On August 5, a collision occurred between the feeder container ship Maersk Gironde and the car carrier SFL Composer near Funen, Denmark, prompting an investigation by the Danish Maritime Authority. This incident highlights the challenges of navigating busy shipping lanes at night, where reduced visibility and high traffic demand heightened situational awareness to prevent accidents.
Bridge teams face intense pressure when managing radar, AIS data, and VHF communications while maintaining visual lookout, often pushing cognitive limits. Human errors in such conditions can lead to costly collisions, affecting not only repair costs and insurance but also damaging company reputations and trust with cargo owners.
Fortunately, technology exists to mitigate these risks. AI-powered computer vision, combined with thermal cameras, AIS, and radar data, can enhance situational awareness by continuously scanning the environment and providing alerts for potential collisions. This technology aims to support, not replace, crew members, reducing fatigue and distraction.
The maritime industry must adopt digital watchkeeping systems to avoid incidents like the Maersk Gironde collision. Operating without enhanced situational awareness on congested waterways poses unnecessary risks to ships, cargo, and reputations, which should not be tolerated.
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