Even with full-scale automation and digitalization in all aspects of maritime voyaging, safe and efficient navigation through waterways requires decent skills and experience to manage vessels. Unfavorable weather conditions, heavy sea traffic, vulnerable complex electronics, and human error complicate the issue, necessitating careful planning, skilled personnel, and advanced technology to ensure smooth fleet management.

The client approached Innowise to update its legacy navigation system, adding more automation and flexibility to handle maritime routines. Additionally, they wanted to enhance the security system and migrate to the cloud.

Solution

Ship fleet management software modernization to ensure navigation accuracy

Having analyzed the client’s requirements, our project team suggested all-around optimization, replacing obsolete software with a sophisticated vessel navigation system that boasts unparalleled versatility, reliability, and adaptability. In addition to providing customized tools for automatic planning, optimizing, and avoiding collisions, we updated the software to ensure safety during navigation and energy-efficient voyaging for vessels of all types and sizes.

Navigation system

As a first step, we optimized the chart display and information system (ECDIS), serving as a geographic information system designed for nautical navigation and meeting the standards of the international maritime organization (IMO). Besides that, we integrated radar images and sensor data amongst the workstations connected to the network to gain more accuracy and precision while voyaging. Our project team modernized the fleet navigation system by implementing route planning, voyage optimization, and collision avoidance, providing safe and efficient maritime transportation for passengers and cargo. Vessels’ crews receive timely alarms, warnings, and cautions regarding sensor and radar data as well as track history and logbook data.

To facilitate route planning, our specialists upgraded navigation accuracy, displaying comprehensive positional data from navigation sensors on electronic charts. Moreover, we built a marine-approved computer capable of withstanding onboard ship movements, guaranteeing stable and hassle-free performance in various conditions.

Essentially, our developers enhanced the navigation workflow, transforming rough data into decision-making aids that cover a wide range of capabilities, such as advanced situational awareness and fully automated voyage planning.

Ultimately, we significantly modernized the customer’s fleet navigation system, allowing the crew to control maritime traffic control, track on-time arrivals, and provide insightful decision support and ship-to-shore communications.

Automation system

Also, our project team updated several auxiliary services, implementing automatic tools to control power management, ballast controls, bilge system, tank measurement, engine overview, and more. Moreover, our developers examined the maritime safety system to eliminate vulnerabilities related to firefighting, emergency shutdown, smoke detection, damage control systems, lowlight location, traffic light controllers, dampers, and fire doors.

Last but not least, we ensured compatibility with third-party systems, making the maritime platform a versatile tool for navigation in a consistent manner. Additionally, our team provided a secure gateway for remote services, such as system diagnostics, remote chart updates, and other cloud services, to improve cybersecurity and eliminate the risk of breaches.

Technologies & tools

Back-end

.NET Framework 4.8, .NET 6, FTP, WilsonORMapper, Entity Framework, Web API, RabbitMQ, C++

Front-end

React, TypeScript, HTML, CSS

Database

MS SQL Server

Containerization

Docker

Cloud

Azure Functions, Azure VM, Azure Service Bus, Azure SQL Server, Azure Key Vault

Integrations

GitHub Actions

Unit, Integration tests, Postman, Swagger

Process

To understand the customer’s domain and the specifics of the industry, the team underwent comprehensive onboarding prior to starting the project. Our experts studied a lot of technical documentation to understand the customer’s core business and get a deeper understanding of vessel transportation.

Initially, we identified the project goals and scope to upgrade the fleet navigation system and meet all predefined requirements. Innowise’s development team collaborated with stakeholders, including fleet managers, to understand their needs and define a clear vision for the system.

Once the requirements had been gathered and approved, we formulated a backlog with task prioritization, team members’ responsible, and execution terms. As a whole, the project was divided into three-week sprints with daily stand-up team meetings and regular customer feedback on the interim outcomes. Each sprint concluded with a sprint review meeting, where the team presented completed work to stakeholders and obtained feedback on the next step, making adjustments and reprioritizing the backlog as needed.

With its agile, iterative approach, Innowise demonstrated excellent flexibility and adaptability to incrementally develop and enhance the fleet navigation system. At present, the project team continues to upgrade the fleet navigation system and implement software changes to provide safer and more convenient maritime travel.

Team

Business Analyst

Project Manager

Back-End Developers

Front-End Developers

QA Engineers

Results

x2.5 on-time arrivals accuracy ofter cargo ship management software upgrading

Innowise has updated the fleet navigation system, allowing the customer to track maritime routes and sea shipments more accurately. The intelligent maritime system ensures real-time monitoring and control of the fleet operating systems, on-time arrivals, reduced fuel consumption, and transparent ship-to-shore communications.

As for details, our company reshaped the electronic chart display and information system, replacing paper nautical charts with intelligent, sensitive marine ship manager technical software. We ensured stable around-the-clock access to radar images and sensor data to provide safe and efficient maritime transportation regardless of the final destination.

In addition, we automated vessels’ power management and ballast control, bilge system, tank measurement, and engine overview to prevent breakdowns and eliminate any risk of life-threatening situations at sea.

Project duration

October 2022 - Ongoing

16%

boost in navigation efficiency

x2.5

on-time arrivals accuracy

Related cases

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Ship tracking software modernization: 16% boost in navigation efficiency

Customer

Challenge

Legacy navigation system that lacked automation in managing maritime routines

Solution