Enhancing Maritime Security with Blockchain-Enabled IoT Drone Networks

Maritime communication supports worldwide trade and safety, but digital links are easy targets for intercepting, jamming, and spoofing. These attacks can confuse ship routes and slow joint operations. We present a blockchain-based authentication framework that connects ships, drones, and shore stations while keeping shared data and images safe. The scheme combines a distributed ledger with secure big data analytics so that vessel paths and visual records are tamper-proof and easy to audit. We describe each registration and key agreement phase, study common cyber threats, and report simulation results for different blockchain settings. We also show how large-scale image analytics can match ship photos and help confirm vessel identities. Together, these steps offer a practical and scalable base for trusted maritime communication.