OCEAN Project concludes with breakthrough tools for safer seas

The OCEAN Project (Operator-Centred Enhancement of Awareness in Navigation) has officially concluded, following its Final Conference at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Headquarters in Lisbon, with a simulcast at The Nautical Institute in London and a global livestream.

Funded by the European Union and the United Kingdom, the project ran from October 2022 to September 2025, delivering a suite of innovative (TLR7) human-centred design tools to address pressing maritime risks such as container losses, ship–whale strikes, and navigation in complex, high-traffic, or low-visibility conditions.

The Final Conference showcased the four core innovations:

• European Navigational Hazard Infrastructure (ENHI): a centralised platform distributing hazard alerts from satellites, hydrophones, and user reports.

• Four-Dimensional Situational Awareness Display (4D SAD): a bridge-integrated tool adding time as the fourth dimension to improve decision-making.

• Evasive Manoeuvring Agent (EMA): an automated safeguard to advise on safe manoeuvres in emergencies.

• OCEAN Reporting App: a scalable mobile tool for real-time hazard reporting, designed with mariners for practical adoption.

Participants also viewed three demonstration videos produced by the OCEAN partner, the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). These illustrated the tools in realistic scenarios such as lost containers, whale strikes, and navigation in dense traffic or fog, communicating complex risks and solutions in an accessible way. They remain part of the project’s legacy, supporting awareness and adoption across the sector.

Feedback from mariners, educators, policymakers, and industry confirmed that the OCEAN Project’s ecosystem, designed with a strong human-centred approach, integrates seamlessly into existing bridge and coastal systems, offering practical adoption pathways. Stakeholders also highlighted the value of its minimum viable system, which can be deployed with minimal investment and scaled globally.

As part of this same commitment to human-centred design, The Nautical Institute, an OCEAN partner, released seven maritime training videos in May 2024. Born out of listening directly to seafarers’ needs, these resources strengthen navigation skills, address gaps in Maritime Education and Training (MET), and demonstrate how the OCEAN Project tools can be applied in practice. Already adopted and integrated into maritime training programmes, they will continue to deliver value as part of the project’s exploitation and legacy.

The OCEAN Project’s legacy also extends through its contributions to international standards, the adoption of its outputs by MET institutions, and the availability of all deliverables and resources via the project website. Together, these ensure a lasting impact in advancing maritime safety and environmental protection.