OneOcean x Thetius thought leadership research series
Access the first report in the OneOcean and Thetius thought leadership research series, examining how digitalisation is changing the reality of modern bridge operations.
Rethinking the use of digital tools on a digitalised bridge
Access the first report in the OneOcean and Thetius thought leadership research series, examining how digitalisation is changing the reality of modern bridge operations.
About the series
OneOcean has partnered with maritime innovation research specialist Thetius to launch a new two-part research series examining how digitalisation is changing the reality of modern bridge operations.
The series explores how shipping has become more connected, data-rich and digitally complex, while the way crews are prepared and supported has not always kept pace.
The first report
The first report in the series, Decision-optimised or overloaded? Rethinking the use of digital tools on a digitalised bridge, examines how digital navigation is reshaping bridge operations and what this means for safety, performance and operational resilience.
Digital navigation systems have improved the capabilities of modern bridge teams, but these improvements have also changed the nature of bridge work. The bridge is no longer only a navigation hub; it is now part of a wider digital operating environment that connects voyage execution, performance management, emissions reporting, compliance and shoreside oversight.
The report outlines that the main challenge for crews is not a lack of information. In many cases, crews now have more information than ever before. The central issue is whether that information is presented in a way that supports safe and effective decision-making.
Why it matters
The report explores how bridge teams are now expected to monitor alerts, validate data, interpret system outputs, clear alarms and handle discrepancies among tools. Although the bridge is more digitally capable than before, it is also far more cognitively demanding.
Bridge teams are dealing with more than just navigation, as alarms, disconnected systems, different interfaces and extra reporting requirements all add to the workload. This is most clearly felt during the busiest parts of a voyage, such as pilotage, congested waters, poor weather, or when a system stops behaving as expected.
Improving bridge operations is not about adding more technology. It is about making digital navigation environments easier to use, better connected, less noisy and closer to how crews actually work.
What’s next
The second part of the research series will follow in June and will examine whether current training and competency models are keeping pace with the realities of digital bridge operations.