Search Results (83)

Cultural practices such as Catalonia’s correfocs (fire parades) represent a vibrant expression of intangible heritage. Outdoor activities are conditioned by weather and threatened by climate change. This study analyses the long-term evolution of night-time thermal conditions during correfoc festivals performed in six Catalan towns located on the coast and in the pre-coastal region from 1950 to 2023, using reanalysis-based indicators of air temperature, humidity, and perceived heat as a first exploratory step prior to incorporating in situ meteorological records. Specifically, the Heat Index (HI) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were computed for the typical event window (21:00–23:00 local time) to assess changes in human thermal comfort. Results reveal a clear and statistically significant warming trend in most pre-coastal locations—particularly Reus, El Vendrell, and Vilafranca—while coastal cities such as Barcelona exhibit weaker or non-significant changes, likely due to maritime moderation. The frequency and intensity of positive temperature anomalies have increased since the 1990s, with a growing proportion of events falling into “caution” or “moderate heat stress” categories under HI and UTCI classifications. These findings demonstrate that correfocs are now celebrated under markedly warmer night-time conditions than in the mid-twentieth century, implying a tangible rise in thermal discomfort and potential safety risks for participants. By integrating climatic and cultural perspectives, this research shows that rising night-time heat can constrain attendance, participation conditions, and event scheduling for correfocs, thereby directly exposing weather-sensitive form of intangible cultural heritage to climate risks. It therefore underscores the need for climate adaptation frameworks and to promote context-specific strategies to sustain these community-based traditions under ongoing Mediterranean warming. Full article

Fishermen operating in pelagic fisheries often experience significant barriers to medical care due to geographic isolation, harsh environmental conditions, and the absence of onboard healthcare personnel. Telemedicine offers an effective approach to overcome these limitations by enabling remote diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment through satellite-based communication systems. This review summarizes the progress and applications of telemedicine in maritime and other austere environments, focusing on technological advancements, clinical implementations, and emerging trends in artificial intelligence-driven healthcare. Evidence from pilot and retrospective studies highlights the growing use of wearable devices, telementored ultrasound, digital photography, and cloud-based monitoring systems for managing acute and chronic medical conditions at sea. The integration of machine learning and deep learning algorithms has further improved fatigue, stress, and motion detection, enhancing early risk assessment among seafarers. Despite challenges such as limited connectivity, data privacy concerns, and training requirements, the adoption of telemedicine significantly improves health outcomes, reduces emergency evacuations, and promotes occupational safety. Future directions emphasize the development of 5G-enabled Internet of Medical Things networks and predictive AI tools to establish comprehensive maritime telehealth ecosystems for fishermen in pelagic operations. Full article

Vessel Traffic Service systems play a critical role in maritime safety by providing timely advisories to vessels in congested waterways. However, the optimal timing for VTS operator interventions has remained largely unstudied, relying primarily on subjective operator experience rather than empirical evidence. This study presents the first large-scale empirical analysis of VTS operator intervention timing using automated speech recognition technology applied to actual maritime communication data. VHF radio communications were collected from five major VTS centers in Korea over nine months, comprising 171,175 communication files with a total duration of 334.2 h. The recorded communications were transcribed using the Whisper speech-to-text model and processed through natural language processing techniques to extract encounter situations and advisory distances. A tokenization and keyword framework was developed to handle Maritime English and local-language communications, normalize textual numerical expressions, and facilitate cross-site analysis. Results reveal that VTS operator intervention timing varies by encounter type. In head-on and crossing encounters, advisories are provided at distances, with mean values of 3.1 nm and 2.8 nm, respectively. These quantitative benchmarks provide an empirical foundation for developing standardized VTS operational guidelines and decision support systems, ultimately enhancing maritime safety and operational consistency across jurisdictions. Full article

As the maritime industry transitions toward Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), Vessel Traffic Service Operators (VTSOs) face new challenges in managing mixed traffic of conventional and autonomous vessels. Effective VTSO selection is becoming increasingly critical for maritime safety, yet current recruitment processes rely on subjective methods that limit objective evaluation of candidate suitability. This study presents the first machine learning-based classification model for VTSO recruitment. Eight features were defined, including sea service experience, navigation career, education, certifications, and language proficiency. Due to limited access to actual recruitment data, expert-validated simulated datasets were constructed through labeling by 40 maritime professionals and density estimation-based augmentation. Four algorithms were compared, with XGBoost achieving 94.6% F1-score. Feature importance analysis revealed TOEIC score as the most critical predictor, followed by seafaring career, with 3–4 years of experience identified as optimal. These findings indicate that English proficiency for communication with shore remote control centers and practical maritime experience for assessing autonomous vessel behaviors constitute core VTSO competencies in the MASS era. The proposed model demonstrates potential to improve subjective recruitment methods by discovering quantifiable competency patterns, offering a pathway toward data-driven, standardized, and transparent decision-making for enhanced maritime safety. Full article

