The maritime industry is under increased challenges of balancing operational effectiveness and environmental responsibility. This study examines the application of intelligent agents as a technology that can align these two goals in the triple-bottom-line model that involves social responsibility, environmental footprint, and economic sustainability. An agent architecture taxonomy is outlined and adapted to the maritime industry, distinguishing between reactive, deliberative, hybrid, and multi-agent systems (MAS). The application of these architectures is analysed throughout the maritime domain. In the ship-centric environment, the analysis highlights the role of agents in autonomous navigation, energy-efficient meteorological routing, and predictive maintenance. The analysis in the port and supply-chain domain demonstrates a shift towards decentralized asset orchestration and logistic coordination rather than centralized control. The paper outlines certain barriers to widespread adoption, namely the reality gap of simulation-based training and the lack of transparency in deep-learning models ("black box" problem). The paper concludes by outlining a future research agenda proposing a use of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), high-fidelity simulation-to-real transfer, and communication protocol standardization to continue the trend of developing strong autonomous capabilities in sustainable maritime logistics.

The maritime domain is experiencing significant transformation, driven by the integration of autonomous technologies. Autonomous ships and smart maritime systems depend on the sophisticated interplay of artificial intelligence, sensor infrastructures, and communication protocols to achieve safe, reliable, and efficient operations. Central to this evolution is the imperative for seamless interoperability among agents operating within heterogeneous maritime environments. Semantic interoperability, which ensures that information is interpreted and exchanged consistently and meaningfully across systems, emerges as a critical enabler of coordinated multi-agent cooperation. This paper explores the role of semantic interoperability in the coordination of multi-agent systems, the challenges involved, and the technological frameworks that facilitate its implementation.

The maritime industry is witnessing a revolutionary transformation with the development of autonomous ships. Unmanned vessels employ advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, especially machine learning, and intelligent agents for autonomous navigation. The successful integration of autonomous ships into existing maritime ecosystems requires a robust infrastructure capable of addressing various challenges, including interoperability of different ship systems. To ensure interoperability, it is crucial to establish a suitable information infrastructure. The implementation of ontologies within the information infrastructure of autonomous ships facilitates the use of intelligent agents. This paper discusses the concept of ontological information infrastructure tailored for autonomous ships and gives an example of an ontology designed specifically for autonomous vessel firefighting systems.

Nowadays, one of the most important challenges of maritime science is how to achieve autonomous shipping transport. The use of autonomous ships can make significant progress in reducing the costs of shipping as well as increasing maritime safety. One way to accomplish the functionality of autonomous ships is to use multi-agent systems. In the environment where ship functions are performed using multi-agent systems, it is important to establish their interoperability. In this paper we propose an example of ontology that is the base of framework for semantic interoperability between multiagent systems responsible for different ship systems on autonomous ship. This example of ontology refers to the fire protection system of autonomous ships.

Autonomous resolution of ship accidents is one of the essential functions that must be established in the development of autonomous ships. One of the most dangerous incident situations which can happen on board is a fire. The development of automated firefighting systems requires the development of appropriate simulation environments for testing. In this paper a simulation model for testing agent based on board firefighting system is presented. A simulation system based on the proposed model has been developed and implemented in multiagent programmable environment. An overview of the complete simulation session results performed on this system is given.

This paper presents a model of agent-based architecture for fighting fires on ships. The introduction of agent technology in firefighting decision-making is a step towards safe autonomous vessels. The human factor can be excluded through the introduction of agent-based technology for the detection and extinguishing of fires onboard ships. The aim is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths, and minimize loss of ships and cargo. Another advantage of agent-based technology is its easy interoperability with other automated onboard systems. The presented model was implemented on a prototype in a simulation environment. The results of the experiment conducted on the implemented prototype are also presented.

Maritime safety is an ongoing process in shipping that is constantly being improved by the modernization of equipment and constant improvements in operators’ safety procedures and training. However, human error remains a significant factor in maritime accidents, as it contributes to 75% of incidents. Addressing this problem, the current paper shows a proof of principal for on-board fire monitoring and extinguishing software agents that may be used to upgrade present systems and contribute to an autonomous ship design. Agent technology that engages fire detection and firefighting equipment while minimizing human intervention will reduce the risks of human error and increase maritime safety.

The risk of accidents on board ships is high despite the implementation of technologically advanced subsystems whose basic function is protecting people and reducing material damage. Research of human error analysis indicates that human factor substitution with program agents can achieve significant improvements in decision-making processes in distress ship situation. The paper analyzes the elements of safety at sea, ship distress situations as well as agent technologies that can be applied in such situations. Ship fires have been selected as a class of ship distress situations in which the possibility of human factor substitution using agent technologies will be tested. The mathematical model of the ship's fire-fighting agent architecture was defined and the developed model was implemented in the simulation environment. Within the implemented model, a comprehensive experiment was performed to test the possibilities of applying agent technologies in the detection and extinguishing of fires on board.

Despite modern ship technologies, high-quality crew accommodation and exceptional communications, the absence of a doctor on board presents an issue in terms of the timely, adequate and efficient response to acute health disorders and life-threatening injuries. A serious health condition of an injured or sick person, insufficient medical knowledge of the on-board officers, inadequately equipped ship’s infirmary, or scarce supply of medicines are among the typical reasons for requesting professional shore-based medical assistance. This can be achieved by requesting Radio Medical Advice or by activating air-borne medical assistance, i.e. bringing a doctor by helicopter or by Medical Evacuation, i.e. transferring the ill or injured person to the shore medical institution. The Maritime Telemedical Assistance Services are available across the world. They use all the technical possibilities available, including e-mails and very widely used photo and video attachments as well as the emergency real-time live videos. In on-board practice, the most common solution is to use medical advice over the radio (through terrestrial or satellite networks). This paper discusses the ways of requesting professional medical advice or aid on board ocean-going merchant ships in the Republic of Croatia.

