Maritime Data: secure sharing and smart use of data across the entire lifecycle

The Dutch maritime sector, consisting of suppliers, ship designers, shipbuilders, ship owners and research institutes, focuses on developing specialized, complex ships for niche markets. This sector is good at integrating known technologies to build custom ships. However, the valuable knowledge of chain partners is often difficult to access, which hinders rapid innovation. This makes it difficult to quickly apply new technologies and thus improve cooperation within the chain.

Developments in new technology such as AI (artificial intelligence), Machine Learning, Digital Twinning are moving fast and offer opportunities to use maritime data in a smart way throughout the entire life cycle of ships. The smart applications can be divided into smart manufacturing, smart shipping, smart port logistics and smart asset management. In order to utilize the potential of these new technologies, it is important that knowledge institutions, companies and governments share much more data with each other.

 

Intended effect

The Maritime Data sub-program focuses on the safe sharing and smart use of data. The aim is to increase knowledge of digital techniques throughout the chain, to develop and demonstrate digital solutions. In this way, we want to increase data maturity and labor productivity and promote the transition to digital, modular and circular shipbuilding.

 

Intended result

  • Smart manufacturing: Ships with their energy systems are designed modularly and systematically based on the intended operational mission and sailing profile of ships, based on operational experiences and data. Machine Learning techniques are used to recognize patterns and develop better design tools. Digitalization, automation and robotization are also used during the production of ships to support business processes and reduce costs and lead times.
  • Smart shipping: The energy efficiency of the ship is continuously improved during its lifespan by optimizing based on actual operational use at sea or inland waterways. Crew is supported in operational decisions, based on the latest data-driven insights, to reduce energy consumption.
  • Smart port logistics: to support the development towards autonomous sailing, communication with the shore is of great importance, control via shore control centres or infrastructure.
  • Smart asset management: Maintenance on a ship is data-driven and preventively carried out in collaboration with ship owners and crew, based on the measured condition of the systems in the ship. This prevents unnecessary additional energy consumption due to a defect or unexpected downtime. Data about the condition of a ship are easily made transparent using Digital Twin techniques.

 

Building blocks

  • Developing and maritime application of data-driven techniques: Artificial Intelligence (AI) including all forms of Machine Learning and operational data feedback in Digital Twinning.
  • A prerequisite for developing and implementing digital solutions is harmonisation of data exchange. Standards for the exchange of data and information are developed and made available throughout the chain.
  • Guaranteeing security/protection & ownership of data. Consider federated data spaces and blockchain technology.