The Origins of Maritime Informatics

Maritime informatics—the collecting and recording of information that supports maritime operations and trade—is not new. It started with the need for seafarers to have knowledge about how to safely and efficiently navigate rivers and oceans by knowing what the hazards are, where they are located and the safe passages around them. At times this important hydrographic and charting information was withheld from competing exploring and trading nations for economic and military advantage as well as for territorial gain. However, this attitude changed with the advent of national hydrographic offices beginning in the eighteenth century. More recently and increasingly, ships’ voyages and activities are monitored and recorded remotely to increase efficiency and to improve safety. The shore-side maritime infrastructure is also being re-formed along similar lines by the better sharing of relevant data between all the parties involved in the port call process. This is all being done under the banner of digitalisation.