Innovative AI-Driven Safety System Enhances Maritime Collision Avoidance and Compliance

The recent collision between the MV Stena Immaculate and the feeder containership MV Solong near Grimsby, UK, once again brings attention to maritime accidents often caused by human error. In response to safety concerns, the maritime industry typically invests in advanced sensors like Radars, AIS, ECDIS, LIDAR, and computer-vision technology for improved situational awareness. However, these tools only offer fragmented information, lacking a unified decision-making platform, according to Capt. Jørgen Grindevoll, Founder & CEO of SafeNav.

SafeNav, a digital/AI-driven co-pilot and decision-support system, is designed to provide real-time, actionable guidance on the bridge to enhance collision-avoidance efforts. The system ensures full COLREGS compliance, aggregates data from multiple sources in real time, offers course-change recommendations, and is compatible with human decision-makers. Moreover, SafeNav is ahead of the IMO MASS Level 1 regulations and is currently seeking approval in principle (AiP) from class society DNV.

Unlike full-autonomy solutions that require extensive regulatory adaptation and vessel retrofitting, SafeNav can be deployed immediately as a software module compatible with any vessel’s existing hardware infrastructure. The system is currently undergoing testing on a full-scale bridge simulator in Italy, with real-world ship trials scheduled to commence shortly. SafeNav’s innovative approach to integrating data and providing decision support aims to address the challenges posed by human error in maritime accidents.

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