Lloyd’s Register (LR) recently tested Orca AI’s AI-driven navigation system during a live trial on a feeder containership navigating busy Mediterranean shipping lanes. The five-day assessment evaluated how AI-based computer vision aids human decision-making in complex scenarios, such as congested waters and low visibility. The system demonstrated its capability to detect close-range and low-signature targets, enhancing situational awareness for watchkeepers, especially during challenging encounters with non-AIS vessels and small crafts.
Han Beng Koe, LR Ship Performance Specialist, provided real-time feedback on the system’s usability and performance, emphasizing the potential of AI technologies in maritime navigation. Orca AI’s CTO, Dor Raviv, highlighted that AI-assisted navigation is already proving valuable in live operations, with over 1,200 vessels utilizing the technology for earlier and more accurate detection, leading to safer navigation.
The project also focused on integrating performance metrics with human factors input to assess detection accuracy and bridge usability. Workshops led by LR aimed to enhance Orca AI’s approach by incorporating crew feedback, ensuring that insights from seafarers are effectively analyzed and utilized. Stephanie McLay from LR noted the importance of structured feedback in developing user-centered, safer AI navigation systems.
