Maritime Communication Research Articles

Industrial blockchain threshold signatures in federated learning for unified space-air-ground-sea model training

The space-air-ground-sea three-dimensional (3D) network is a comprehensive communication network system. This 3D network combines extensive coverage of satellite communications, adaptability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications, reliability of terrestrial communications, and the necessity for maritime communications. These networks generate enormous amounts of data, and training machine learning (ML) models on this data will have a significant impact on industry. At the same time, the availability of such data poses numerous security threats, which can be overcome using Federated Learning (FL). Decentralized training in FL can provide a universal model from local data generated by 3D networks. However, most existing FL frameworks have a centralized server, which questions credibility, single-point failure, and global confidence. To solve these problems, industrial blockchain technology has received a lot of attention by replacing centralized servers in traditional FL, which offers a promising approach to address key issues like data privacy and security. In a blockchain-based system, digital signatures are a core component for ensuring data integrity and system security, however, private key disclosure can pose significant risks. Security can be enhanced by using threshold signatures which provide a more reliable foundation for FL by storing keys in multiple nodes and requiring multiple nodes to collaborate to generate signatures. In this paper, we propose a Threshold signing scheme for ISO/IEC Digital Signature Standards (TDSS) in an industrial blockchain. The TDSS scheme helps FL to achieve truly distributed decentralization for unified space-air-ground-sea model training. The TDSS scheme exploits the SM-2 digital signature algorithm in the ISO/IEC standard when t out of n nodes in an industrial blockchain interact with each other to calculate the signature. The experimental results and analysis show that the TDSS scheme has provable security and efficient against security attacks, which can be applied to large-scale threshold signing scenarios.

Game Theoretical Incentive for USV Fleet-Assisted Data Sharing in Maritime Communication Networks

Game Theoretical Incentive for USV Fleet-Assisted Data Sharing in Maritime Communication Networks

A New Link Adaptation Technique for Very High Frequency Data Exchange System in Future Maritime Communication

The growing demand for communication technology capable of providing high transmission rates in maritime environments has led to the exploration of the very high frequency (VHF) data exchange system (VDES) as a promising solution. The VDES, the integration of an automatic identification system (AIS), application-specific messaging (ASM), and VHF data exchange (VDE), offers improved transmission rates and stable connections compared with existing technologies. Although the VDES supports high transmission rates through various modulation and coding scheme (MCS) technologies, it lacks a standardized mechanism for controlling MCS parameters and relies on user algorithms for operation. In this paper, we introduce the maritime auto-rate fall-back (mARF) technology, designed to effectively address the challenges of maritime communication scenarios using the MCS framework provided by the VDES. mARF technology incorporates fast drop-out and recovery mechanisms to swiftly adapt to changing MCS types in the presence of deep nulls, a common occurrence in maritime communication environments. These adaptive thresholds for fast drop-out and recovery operations are dynamically learned using historical communication data. Through extensive simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of mARF in enhancing the MCS control capabilities of the VDES. Our results show a significant performance improvement of 18% compared to the existing model, validating the potential of mARF in optimizing maritime communication channels and supporting a high transmission rate.

Empowering 6G maritime communications with distributed intelligence and over-the-air model sharing