Intelligent surface vehicles, including unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), have gained significant attention from both academic and industrial communities. However, shipboard maritime images captured under hazy weather conditions inevitably suffer from a blurred, distorted appearance. Low-quality maritime images can lead to negative effects on high-level computer vision tasks, such as object detection, recognition and tracking, etc. To avoid the negative influence of low-quality maritime images, it is necessary to develop a visual perception enhancement method for intelligent surface vehicles. To generate satisfactory haze-free maritime images, we propose development of a novel transmission map estimation and refinement framework. In this work, the coarse transmission map is obtained by the weighted fusion of transmission maps generated by dark channel prior (DCP)- and luminance-based estimation methods. To refine the transmission map, we take the segmented smooth feature of the transmission map into account. A joint variational framework with total generalized variation (TGV) and relative total variation (RTV) regularizers is accordingly proposed. The joint variational framework is effectively solved by an alternating-direction numerical algorithm, which decomposes the original nonconvex nonsmooth optimization problem into several subproblems. Each subproblem could be efficiently and easily handled using the existing optimization algorithm. Finally, comprehensive experiments are conducted on synthetic and realistic maritime images. The imaging results have illustrated that our method can outperform or achieve comparable results with other competing dehazing methods. The promoted visual perception is beneficial to improve navigation safety for intelligent surface vehicles under hazy weather conditions. Full article

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs) raise safety and regulatory challenges that extend beyond technical reliability. This study builds on a published system-theoretic process analysis (STPA) of degraded operations that identified 92 loss scenarios. These scenarios were reformulated into a two-round Delphi survey with 20 experts from academic, industry, seafaring, and regulatory backgrounds. Panelists rated each scenario on severity, likelihood, and detectability. To avoid rank reversal, common in the Risk Priority Number, an adjusted index was applied. Initial concordance was low (Kendall’s W = 0.07), reflecting diverse perspectives. After feedback, Round 2 reached substantial agreement (W = 0.693, χ² = 3265.42, df = 91, p < 0.001) and produced a stable Top 10. High-priority items involved propulsion and machinery, communication links, sensing, integrated control, and human–machine interaction. These risks are further exacerbated by oceanographic conditions, such as strong currents, wave-induced motions, and biofouling, which can impair propulsion efficiency and sensor accuracy. This highlights the importance of environmental resilience in MASS safety. These clusters were translated into five action bundles that addressed fallback procedures, link assurance, sensor fusion, control chain verification, and alarm governance. The findings show that Remote Operator competence and oversight are central to MASS safety. At the same time, MASSs rely on artificial intelligence systems that can fail in degraded states, for example, through reduced explainability in decision making, vulnerabilities in sensor fusion, or adversarial conditions such as fog-obscured cameras. Recognizing these AI-specific challenges highlights the need for both human oversight and resilient algorithmic design. They support explicit inclusion of Remote Operators in the STCW convention, along with watchkeeping and fatigue rules for Remote Operation Centers. This study provides a consensus-based baseline for regulatory debate, while future work should extend these insights through quantitative system modeling. Full article

Maritime safety, environmental protection, and efficient traffic management increasingly rely on data-driven technologies. However, leveraging Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for predictive modelling faces two major challenges: the massive volume of data generated in real-time and growing privacy concerns associated with proprietary vessel information. This paper proposes a novel, privacy-preserving framework for vessel traffic density (VTD) prediction that addresses both challenges. The approach combines the European Maritime Observation and Data Network’s (EMODNet) grid-based VTD calculation method with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to model spatiotemporal traffic patterns and employs Federated Learning to collaboratively build a global predictive model without the need for explicit sharing of proprietary AIS data. Three geographically diverse AIS datasets were harmonized, processed, and used to train local CNN models on hourly VTD matrices. These models were then aggregated via a Federated Learning framework under a lifelong learning scenario. Evaluation using Sparse Mean Squared Error shows that the federated global model achieves promising accuracy in sparse data scenarios and maintains performance parity when compared with local CNN-based models, all while preserving data privacy and minimizing hardware performance needs and data communication overheads. The results highlight the approach’s effectiveness and scalability for real-world maritime applications in traffic forecasting, safety, and operational planning. Full article

