Thousands of vessels are navigating the ocean and making port calls at any one time. With information technology becoming a central pillar in all industries, advance automation processes are also entering the maritime industry, which is slowly integrating technological systems in the business environment. Included in this process are intelligent transport systems (ITSs), which are becoming part of the vessel's ecosystem and so-called smart ports, creating a data streaming circle between the vessel, port and managing company. The article describes how ITS technologies can be used as decision support systems in the hands of seafarers as well as operators to maximize efficiency, which in turn, supports the financials of the companies. It introduces the concept of ITS by defining what it is and the role it plays in the transport sector with an example drawn from the automotive industry where the concept was first applied. The section then continues to narrow down the focus by discussing the application of ITS technologies in the maritime sector more specifically. The subsequent section considers the smart vessel concept in more detail by highlighting the elements associated with the vessel and those associated with operations onshore. The article then moves on to consider the `smart port' concept and the intelligent maritime systems (IMSs), namely systems applied in the context of the land-marine interface. Finally, it analyses the impact of these systems on business outcomes, before concluding.

Chapter Contents:

• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 ITS technologies and their application in transport
• 9.3 Smart vessel concept
• 9.4 Smart port concept
• 9.5 Intelligent maritime systems
• 9.6 Business impact
• 9.7 Conclusion: an eye to the future
• References

Inspec keywords: sea ports; decision support systems; real-time systems; marine navigation; intelligent transportation systems

Other keywords: intelligent maritime systems; intelligent transport systems; smart ports; data streaming; decision support systems; IMSs; information technology; smart vessel concept; advance automation processes; ITS technology; land-marine interface; real-time information; maritime industry; seafarers; transport sector

Subjects: Marine system control; Decision support systems; Traffic engineering computing