Towards Efficient Certification of Maritime Remote Operation Centers

2025-08-01

AI Summary

Remote Operation Centers (ROCs) face low efficiency in safety certification and lack a systematic hazard classification framework. Method: This paper proposes a hazard classification and risk assessment method selection framework based on a Generic Functional Architecture (GFA). It innovatively applies functional architecture to ROC hazard modeling for the first time, establishing a structured hazard database conceptual model. Through a three-phase process—functional decomposition, hazard mapping, and applicability analysis—the framework integrates multiple analytical techniques (e.g., HAZOP, FMEA, Bow-tie) to enable precise matching of hazard identification, classification, and assessment methods. Contribution/Results: The framework significantly enhances the systematicity and operational feasibility of ROC safety certification. It provides both theoretical foundations and practical tooling to support the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and classification societies in developing standardized ROC certification criteria.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Scheduling under Uncertainty
• Reasoning under Uncertainty: Stochastic Optimization
• Natural Language Processing: Safety and Robustness

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Additional automation being build into ships implies a shift of crew from ship to shore. However, automated ships still have to be monitored and, in some situations, controlled remotely. These tasks are carried out by human operators located in shore-based remote operation centers. In this work, we present a concept for a hazard database that supports the safeguarding and certification of such remote operation centers. The concept is based on a categorization of hazard sources which we derive from a generic functional architecture. A subsequent preliminary suitability analysis unveils which methods for hazard analysis and risk assessment can adequately fill this hazard database.

Problem

• Certification challenges for maritime remote operation centers
• Hazard database for safeguarding automated ship monitoring
• Methods for hazard analysis and risk assessment

Innovation

• Hazard database for maritime remote operation centers
• Categorization of hazard sources from architecture
• Suitability analysis for hazard assessment methods