There is a high risk of accidents onboard ships despite the implementation of technologically advanced subsystems whose basic function is protecting people and reducing material damage. Research of human error analysis indicate that human factor substitution with program agents can achieve significant improvements in decision-making processes in distress ship situations. This research will carry out a functional analysis of ship's distress situations and analysis of available agent technologies. By means of analyses input indicators will be identified according to which appropriate types of program agents will be selected. According to the preselected agent technology, a decision model will be developed in the selected class of distress ship’s situations.

The growing demands for data links capacity in maritime vessels and high costs of satellite communication links through mandatory GMDSS Inmarsat equipment emphasize the possibility of optimizing data traffic routes through alternative service providers either satellite or terrestrial. Lower cost services, as well as increased link capacity will justify introduction of new technologies onboard ships. Implementation of new technologies is important, but also the appropriate implementation of processes and the awareness and motivation of the people on board that ensures the value of such a service. In order to realize more convenient link, the development of a mathematical model is proposed as basis for decision making optimization of data traffic route in communication of maritime vessels. In addition to the presentation of previous research, the paper also shows the optimization of data traffic route by the example of authentic maritime communications within the organizational environment.

An Integrated Bridge System (IBS) contains a fully duplicated Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Although duplication should increase system reliability, reliability and availability are not improved. Proper ECDIS maintenance includes updating both: the information system and the provided chart system. This procedure, in practice, tends to decrease reliability and availability. A Markov ECDIS simulation model is given. A new design concept is presented and proposed. The entire ECDIS system is improved by adding a cold standby system preventing the occurrence of errors due to updating and upgrading of the system device.

Integrated Bridge and Navigation Systems (IBS/INS) are designed to meet all IMO International Maritime Organization and classification societies' requirements all the way up to one-man bridge operation on modern merchant ocean going ships. Although main subsystem's Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) redundancy is mandatory onboard ocean going merchant ships, that is far from being truly redundant. Duplication of exact same equipment does not double reliability and availability of system. Statutory rules request to maintain ECDIS as part of safety plan. This procedure of updating, as part of obligatory maintenance, in praxis, leads to errors emphasized even by manufactures: either from provided equipment producer, or by nautical charts producer. If those systems errors occur, ship safety is in danger, because ECDIS producers suggest mariners to use paper charts backup in such situations. New approach in design concept of technical solution is presented and proposed.

Internet traffic connection is nowadays not only desire, but also daily need on ocean going ships. Whether to download navigational charts or weather reports, upload vessel operational data, stream video conference with the shore office, or access centralized company databases, mariners need to be online in order to conduct business and stay in touch no matter where they may be located. On a personal level, the isolation of the seafaring life is also getting more difficult with shorter port calls and greater restriction on crew members going ashore due to national security concerns and great lack of free time to go ashore when onboard. Satellite technology is one of solution of the problem but it is and will be expensive due to costs that such equipment. Cost of link is large and data volume is small. Traffic routing and pondering data is technology that can significantly reduce costs, and better use of data volume provided by satellite technology. Example of real sailing plan of ocean going ship OOCL Netherlands on Atlantic express route ATX is shown. Example given demonstrates that time spent in port can be used to route link of onboard computers to terrestrial links such as WiFi or cellular data networks in order to cut the costs and increase volume of internet link for high volume and lower priority data.

This paper presents a novel technique approach for reducing time needed for initial scanning frequency selection and improving the performance of Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) device in High Frequency (HF) Radios. Proposed solution of the problem is a fuzzy logic based expert system which provides fast and appropriate response of working frequency selection since there is no more need to scan overall HF band.

The purpose of this paper is to present the efficiency of the application of the system dynamics simulation modelling in investigating the behaviour dynamics of the diesel engine complex system. The marine diesel engine is defined by a set of non-linear differential equations, i.e. by a continuous simulation model of a higher order and the so-called equations of state. At the same time, the simulation model is discrete as it strictly satisfies the chosen value of the fundamental integration time step DT. The paper presents a mathematical model of the system consisting of a marine diesel engine model, which forms the basis for designing a system dynamic qualitative model (mental-verbal, structural and schematic model) and a quantitative model (system dynamic mathematical and information simulation model). A scenario of mixed propulsion states has been presented. Parameters obtained with the aid of the hardware simulator Kongsberg ERS-L11 MAN B&W-5L90MC-VLCC Version MC90-IV have been used in conducting the simulation.

This paper discusses the traffic infrastructure development prospects of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the expansion of the traffic to the port basin of Metkovic because of the overload of the port of Ploce which is the only and main port for transit traffic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a maritime-oriented country with exit to the sea in the small town of Neum. The tourist orientation of Neum has inhibited its development into an industrial port. Bosnia and Herzegovina has oriented itself to the port of Ploce as the exit to the sea. Besides, the advantages of these two ports are determined, brought by the construction of Corridor Vc, whose construction is planned by 2015. However, it will not be finished until then because the construction has not even started yet. It should be built as soon as possible because it will increase the transit traffic from Hungary through the port of Ploce.

Due to constant technological changes in the world of business, corporative training, which assumes permanent improvement and learning, is becoming one of the main prerequisites for job security and for obtaining qualifications for new employment. Many companies substitute the concept of permanent employment for investments in lifelong learning of their employees. Permanent knowledge and skill training are becoming the essence of employment. In the training system, the most important is education of top-employees, i.e. education of top-managers because of the level of their responsibility.