Hakan ERCAN
(Ret) Turkish Rear Admiral (LH)

Adaptation to nature is a matter of survival for mariners. Because the sea, "Qui Bene Amat, Bene Castigat", is both "the beloved" and "the severe punisher". The following lines of the "naval operetta", which we sang with joy during Naval High School years, tell it strikingly:

“O waves, o waves, you ended the lives of many sailors….
…rough sea, we love you, no matter how rough you are…”

A good sailor always puts his mind first. The mind learns from the lessons at sea and applies them. It makes the application permanent by making use of science. It also improves and facilitates by utilizing technology.

Technology has reached an unimaginable level nowadays. The human element has been out of the equation in production and governance processes in order to eliminate human errors and increase efficiency; it is being replaced by the communication of machines (internet of things) in a virtual environment. Thanks to this communication provided by cyber-physical systems, for example, it is possible to intervene in malfunctions and perform surgical operations on board ships with remote access, thereby enhancing safety at sea.

Among the emerging and groundbreaking technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), big data (BD), quantum, autonomy and robotics, biotechnology, new types of materials and 3D/4D production provide direct/indirect interaction with maritime. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize maritime operations. AI, for instance, can turn ship lights on/off and even drop/weigh anchors, showcasing its transformative power. Moreover, it can quickly obtain accurate and core information from a wide variety of large data volumes using BD technology, further enhancing efficiency and safety.

Autonomy and robotic technologies are widely used today. Fires on board the ships can be intervened in unmanned or assisted by robots. Significant progress has been made in using unmanned sea vehicles, especially in defence and security. However, what's particularly interesting is the increasing popularity of unmanned research vessels, particularly around offshore platforms, which is a trend worth noting.

On the other hand, no matter how advanced the technology is, amateur sailors are the most vulnerable ones at sea. Therefore, technology is essential for their adaption, safety and survival. Developments in nanotechnology, sensor technology, synthetic biology and a new type of material technology offer resistance to extreme cold/heat, resistance to fires and explosions, and superconductivity to both sailors and ships/boats. In a way, it can be said that new technologies offer them to be "Human 2.0."

Developing quantum technology, expected to revolutionize human life within the next 20 years, will introduce us to concepts such as "ultra-sensitive, ultra-fast, ultra-safe, ultra-strong". For instance, ultra-precision clocks, which are expressed as "1 second backwards or forward in 4-5 billion years" can be used in global positioning, navigation and telecommunication. Quantum radars are expected to detect noise and heat, regardless of the range. It is stated that it will be possible to detect underwater objects with ultra-sensitive magnetic and acoustic sensors, irrespective of the depth.

Green energy transformation, which touches many areas of life, has also gained momentum in maritime. Among the visionary ideas is abandoning the use of diesel engines and creating "renewable energy storage areas" on board the ships within the next 20 years.

Population and consumption constantly increase; however, terrestrial resources are gradually decreasing. Therefore, human beings are more dependent on the seas. So, technology, mainly smart technology, is a growing need for the harmony of humans and the sea. However, when considering technology and maritime together, it is worth remembering that "Amara’s Law" is expressed as "not to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short term and not to underestimate it in the long term".