Transforming Maritime Operations with Cloud-Native Edge Computing

Robert Thier, the German writer, aptly captured the spirit of maritime endeavors with his quote: “Ships are my arrows, the sea my bow, the world my target.” Indeed, humanity’s enduring quest to navigate waterways has been instrumental in shaping our world.

From the earliest voyages in search of resources to today’s complex global supply chains, maritime activities have consistently driven transformative changes in human history. Today, the maritime industry stands at the threshold of a significant evolution. 

Ships and ports are data rich environments. Leaders in this sector have a remarkable chance to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as cloud native edge computing, AI/ML and Internet of Things (IoT), into their operations. These advancements offer the potential to enhance the safety and well-being of both passengers and workers, boost operational efficiency, and contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. In addition, combining the new technologies and sharing data between various stakeholders in ships ٰand port operations, the industry can realize a potential $13 Billion in annual savings. Below is a more detailed look at the positive impacts that advanced technologies can bring to the maritime industry:

• Edge Computing and IoT, for Enhancing Operations and Creating New Revenue Streams: Edge computing devices, powered by scalable cloud native platforms, offer the potential for significant operational efficiency improvements. Imagine using low-latency sensors at the edge for precise asset tracking and management, optimizing energy consumption, or providing personalized services to cruise passengers based on their behavioral or spending patterns.
• Artificial Intelligence for Improving Safety: It is estimated that human error is responsible for over 75% of shipping accidents. By leveraging data and analytics more effectively, many of these accidents could be prevented. Historically, the shipping industry has generated vast amounts of underutilized data. Applying AI to this data at the edge enables shipping managers to gain real-time insights through predictive analysis. For instance, continuously monitoring ship engines with AI can generate alerts when performance degradation or a failure is predicted.

Figure 1: Cargo ship preparing to depart from Port of Baltimore, showcasing modern maritime operations

Challenges and use cases shaping the maritime industry

In today’s evolving maritime landscape, businesses are actively seeking innovative strategies to better manage costs, ensure consistent operations and prioritize the safety of both crew and passengers. As global efforts intensify to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the maritime industry is at the forefront of a radical transformation. Customers demand not just fuel efficiency but comprehensive digital documentation to ensure compliance with their sustainability goals. 

Across the globe, maritime initiatives are generating interesting use cases that directly address these key challenges. Here are a few areas where we’re observing significant developments:

• Predictive Scheduling and Traffic Management: The continuous growth of the global economy is driving increased traffic to and from ports. By leveraging traffic monitoring to capture data for port entry, tunnels, bridges, and integrating this with scheduling systems, organizations can gain valuable insights. Predictive scheduling within ports can also lead to cost reductions through more accurate personnel allocation.
• Autonomous Ship Control: Implementing autonomous ship control can lead to reduced operational costs, improved engine and machinery performance, and a decrease in human error and accidents. Furthermore, ship automation enables more economical and environmentally-conscious vessel management, while supporting adherence to safety regulations. Positioning systems play a crucial role in minimizing fuel consumption and reducing wear on propulsion equipment.
• AI-Enabled Monitoring and Video Analytics: Integrating AI-powered monitoring and video analytics on ships and within ports offers significant benefits. Combining biometric identification for workers and crew with video analytics, can enhance security and automate workflows. This technology can also provide alerts for potential security risks, such as suspicious individuals or abandoned items in both controlled and uncontrolled environments.
• Fleet and Asset Management: Fleet and asset management solutions utilizing Edge and IoT technologies are enhancing the visibility, integrity and security of assets as they move across vessels, within ports or throughout the supply chain. Ship and port operators can achieve near real-time tracking and monitoring of critical parameters like asset location, temperature and humidity.
• Predictive Maintenance: Predictive, or just-in-time, maintenance is becoming increasingly important in the maritime ecosystem. Analyzing behavioral data from Edge devices allows precise recommendations, including predictive maintenance. This approach improves operational efficiency through timely analysis of components like engine parts, ultimately reducing the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns.

