Sept-Oct 2024 – Page 3 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Navigation Technology 2024

Across various industries, companies are increasingly incorporating more technology into their operations and the maritime industry is no different, as shippers now employ data programs to track cargo vessels and use artificial intelligence to perform organizational tasks. Some of the more exciting advances happening in the maritime industry have been in the development of navigation technology as mariners abandon paper charts in favor of electronic charting display and information systems, or ECDIS, serving not only as the primary means of navigation, but also as a backup. “Marine technology has been getting more and more advanced in both the recreational and…

Navigating Challenges at Sea: Lessons Learned from the Loss of El Faro

When contemplating technology in the maritime context, the mind often gravitates towards sophisticated electronic tools like GPS, AIS and ECDIS. However, it is essential to broaden our perspective. Technology – defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes” –encompasses not only the technical skills associated with electronic tools, but also the soft (or human) skills crucial for human interaction and decision-making. The tragic loss of the El Faro and her crew serves as a somber reminder that the intricate balance required between advanced technology and human expertise is a critical determinant of safety and success. (El Faro and…

Risks with Old and Outdated Digital Systems, Plus a New Maritime Cybersecurity Organization

The maritime industry has been busy during May and June relative to cybersecurity. I recently came across an interesting opinion article on csoonline.com entitled “Legacy Systems are the Achilles heel of critical infrastructure cybersecurity” by Christopher Burgess. As I read the article and pondered the headline, I immediately thought that “legacy systems” are also an Achilles heel in both shipboard and seaport digital environments. So, the first section of this commentary is an expansion of this thought. Secondly, in June, there was an announcement about a new maritime cybersecurity group called the International Maritime Cyber Security Organization (IMCSO). I’ll tell…

Maritime Piracy Incidents Fall, But Crew Safety Remains at Risk, ICC Reports

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is calling for sustained vigilance to protect seafarers amid increasing violence despite an overall drop in the number of incidents reported in IMB’s mid-year report for 2024, released July 11. Sixty incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2024, a decrease from 65 incidents for the same period last year. “While we are reassured to see a fall in the number of overall reported acts of piracy, the concerning rise in incidents of a violent nature underscores the need for continued vigilance from…