Navigational support framework for maritime autonomous surface ships under onshore operation centers

Abstract

To navigate, Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs) must be able to determine their states. i.e., the positions and velocities, etc., by utilizing onboard IoT, and ship intelligence systems. Autonomous ship navigation can heavily rely on machine learning algorithms that can predict how vessels will maneuver in the future, based on past behavior, where vessel state estimation can play a main role. Due to multiple factors such as system failures, bad weather situations, local geographical conditions, and lack of system robustness, sometimes intelligent ship navigation systems may degrade the performance, i.e., may fail to respond or fail to find the safest route. To ensure safe and optimum operations in a selected sea area, MASSs need the necessary supporting tools for safe navigation. In this study, a navigational support framework of navigation monitoring, guidance, and control for MASS is presented in the aspects of Onshore Operation Centers (OOCs), including their respective challenges and possible solutions.