This study examines stakeholder perspectives regarding the feasibility, benefits, and challenges associated with the development of multipurpose shipyards that encompass shipbuilding, repair, and recycling within Indonesia’s maritime industry. A convergent mixed-methods approach was utilised to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 37 stakeholders, including managers, employees, shipowners, regulators, subcontractors, academics, and community representatives. The Stakeholder Salience Model and Diffusion of Innovations theory provided the integrated statistical and thematic analysis. Results indicated significant stakeholder support (97.3%) for multipurpose shipyards, with 81.1% expressing positive perceptions and 16.2% very positive perceptions. Results indicate that ship repair (97.3%) and shipbuilding (86.5%) are seen as critical activities, with 59.5% of respondents highlighting the importance of ship recycling. The advantages of the multipurpose yard concept for Indonesia included improved operational efficiency (70.2%), increased market competitiveness (54.1%) and job creation (91.9%). Major challenges identified include technical complexities (62.2%), regulatory ambiguities (45.9%), substantial capital investment (43.2%), and skill shortages (40.5%). The study suggests improvements in governmental regulations, financial support for businesses, and training for the workforce. Phased implementation and stakeholder collaboration can align economic, environmental, and safety objectives, potentially decreasing Indonesia’s dependence on foreign shipping services. This study integrates stakeholder theory with innovation diffusion, providing replicable insights for sustainable practices in shipyards within archipelagic economies like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, where similar geographic and infrastructure challenges shape the maritime industries. Full article

Maritime transportation requires reliable navigational safety communications to ensure vessel safety and operational efficiency. The Maritime Single Window (MSW) enables vessels to submit all maritime data digitally without human intervention. NAVTEX (Navigational Telex) messages provide navigational warnings, meteorological warnings and forecasts, piracy, and search and rescue information that require integration into automated MSW system. However, NAVTEX transmissions experience message corruption when Forward Error Correction (FEC) mechanisms fail, marking unrecoverable characters with asterisks. Current standards require discarding messages exceeding 4% error rates, resulting in safety information loss. Traditional human interpretation of corrupted messages creates limitations that prevent automated MSW integration. This paper presents the application of Masked Language Modeling (MLM) with Transformer encoders for automated NAVTEX message restoration. Our approach treats asterisk characters as masked tokens, enabling bidirectional context processing to reconstruct corrupted characters. We evaluated MLM against dictionary-matching and n-gram models using 69,658 NAVTEX messages with corruption ranging from 1% to 33%. MLM achieved 85.4% restoration rate versus 44.4–64.0% for statistical methods. MLM maintained residual error rates below the 4% threshold for initial corruption up to 25%, while statistical methods exceeded this limit at 10%. This automated restoration capability supports MSW integration while preserving critical safety information during challenging transmission conditions. Full article

Various activities, whether economic, social, or environmental, exert pressure on a coastal area. The extent of economic activities taking place in coastal regions is continuously increasing, particularly in tourism, maritime transport, port operations, and fisheries and aquaculture. Therefore, the decision to establish activities in a coastal area is complex and requires careful consideration by all stakeholders who use this space, which is potentially one of the most important natural resources for the development of any coastal country. This research is focused on assessing the justification for establishing economic activities in a coastal area, taking into account the interconnection of spatial, safety, environmental, and social factors. Therefore, three possible scenarios have been proposed: the location of the communal port, the location of the nautical port-marina, and the location of the marine entertainment and recreation centre. The goal was to develop a model that would enable the objective assessment and selection of the most suitable activity that would simultaneously benefit society and have the least harmful impact on the environment. Therefore, a multi-criteria analysis was conducted using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. The decision-making process was based on the expert validation of criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. An analytical tool called Expert Choice was used to synthesise the results and select the optimal activity. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability and reliability of the obtained results, with the AHP method proving to be an effective tool in structuring the decision-making process regarding the establishment of activities in the coastal area. Based on the results of the multi-criteria assessment, planning the establishment of activities is an important precondition for the long-term and sustainable development of coastal activities in an area. Full article

Since the early 14th century, the Mediterranean coasts of the Crown of Aragon had mechanisms in place to alert populations of incoming threats from the sea. In addition to maritime surveillance systems strategically positioned at elevated vantage points, any information reaching the coast that posed a threat to the safety of the population or trade was swiftly relayed along the shoreline, ensuring that coastal communities could prepare and defend themselves. This information, preserved in the correspondence of coastal city authorities, serves today as a primary source not only for reconstructing maritime threats in the late Middle Ages but also for assessing the role of urban leaders in managing defence. This article explores both aspects. By analysing maritime alerts either received in the city of Barcelona or disseminated from it during the first half of the 15th century, this study examines the main threats to the Catalan coastline while emphasizing the central role of cities in managing the alert system. Full article

