The Nautical Institute and Lloyd’s Register Foundation have launched a joint initiative to assess how new maritime technologies affect the safety and welfare of seafarers.
The Seafarer Technology Engagement, Empowerment and Resilience (STEER) project will use The Nautical Institute’s international network to gather data and feedback from seafarers, shipowners, equipment manufacturers, regulators and trainers. The aim is to understand how the rapid introduction of new systems and working practices influences safety, skills and decision-making on board and ashore.
“Seafarers are at the heart of shipping, yet their lived experience is often overlooked due to commercial pressures and the rush to innovate,” said Captain David Patraiko FNI, Director of Projects at The Nautical Institute.
“The STEER Project is about listening to those on the front line, their experiences, insights and collective knowledge. Only then we will be able to develop the right tools that the maritime
The partners note that the findings will inform the development of a practical toolbox designed to help the industry adopt technologies that strengthen, rather than replace, human competence and expertise.
The collaboration will run until 2028, with the goal of producing tools and guidance to support a human-centred approach to digitalisation and decarbonisation across the maritime sector.
