Focus Area: Smart Shipping
Overview
Attacks by small crafts blending in with fishing vessels and lacking AIS transponders escape detection by conventional navigation radar. Enhancing situational awareness to detect and flag unusual behaviors is critical for safety. How can we improve situational awareness using AI and computer vision?
Importance
- Increased incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery threaten crew safety and may lead to collisions.
Market Potential
- The maritime security market was valued at USD 19.9 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% to USD 26 billion by 2028.
- Relevant for vessels in piracy hotspots such as the Straits of Malacca, Red Sea, and Gulf of Guinea.
Current Efforts
- Military-grade surveillance radars detect small ships without transponders.
- Current reliance on watchkeepers for visual spotting.
- AI and computer vision are used onboard but need expansion.
Solution Criteria
- Cost-effective commercial-grade solution.
- Detect vessels at least 500 meters away.
- Compatible with existing systems if cameras are onboard.
Potential Solutions
- Use existing radar to detect craft without transponders, flag small crafts, and identify anomalies.
- AI-based image recognition system with a 360-degree camera for small craft identification.
- Piracy maps and tracking devices for stolen ships.
- Crowdsourcing platform for seafarers to report ship attacks.
These solutions will enhance situational awareness and safety, protecting crews and ships from piracy and other threats.