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.

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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.

The second report

The second report in the series, Competent or compliant? Seafarer readiness in modern maritime operations, examines the widening gap between formal qualification and genuine operational readiness among today’s seafarers.

Crews are progressing through the ranks faster than ever, yet the demands placed on them onboard continue to grow. The report finds that certification alone is no longer a reliable indicator of whether a crew member is ready to perform under pressure. STCW remains fundamental to global shipping, but companies must still build the bridge between qualifications and day-to-day operational performance on their own vessels.

Drawing on a survey of experienced maritime professionals, the report outlines that just 18% believe current training and certification models prepare crews well for modern operations. The remaining 82% describe them as neutral, poorly aligned, or very poorly aligned with the realities of life onboard.

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Why it matters

The report explores how the competence gap shows up most clearly at key transition points: joining a new vessel, moving between ships with different equipment and procedures, and facing conditions that fall outside routine operations. In each case, seafarers are tested on more than technical knowledge. They are tested on prioritisation, judgement, communication, and situational awareness.

Compliance-focused training is identified by more than half of respondents as a contributor to these gaps, with course completion often prioritised over practical readiness. Situational awareness and decision-making under pressure emerge as the largest skills gaps overall, followed closely by systems literacy, communication, and teamwork.

Closing this gap will mean ensuring crews are genuinely prepared for the pressures, systems, and judgement calls they will actually face at sea.

Watch the webinar recordings: