Md Nazmus Shakib

Maritime Autonomy for Safe, Fuel-Efficient Port Operations

Name: Md Nazmus Shakib
Primary Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Higham
Year: 2
Discipline: Geography
Presentation type: Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
Project Title: Maritime Autonomy for Safe, Fuel-Efficient Port Operations

Abstract:

The maritime industry is increasingly integrating dynamic systems to enhance safety, fuel efficiency and operational effectiveness, alongside this, the port environments being busy and congested which require an optimal solution to balance between human and machine intelligence. This research explores intelligence assistances in vessel navigation, supporting mariners in achieving safer and more fuel-efficient operations in busy port areas.
The primary objective of this study is to develop an AI functional framework for human-machine collaboration to enhance decision-making, ensuring safety and optimizing routing to minimize energy consumption and economic losses. The research first examines existing solutions, their usability, AIS and related data sources before evaluating the effectiveness of AI assisted navigation under dynamic and uncertain port conditions. The validation processes will be developed through simulations and real-world case studies to ensure standards and ethical considerations.
Preliminary findings indicate that AI can significantly assist in situational awareness and decision-making in high-risk scenarios, and human operators remain central. Future work will refine models, and regulatory frameworks will support the safe integration of intelligent maritime systems, contributing to discussions on maritime autonomy and sustainable port operations.