Maritime security
Advancing technologies that strengthen maritime domain awareness, surveillance, and risk assessment across complex global waters.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool use advanced analytics and simulation to study maritime traffic and vessel behaviour. By combining machine learning, predictive modelling, and digital twins, this work supports governments, defence organisations, and industry partners in enhancing maritime safety and managing potential risks.
Key research areas
- Predictive modelling of maritime vessel movement to improve surveillance and threat detection
- AI-based detection of illegal maritime activities using machine learning and reinforcement learning techniques
- Data-driven approaches to navigational safety and hazard detection
- Development of trustworthy AI for safety-critical systems operating in uncertain and complex environments.
Our expertise
Using data to track, analyse and predict global maritime movement
The Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) partnered with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Professor Simon Maskell from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to develop advanced systems for analysing global maritime data. Using digital testbeds within the Virtual Engineering Systems Laboratory, the project improves the ability to track vessel movements, analyse patterns of behaviour, and identify illegal maritime activities such as piracy or covert vessel rendezvous used for smuggling operations.
This work is also linked to the University’s Centre for Doctoral Training in Distributed Algorithms, which explores advanced decision-making methods for complex distributed systems.
Trustworthy AI for safety-critical systems
Dr Yi Dong’s RobustifAI project, supported through a European Commission MSCA Fellowship, focuses on developing trustworthy artificial intelligence for safety-critical systems. The research addresses robustness, assurance, and safe decision-making under uncertainty by combining AI assurance frameworks, multi-agent modelling, and digital twins. These approaches help evaluate and stress-test autonomous and decision-support technologies in complex environments, including maritime operations and other mission-critical domains.
Transforming global maritime operations: UK–Korea innovation
AI‑PASSPORT is a pioneering UK–Korea collaborative project led by Selim Limited, with key research leadership from Dr Yi Dong at the University of Liverpool. Through intelligent service packages for efficient maritime operations and AI-driven autonomous navigation, AI‑PASSPORT aims to reduce emissions, enhance safety, and dramatically improve the efficiency of global maritime logistics. This groundbreaking platform integrates real-time data sharing, advanced computer vision, cloud-based analytics, and predictive modelling—setting new standards for the future of sustainable and safe maritime transport.