Maritime information systems

In this article, I explain in more detail what a maritime information system is, attempting to classify them as clearly as possible.

Maritime information systems can refer to different types of infrastructure:

• ships:
  • merchant vessels
  • warships
  • recreational vessels
  • fishing vessels
  • scientific / hydro-oceanographic / fisheries research vessels
  • barges
• ports and naval infrastructures:
  • container loading/unloading systems, smartports, logistics systems
  • Port and Cargo Community Systems
  • cranes and gantries
  • dock and basin management systems
  • locks
  • pipelines
• other onshore facilities:
  • maritime informatics of signal stations, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers), ship command and management centers
• offshore installations:
  • drilling platforms
  • Marine Renewable Energies (MRE): wind turbines, tidal turbines…

Next, to make things easier to understand, I tend to divide systems into two major families: “IT” systems (Information Technology), which are fairly similar to what can be found in other sectors, and “OT” systems (Operational Technology), which, to simplify, could be described as “operational systems”, more specific to the maritime information domain.

Examples of maritime information systems that can be classified as IT:

• Onboard Wi-Fi
• VoIP and private branch exchanges
• Entertainment systems (TV reception and distribution, Internet…)
• Video surveillance systems (CCTV, Closed Circuit TeleVision)

Examples of maritime information systems that can be classified as OT:

• Electronic navigation systems (ECDIS, Electronic Chart Display and Information System), radars
• Positioning systems (GPS, Global Positioning System, or more precisely and more broadly GNSS, Global Navigation Satellite System) and communication systems (AIS, Automatic Identification System, VMS, Vessel Monitoring System, SSAS, satellite communications…)
• Meteorological and environmental systems
• Industrial control systems: propulsion, energy, monitoring, tidal turbines, dynamic positioning
• Maritime traffic and cargo management and control tools
• Specific military systems: combat systems…

Of course, as in many other domains, the scope and definition can be somewhat blurred: these systems are increasingly interconnected. Maritime information systems therefore encompasses all the equipment (servers, workstations, PLCs, networks, applications, etc.) that make up the information system.

And the future lies in autonomous ships. I provide more information on this topic here.

In the next article, I will detail the specific characteristics of these systems.