'Detecting Maritime Drunk Navigation with AI'... Korea Coast Guard Establishes Dedicated Technology Development Team

Ship Traffic Control Technology Development Team, AI System Development by 2022
Real-time Provision of Ship Overspeed and Route Deviation Information to Controllers

Kim Hong-hee, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard (second from the left), is attending the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Vessel Traffic Control Technology Development Unit on the 21st.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard established the 'Ship Traffic Control Technology Development Team' on the 21st to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at preventing maritime drunk driving accidents.

The Ship Traffic Control Technology Development Team will build big data using ship trajectories collected through the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system. It plans to develop an AI system by 2022 that analyzes and detects route deviation patterns occurring during drunk navigation, such as zigzag sailing.

Once developed, this system will provide real-time information on drunk navigation, speeding, and route deviations to controllers. After verification by the controllers, the information will be relayed to the jurisdictional Coast Guard comprehensive situation room or patrol vessels for on-site enforcement.

The Coast Guard decided to develop AI technology because it is difficult to detect drunk navigation using only simple radar information collected at existing control centers, and due to the nature of ships operating in vast seas, it is impossible to apply enforcement methods like automobile breathalyzer tests.

In the past five years, a total of 567 cases of drunk navigation were detected at sea, with 69 accidents caused by drunk navigation during this period.

In February this year, a ship collision with the Busan Gwangandaegyo Bridge was also found to be caused by drunk navigation. This incident caused property damage worth 2.8 billion KRW for repairs to the Gwangandaegyo Bridge and led to nearly two months of vehicle traffic restrictions, causing inconvenience to citizens.

A Coast Guard official stated, "Despite strengthening the punishment standards under the Maritime Safety Act, drunk navigation continues to be detected," adding, "We will do our best to protect the lives and safety of the people at sea by developing an automatic drunk navigation detection system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.