Overview:
Intelligent marine navigation systems refer to the use of multiple sensors and intuitive software to identify and alleviate various maritime navigation safety risks. Such advanced technology enables navigation personnel to monitor numerous safety parameters and ensure optimum intelligence during night time and adverse weather conditions. Some of the latest intelligent marine navigation systems fuse data from several sources and provide a unified visualization using virtual and augmented reality (AR & VR). A combination of different types of radars, thermal imaging sensors, LiDAR and visual cameras, among others is used to generate comprehensive view of the exterior environment of marine vessels. With the advent of autonomous ships, development of advanced marine navigation systems has gained pace in the recent years. Growing trade and increasing use of marine cargo ships across the world have further resulted in higher investment towards state-of-the-art marine navigation and awareness systems.
Numerous projects related to the development of autonomous ships for various applications have resulted in increasing collaboration between shipbuilding companies and technology providers. In March 2018, Rolls-Royce Plc. introduced its Intelligent Awareness (IA) system which enables enhanced navigational safety and operational efficiency by making use of multiple sensors and software. Although, the system was developed under the company’s efforts towards building autonomous ships, Rolls-Royce made the technology available for use in existing maritime vessels. Numerous other technology providers such as Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Automated Ships Ltd., Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) and BAE Systems, among others have been engaged in various collaboration towards developing advanced navigation and awareness systems for maritime vessels. Thereby, factors such as continued efforts by providers along with technological advancement in sensor technology are expected to result in introduction of various intelligent marine navigation systems in the near future.
Europe and Asia Pacific regions offer immense growth opportunities for the intelligent marine navigation systems on account of their large fleet of existing ships. In Europe, countries including Greece, Germany, Norway, Denmark, and the UK own highest number of ships and are some of the largest ship markets in the region. Numerous initiatives undertaken to boost development and successful deployment of autonomous ships offer promising prospects for market growth. For instance, in June 2016, Rolls Royce conducted a joint industry project named Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications (AAWA) in Finland with a view of gaining insights from participants regarding development of a fully autonomous ship to operate in coastal waters. Similarly, the European Union’s Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks (MUNIN) project is focused towards assessment of economic, technical and legal feasibility of operating a fully autonomous ship for an open-sea voyage. In the Asia Pacific region, countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, and South Korea offer tremendous growth opportunities for intelligent marine navigation systems in the following years.
Global Intelligent Marine Navigation Systems Market:
Key players identified in the intelligent marine navigation systems market include but are not limited to:
Rolls-Royce Plc., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines/Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Automated Ships Ltd., ASV Global, Vigor Industrial, BAE Systems Plc., FLIR Systems, Inc., Garmin Ltd., Safran Electronics & Defense and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, among others
