancing safety at sea.