Introduction: Shipping and maritime transportation have gradually gained a key role in worldwide economical strategies and modern business models. The realization of Smart Shipping (SMS) powered by advanced 6G communication networks, as well as innovative Machine Learning (ML) solutions, has recently become the focal point in the maritime sector. However, conventional centralized learning schemes are unsuitable in the maritime domain, due to considerable data communication overhead, stringent energy constraints, increased transmission failures in the harsh propagation environment, as well as data privacy concerns.Methods: To overcome these challenges, we propose the joint adoption of Federated Learning (FL) principles and the utilization of the Over-the-Air computation (AirComp) wireless transmission framework. Thus, this paper initially describes the mathematical considerations of a 6G maritime communication system, focusing on the heterogeneity of the relevant nodes and the channel models, including an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-aided relaying model that is usually required in maritime communications. The communication network, enhanced with the AirComp technique for efficiency purposes, forms the technical basis for the collaborative learning across multiple Internet of Maritime Things (IoMT) nodes in FL tasks. The workflow of the FL/AirComp scheme is illustrated and proposed as a communication-efficient and privacy-aware SMS framework, considering spectrum and energy efficiency aspects under a sum transmitting power constraint.Results: Then, the performance of the proposed methodology is assessed in an important ML task, related to intelligent maritime transportation systems, namely, the prediction of the Cargo Ship Propulsion Power using real data originating from six cargo ships and utilizing long-short-term-memory (LSTM) neural networks. Upon extensive experimentation, FL showed higher prediction accuracy relative to the typical Ensemble Learning technique by a factor of 3.04. The AirComp system performance was evaluated under varying noise conditions and number of IoMT nodes, using simulation data for the channel state information by regulating the power of the transmitting IoMT entities and the scaling factor at the shore base station.Discussion: The results clearly indicate the efficiency of the proposed FL/AirComp scheme in achieving low computation error, collaborative learning, spectrum efficiency and privacy protection in wireless maritime communications, while providing adequate accuracy levels with respect to the optimization objective.

Digital Horizons in Maritime Education: Navigating Challenges and Perspectives at STIP Jakarta

This research investigates the integration of digitalization challenges in maritime education, focusing on 240 cadets at the Maritime Institute Jakarta (STIP Jakarta). In their pivotal third semester, cadets undergo comprehensive preparation for internships, aligning with their majors—Nautical, Technical, and Port and Shipping Management. The study, adopting a qualitative descriptive approach, delves into cadets' perspectives on "An Integrative Approach for Digitalization Challenges of the Future Maritime Specialists" over three semesters. The findings reveal a nuanced landscape. While cadets acknowledge the importance of digital competencies, there is a notable gap in their confidence in preparedness. The positive correlation between perceived digital proficiency and overall professional competences signifies the integral connection between traditional maritime skills and digital literacy. Motivations driving cadets include enhanced employability (64%) and personal development (28%), pointing to a pragmatic and forward-looking mindset. The self-checked intelligence aspect exposes a potential gap between awareness and action, with 80% recognizing its importance but only 35% engaging in regular self-assessment. Perspectives on digital challenges reflect a balance between optimism (52%) and concerns about job displacement (38%), necessitating a holistic educational approach. The research underscores the paramount importance of English literacy, with 82% recognizing its significance in international maritime communication. The implications call for targeted curriculum enhancements, interventions promoting regular self-assessment, and a balanced approach to addressing digital challenges. Recommendations include bridging the gap between recognized importance and perceived preparedness, leveraging motivations for tailored programs, and cultivating a culture of self-reflection. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of cadets' perspectives, offering a roadmap for STIP Jakarta and similar institutions to navigate the digital horizons of maritime education effectively.

Геостратегическое положение России на Балтике как угроза морской блокады в современных условиях

This article utilises a systematic approach for a comprehensive examination of the Baltic Sea region as a geopolitical space and an analysis of geopolitical events (event-analysis) aimed to assess the capabilities of the US and NATO to impose a naval blockade on Russia in the Baltic Sea. This study is made relevant by the growing confrontation between the collective West and Russia, and the provocative anti-Russian rhetoric adopted by official representa­tives of NATO states. Finland’s accession to NATO, Sweden’s ‘de facto’ participation in the Alliance and Russia’s geostrategic position in the Baltic region have created a situation where the sea may turn into a literal trap for the latter country. There is a threat of a maritime and trade blockade of Russia amid US and EU sanctions policy against Russian oil and calls by some Western leaders for limiting Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea to protect their countries’ maritime communications from ‘Russian aggression’. The findings of this study and an anal­ysis of the geopolitical and military-strategic situation in the Baltic Sea region suggest that this threat may become a reality. Its significance is also evidenced by steps taken by US and NATO towards escalation in relations with Russia, attempts to damage the country’s econo­my and the anti-Russian hysteria of the Baltic States.