Interorganizational risk management (IRM) in Canadian ports faces significant challenges due to the interconnected nature of operations and the interdependence of safety, security, environmental, organizational, and technological risks. Existing siloed risk management frameworks often fail to capture these dynamic interrelations, underscoring the need for a more integrated, systemic approach. This study introduces a Port Risk Control Structure (PRCS) designed specifically for Canadian Port Authorities (CPAs), based on the Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP). The PRCS maps control actions, feedback loops, and stakeholder roles across international, national, and local levels to better reflect the layered nature of port governance. The model aims to clarify the roles of key actors, such as the International Maritime Organization, Transport Canada, and local port stakeholders, and is designed to facilitate more structured risk identification, communication, and coordination across organizational levels. Although the model has not yet been empirically validated, its design suggests strong potential for scalability and adaptability across diverse port contexts. This research contributes to IRM literature by illustrating how STAMP principles can be operationalized within port systems. Future research will focus on integrating a taxonomy of IRM challenges to refine control structures and feedback mechanisms in response to evolving risks. Full article

The water environment is a dynamic domain critical to global transportation and commerce, where seaplanes operate during take-offs, landings, and ground operations, often near maritime traffic. Canada’s vast remote regions and unique geography increase reliance on seaplanes, especially for private and recreational purposes. This article examines the intersection of aviation and maritime operations through a mixed-methods approach, analyzing seaplane safety on waterways using quantitative and qualitative methods. First, data from 1005 General Aviation (GA) seaplane accidents in Canada (1990–2022) are analyzed, revealing 179 fatalities, 401 injuries, and 118 destroyed aircraft—significant given that seaplanes comprise under 5% of GA aircraft. Of these, 50.35% occurred while the seaplane was not airborne. Second, insights from interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires involving 136 participants are explored through thematic and content analysis. These capture pilot concerns that are not evident in accident data, such as hazards from jet ski interactions and disruptive boat wakes. The findings highlight risks like limited visibility and maneuverability during waterborne take-offs, worsened by seaplanes’ lack of priority over maritime vessels in shared spaces. This article concludes with recommendations for both the seaplane and maritime communities, including increasing awareness among boaters about the presence and operations of seaplanes, as well as regulatory adjustments, particularly considering the right of way. Full article

The long-term sustainability of seaports depends on various operational factors, including infrastructure efficiency, digital innovation, environmental management, and regulatory compliance, among which maritime pilotage plays a crucial role in ensuring safe navigation and minimizing environmental, economic, and social risks. This research employed the PRISMA-ScR framework to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of pilotage on the sustainability of seaports. The findings demonstrate efficient navigation and spill avoidance, which reduce emissions, safeguard marine biodiversity, and maintain water quality. Economically, it reduces delays, optimizes operational expenses, and increases port competitiveness by increasing maritime traffic. Moreover, pilotage improves navigational safety, local professional skill development, and community interactions via ecological conservation and operational efficiency. It also indicates how environmental initiatives benefit the economy, increase port competitiveness, and promote job security and community happiness. The results also emphasize the significance of pilotage in sustainable seaport operations by quantifying pollution reductions, cost savings, and safety. The result also suggests that successful pilotage enhances ports’ viability and responsibility in global shipping networks while addressing environmental, economic, and social concerns. Full article

The maritime industry is undergoing a digital transformation, integrating automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance operational efficiency and safety. However, this technological evolution has also increased cybersecurity vulnerabilities, exposing vessels, ports, and maritime communication networks to sophisticated cyber threats. This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, examines the current landscape of AI-driven cybersecurity solutions in maritime environments. By analyzing peer-reviewed studies and industry reports, this review identifies key AI methodologies, including machine-learning-based intrusion detection systems, anomaly detection mechanisms, predictive threat modeling, and AI-enhanced zero-trust architectures. This study assesses the effectiveness of these techniques in mitigating cyber risks, explores their implementation challenges, and highlights existing research gaps. The findings indicate that AI-powered solutions significantly enhance real-time threat detection and response capabilities in maritime networks, yet issues such as data scarcity, regulatory constraints, and adversarial attacks on AI models remain unresolved. Future research directions should focus on integrating AI with blockchain, federated learning, and quantum cryptographic techniques to strengthen maritime cybersecurity frameworks. Full article