Navigators’ views of a collision avoidance decision support system for maritime navigation
Journal article, 2022

Maritime navigation is a complex task involving the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of information using seamanship, professional knowledge, and technology. As the maritime industry transitions towards maritimeautonomous surface ships (MASS), there is an increasing gap between the operator and the technology. This paper explores a collision avoidance decision support system for navigation from the navigator’s perspective. The system, developed by Wärtsilä, is called Advanced Intelligent Manoeuvring (AIM) and can generate suggestions for course or speed alterations based on data from surrounding traffic. Nineteen Swedish navigators completed three ship traffic scenarios with and without decision support. Qualitative data were collected using interviews and analysed with thematic analysis. The results show that the participants perceive the decision support system as an advisory tool to visualise how traffic situations could unfold, a task currently difficult for most navigators. This paper discusses the present and near future of maritime navigation, highlighting the benefits of automation, whileremaining vigilant about the potential dangers.

Navigation, human factor, ship, COLREGs

Author

Katie A Aylward

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Reto Weber

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Monica Lundh

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Scott Mackinnon

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Joakim Dahlman

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Journal of Navigation

0373-4633 (ISSN) 1469-7785 (eISSN)

Vol. 75 5 1035-1048

Learning from Algorithm Based decision Support systems (COLREG-LABS)

Swedish Transport Administration, 2020-05-01 -- 2022-04-30.

Lighthouse, 2020-05-01 -- 2022-04-30.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Infrastructure

Chalmers Maritime Simulators

Subject Categories

Robotics

Marine Engineering

DOI

10.1017/S0373463322000510

More information

Latest update

10/26/2023