Near-Space Communications: The Last Piece of 6G Space–Air–Ground–Sea Integrated Network Puzzle

This article presents a comprehensive study on the emerging near-space communications (NS-COM) within the context of space–air–ground–sea integrated network (SAGSIN). Specifically, we firstly explore the recent technical developments of NS-COM, followed by the discussions about motivations behind integrating NS-COM into SAGSIN. To further demonstrate the necessity of NS-COM, a comparative analysis between the NS-COM network and other counterparts in SAGSIN is conducted, covering aspects of deployment, coverage, channel characteristics, and unique problems of NS-COM network. Afterward, the technical aspects of NS-COM, including channel modeling, random access, channel estimation, array-based beam management, and joint network optimization, are examined in detail. Furthermore, we explore the potential applications of NS-COM, such as structural expansion in SAGSIN communication, civil aviation communication, remote and urgent communication, weather monitoring, and carbon neutrality. Finally, some promising research avenues are identified, including stratospheric satellite-to-ground direct links for mobile terminals, reconfigurable multiple-input multiple-output and holographic multiple-input multiple-output, federated learning in NS-COM networks, maritime communication, electromagnetic spectrum sensing and adversarial game, integrated sensing and communications, stratospheric-satellite-based radar detection and imaging, NS-COM-assisted enhanced global navigation system, NS-COM-assisted intelligent unmanned system, and free-space optical communication. Overall, this paper highlights that the NS-COM plays an indispensable role in the SAGSIN puzzle, providing substantial performance and coverage enhancement to the traditional SAGSIN architecture.

Analysis of Research Trends in Maritime Communication

Analysis of Research Trends in Maritime Communication

A non-orthogonal modulation based high spectral efficiency and high security multi-carrier differential chaos shift keying for maritime communications

A non-orthogonal modulation based high spectral efficiency and high security multi-carrier differential chaos shift keying for maritime communications

Improving Connectivity in 6G Maritime Communication Networks With UAV Swarms

Improving Connectivity in 6G Maritime Communication Networks With UAV Swarms

Robust Beamforming Design for Integrated Satellite-Terrestrial Maritime Communications in the Presence of Wave Fluctuation

Robust Beamforming Design for Integrated Satellite-Terrestrial Maritime Communications in the Presence of Wave Fluctuation

An Experimental Analysis and Modeling of Short Term Fading Channel for Beyond Horizon Maritime Communications at 25 GHz in South China Sea

An Experimental Analysis and Modeling of Short Term Fading Channel for Beyond Horizon Maritime Communications at 25 GHz in South China Sea

Evolution of wireless communication networks from 5G to 6G future perspective

Industry 4.0 relies heavily on artificial-intelligence(AI) and cloud-computing(CC), both of which have been greatly aided by the 5th-generation mobile-network (5G). The arrival of 5G, however, is seen as a watershed moment that will radically alter the current global trends in wireless communication practices and the lives of the masses. 5G envisions a future where the digital and physical worlds merge. The 6th-generation (6G) wireless communication network will likely unite terrestrial, aerial, and maritime communications into a single, unified system that is both more stable and faster, and can accommodate a far larger number of devices with ultra-low latency needs. This research hopes to foresee a scenario in which 6G supersedes 5G as the dominant standard for wireless communication in the years to come. Several advances have been made, but the utopian period of instantaneous global communication, instantaneous global computation, and no latency has not yet arrived. This essay investigates the most significant obstacles and difficulties that the transition from 5G to 6G may encounter on the way to realizing these loftier goals. The vital goal of "technology for humanity" is to improve service to the world's most disadvantaged people, and this article lays out a plan for 6G that includes the enabling technology infrastructures, obstacles, and research directions that will get us there.

Elevating Maritime Competence: A Qualitative Analysis of Semester 3 Cadets' Perspectives at Maritime Institute Jakarta (STIP Jakarta)