Figure 2: Maritime ecosystem’s approach to addressing edge computing requirements on a ship

SUSE Edge tailored to address maritime industry challenges

SUSE Edge solutions are designed to help the maritime industry overcome its headwinds and address the use cases previously identified. SUSE’s edge technology benefits the entire maritime ecosystem, from the engine room at the rear of the vessel to the bridge where monitoring dashboards and navigation tools are located. Let’s dive into the details.

• Maritime vessels rely on large, powerful engines situated at the rear to propel cruise and merchant ships worldwide. These engines are fitted with numerous sensors that continuously monitor vital parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed, position, fuel-air ratio and carbon emissions. SUSE has collaborated with major engine manufacturers to develop an edge computing solution implemented in the Engine Control Room (ECR). The ECR houses 1 to 5 node Kubernetes clusters (worker nodes) powered by the SUSE Edge platform, which includes SUSE Linux Micro OS, K3s and Rancher agents. This platform hosts applications that constantly analyze engine sensor data to guarantee operational safety and trigger alerts for potential malfunctions. A SUSE Edge management cluster, composed of SUSE Rancher Prime, Metal3, and Cluster API, is located at the enterprise headquarters or in the public cloud. It manages the provisioning and upgrading of the edge worker clusters on the ships at scale. Furthermore, the SUSE Edge platform adheres to IEC TC 62 and EAL4+ certifications, ensuring the security and safety of onboard systems.

• Ships function with on-board edge computing and storage, akin to miniature data centers, supporting navigation, operational technology, data analysis and passenger services. Shipbuilders, system integrators and maritime vendors collaboratively deploy and manage these on-ship data centers. SUSE is partnering with the maritime industry, integrating the SUSE Edge platform into these on-board data centers to power various applications. A centralized SUSE Edge management cluster, located in the public cloud or port-based compute servers, oversees and updates the fleet while docked. Furthermore, SUSE Observability provides unified logs, metrics and traces for real-time monitoring, alerts and analytics.

• Cruise lines and container shipping companies, even with their fleets of ships equipped with data centers, monitoring and OT sensor integration, further enhance revenue by deploying additional services and AI applications (running as VMs or containers) on edge platforms. These AI and computer vision applications improve passenger or freight safety and offer personalized, location-based services through accurate identification. Utilizing satellite connectivity, ships periodically upload data to the cloud.  SUSE provides these major cruise lines and shipping companies with an open, secure and scalable edge platform to support their operational and business needs. For example, the ship owners need to address a unique challenge when ships are docked: the port-based management cluster must rapidly complete software upgrades and data transfers across the fleet (sometimes up to 15 ships simultaneously). SUSE Edge Platform’s zero-touch automation and upgrade features are crucial for these lines to maintain tight schedules and boost operational efficiency.

Figure 3 illustrates SUSE’s distributed edge computing architecture for maritime environments. SUSE’s management cluster is located on compute servers either in a port facility or a public cloud. Worker nodes, responsible for hosting edge applications, are situated within the data centers of the ships.

Figure 3: Distributed edge computing architecture for maritime environments

Despite recent tariff-related setbacks, megaships and cruise lines are transporting record levels of cargo and passengers, respectively. Simultaneously, there’s a growing demand for improved fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact within the maritime industry. The SUSE Edge solution offers a compelling opportunity to address these challenges. Its innovative, low-footprint design and adaptability to resource-constrained environments make it well-suited for integrating new technologies into maritime infrastructure.

Learn More

• Edge and Industrial IoT at Scale – Gorilla Guide
• Finding Value at the Edge – Webinar
• Gartner Report: How Enterprises are applying Edge Computing
• White Paper: Managing Edge Infrastructure at Scale with GitOps
• Edge Customer Success Stories
• Edge Corporate Blogs
• Edge Technical Blogs