Unlocking Safety and Operational Insights Through Wireless Intelligence

As the maritime industry moves towards automation, digitalisation, and reduced crew numbers, safety and efficiency now depend on reliable connectivity. Yet wired systems continue to dominate, creating vendor lock-in, high installation costs, and operational downtime, while wireless solutions remain underused due to outdated perceptions of reliability.

Produced in partnership with ScanReach, this report explores how shipping can overcome these barriers and adopt a more flexible, human-centric approach to safety and connectivity. Drawing on interviews, case studies, and market analysis, it examines the operational, technical, and human dimensions of the transition from cable-first to wireless intelligence.

The report is structured around three key themes:

• The true cost of a cable-first approach – exploring the safety, financial, and operational risks of wired systems, including high installation costs, rigid infrastructures, and limited real-time situational awareness.

• From risk to resilience: The building blocks of connected maritime operations – showing what effective wireless operations look like, from real-time personnel tracking and automated mustering to flexible, sensor-agnostic IoT networks.

• From awareness to action: The shift to wireless safety and location management – outlining how operators can overcome barriers such as reliability concerns, regulatory acceptance, and digital fatigue, supported by real-world examples of scalable wireless adoption.

By combining insights from shipowners, operators, and technology leaders, the report reveals how wireless connectivity can strengthen safety, reduce cost and complexity, and future-proof maritime operations.

The key aims of the report are to:

• Examine the real-world costs and limitations of wired systems.

• Define the building blocks of resilient, connected maritime operations.

• Present the business and safety case for wireless adoption.

• Provide practical guidance for moving from awareness to action in wireless implementation.

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