Crew wellbeing behind development of navigation safety solutions
Navigating safely at sea is one of the most crucial parts of the safe operation of maritime vessels. Too often accidents have occurred due to negligence, fatigue or poor visibility, sometimes with big consequences for a vessel’s crew, and the environment. Recently, several solutions aided by new advancements in digital technology and AI have come on the market, but one company in particular is leading the way.
Headquartered in Turku, Finland, Groke Technologies is a pioneering software company helping to spearhead this revolution in maritime navigation. At the helm of this venture is co-founder and CEO Juha Rokka, a seasoned maritime engineer with a passion for leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform the maritime industry.
Established in 2019, the company boasts a team of about 20 tech-savvy professionals dedicated to developing advanced software for situational awareness and collision avoidance in maritime operations. Speaking to The Naval Architect, Rokka sheds light on the company’s core capabilities of combining machine learning, artificial intelligence, and sensor fusion technology to provide a comprehensive view of a vessel’s surroundings. This technology, he explains, enables real-time monitoring of vessels’ environments, augmenting the capabilities of onboard crew members.
“Our mission is to remove human error from watchkeeping duties on board,” Rokka states. He underscores the monotony and challenges of traditional watchkeeping, highlighting the potential of Groke Technologies’ solutions to alleviate cognitive stress for crew members while enhancing safety standards.
Day and night tracking
Groke Technologies’ flagship product, Groke Pro, embodies the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence. With two camera sensors capable of tracking vessels in day, low-light and night-time conditions, Groke Pro offers versatility for crew members on the bridge which can also be linked to devices to enable monitoring of the system from other areas of the ship. The blending function of the system seamlessly integrates the colours of the day camera and the night vision of the thermal camera, allowing users to adjust the two camera views according to their preferences.
Rokka emphasises the ease of installation: “It’s a simple and easy installation and is usually ready within one day, typically its placed on the compass deck on its own pole. We also have connectivity in the system so we can do all the software updates.”
This efficiency is paramount in an industry where every moment counts, particularly amidst growing demands for autonomous ships and a dwindling supply of crew members. One of the key selling points of Groke Technologies’ software is its user-friendly interface, likened to the simplicity and intuitiveness of a smart phone or tablet.
These USPs were key deal makers with early adopters across Japan’s domestic fleet and Groke is now leveraging on that success, making headway with more globally focussed shipowners and managers. Indeed, there are 80,000 IMO registered vessels that would benefit from the technology. The rationale here is that the global fleet is faced with a number of challenges. Trends in autonomous shipping accelerated perhaps by the worrying shortage of skilled seafarers, is resulting in a number of companies developing technologies that not only lessen the navigational burden, but substantially improve maritime safety.
What sets Groke Technologies apart from other contenders, however, are Groke Pro’s thermal and visual data detection capabilities, as well as the user interface. Moreover, the system’s seamless integration with existing navigation systems and commitment to continuous improvement underscore its competitive edge.
Feedback from shipowners that use the technology provides valuable insights into the tangible benefits of Groke Technologies’ solutions. While specific statistics on accident prevention remain elusive, testimonials from early adopters attest to the efficacy of the technology in enhancing safety and operational efficiency. Rokka cites instances where Groke Technologies’ risk analysis features have empowered captains to navigate congested waters with heightened awareness, potentially averting hazardous situations.
Growth opportunities propelled by wind
Looking ahead, Rokka envisions broader applications for Groke software, particularly in emerging sectors like wind-powered vessels. As the maritime industry embraces the idea of using wind-assisted ships, new watchkeeping methods will need to be explored to counterbalance the loss in visibility caused by the sails. The company stands poised to support this transition, offering tailored solutions for operators of these vessels.
Groke Pro’s Sensor Fusion capability represents another cornerstone of its system, combining data from the two cameras, radar and AIS. After processing the data, Groke Pro integrates all information into a single view, providing superior situational awareness for users. This machine vision-based object detection relies on the latest machine learning technology and is one of the largest databases in the industry. The system can detect and classify vessels that don’t have AIS in both day and night-time conditions, further enhancing situational awareness.
“Every month we are releasing new machine learning models and new software. This improves all the time because it’s mathematically really complex and we are using all the data we can collect in the training to produce better models,” says Rokka.
The emergence of new navigation technology companies leveraging AI and digital enhancements marks a transformative shift in ship safety. The novel solutions offered by Groke Technologies and fellow companies not only enhance efficiency but also mitigate risks, ushering in a new era of maritime safety and operational excellence.
