Coastal Navigation – in a digital era

Abstract

Coastal navigation is known as a complex craft. Technological aids and integrated computer systems have been developed for the ship bridge with the aim of increasing the navigator’s situation awareness, and so the control of a passage has become less complex. This paper presents and argues that control strategies used before the digitalization of the modern ship bridge still apply, and are important tasks for the navigator. Even though the navigator has several sensors and systems to assist in the navigational task, errors or failures may occur. System awareness has thus become an increasingly central part of the navigator’s situational awareness. The paper emphasises the importance of human-centred design aligned with control strategies and standard operating procedures. Finally, the ongoing pursuit of using the technology of tomorrow in order to reduce head-down-time and increase situational awareness for the navigator, is outlined.