E-navigation as an infrastructure basis for the development of autonomous and unmanned shipping

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of international experience in developing and implementing the concept of e-Navigation as a key area of digital transformation in maritime shipping. It examines the evolution of the International Maritime Organization’s strategic approaches to creating an integrated “ship–shore–ship” information environment based on the standardized collection, exchange, presentation, and analysis of maritime data. Particular attention is paid to the updated Implementation Plan for the e-Navigation Strategy (MSC.1/Circ.1595), the further development of maritime service descriptions (MSC.1/Circ.1610, MSC.1/Circ.1610/ Rev.1), and the development of the architecture for digital maritime services. The three-component structure of e-Navigation (on-board, shore-based, and communication components) is analyzed as the basis for creating a unified situational picture of the maritime domain. It is demonstrated that the integration of shipboard navigation systems, vessel traffic services (VTS), and modern telecommunications technologies enhances maritime safety, optimizes routes, and reduces operational costs. The role of the IHO S-100 standard as a universal geospatial data model for next-generation electronic navigation products (S-101, S-102, S-104, S-111, S-124), which form the technological basis of S-100 ECDIS and ensure system interoperability, is examined separately. Significant attention is paid to the relationship between e-Navigation and the development of unmanned navigation. It has been established that the effective operation of autonomous and remotely controlled vessels is possible only if there is a well-developed digital infrastructure, standardized route exchange (STM), the Maritime Connectivity Platform, and integrated risk management services. The significance of the human element in the context of digitalization is revealed: it is demonstrated that automation does not completely eliminate risks but transforms their nature, requiring new approaches to decision support, interface ergonomics, and adaptive systems for monitoring operators’ cognitive load. The paper summarizes the results of international test areas and pilot projects (MONALISA 2.0, EfficienSea2, Yangshan Port e-NAV, ESESAME Straits, TICON), which confirmed the potential to reduce navigational risks, lower fuel consumption, and decrease CO₂ emissions through harmonized data exchange and the integration of maritime services. It has been shown that the current stage of e-Navigation’s development is characterized by a transition to an intelligent, human-centered digital ecosystem that integrates S-100 standards, the concept of a digital twin of navigable waters, STM systems, and secure communication platforms. It is argued that the further implementation of e-Navigation is iterative in nature and requires coordinated interaction among international organizations, national administrations, scientific institutions, and the private sector. Development prospects are linked to the integration of multi-layer geospatial data in real time, the improvement of decision support systems, and the creation of a fully digital maritime traffic management environment. The results obtained can be used to develop regulatory and methodological frameworks for the implementation of e-Navigation and to formulate a strategy for the development of autonomous shipping.