This research delves into the intricate realm of maritime education, focusing on the academic and professional preparedness of Semester 3 cadets at the Maritime Institute Jakarta (STIP Jakarta). Anchored in a qualitative descriptive approach, the study synthesizes document analysis and cadet surveys to unravel the multifaceted dynamics shaping the educational landscape. The document analysis reveals a curriculum at STIP Jakarta that aligns commendably with international standards, supported by comprehensive lecturer training programmes. However, the nuanced cadet perspectives spotlight a need for refined emphasis on the practical application of English proficiency in real-world maritime scenarios. Cadet self-assessment underscores both confidence in academic intelligence and an identified need for additional language support, calling for targeted interventions. Exploring professional competences uncovers a disparity between technical proficiency and English Maritime communication, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to bridge this gap. Cadet motivations vary from a genuine passion for maritime activities to the allure of lucrative career prospects and international recognition. Recognizing this diversity urges the need for personalised career guidance and mentorship programmes. The research also sheds light on English Maritime and Literacy proficiency, differentiating between basic skills and the ability to handle complex communication scenarios. Recommendations include integrating advanced language modules and tailored language support initiatives within the curriculum, ensuring a seamless development of linguistic skills alongside technical competences. In conclusion, this research offers a comprehensive understanding of maritime education at STIP Jakarta, unveiling challenges and opportunities that resonate globally. The synthesis of findings and recommendations forms a compass for refining pedagogical approaches, fostering linguistic and technical adeptness in future maritime professionals. This voyage towards enhancement is not merely a localized pursuit but a contribution to the broader discourse on cultivating global competence in maritime education.

Возможности транспортировки арктической нефти на НПЗ Республики Башкортостан

Communications play an important role in the economic development of states and regions, in the development of new markets by connecting distributed areas of economic activity. The modern sanction economy is characterised by the change of economic partners and, accordingly, communication direc-tions. Thus, the vector of Arctic oil exports is shifting to the Asia-Pacific region, which increases the role of maritime communications for its transport. At the same time, from a practical point of view, it can be as-sumed that Arctic oil can become one of the resources of domestic refineries. The aim of the study was to consider the possibilities of providing the oldest oil refining complex of the Republic of Bashkortostan with Arctic oil and to build a basic scheme of spatial organisation of communications linking the economic space of Russia. Achievement of the set goal required the solution of the following tasks: to determine the role of Russia in the world oil exports on the basis of “bp Statistical Review of World Energy”; to conduct a comprehensive analysis of studies of domestic scientists on the issues of oil production, sales and refining, as well as promising Arctic offshore projects; and to consider the features of the oil refining industry of Russia and, in particular, the Republic of Bashkortostan. As a result of the research, the conclusions about the prospectivity of Arctic oil production and about the possibilities of its delivery to the refineries of the Republic of Bashkortostan have been obtained; for these purposes, a principal scheme of spatial organisation of communications linking oil deliveries from Arctic offshore fields to refineries in Ufa of the Republic of Bashkortostan has been developed.

Research of the New Generation Marine Navigation Security Communication System

With the number of Chinese ships rapidly increasing, the available channels for the Automatic Identification System (AIS) are serious congested. This has led to a sharp rise in collision warnings. The maritime communication System is comprehensively updated from AIS to VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) in order to ensure efficient communication of huge scale, high density maritime ships as well as guarantee marine navigation security. In this paper, the new generation marine navigation security communication system based on VDES is studied. Designing communication systems for ships at sea, shore-based base stations and space-based satellites; The two-way data exchange between huge scale, high density ships-to-ships and ship-to-shore by VHF frequency band in nearshore and port areas can promote the development of maritime navigation technology and maritime economic.

Analyzing Port State Control Data to Explore Future Improvements to GMDSS Training

This article uses data generated by Port State Control (PSC) inspections of ships in national ports (Paris MoU) to assess their compliance with radio-communications safety regulations. By mainly applying binary logistic regression methods, the aim is to examine and understand the relationship between the severity of deficiencies in maritime communications and some characteristics of inspected ships. The raw data from the PSC detention database from 2005 to 2022 undergoes post-processing before being analyzed to explore patterns and coincidences with the rest of the potential risk areas. To do so, 23,725 PSC inspections were used. Several classification criteria have been proposed that can better gauge the risk related to distress communications at sea from the dataset. The results connect the probability of detention with the ship age at the inspection date, the flag of the registry, the type of ship, and the location of the port within the countries adhering to the Paris MoU. Another achievement is that the number of PSC inspections of maritime communications in a given period is a better indicator of the risk to safety than the total number of deficiencies detected in these inspections during the same period. This study also explores inspection deficiencies related to competency gaps identified in the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) operators, and precisely using the number of PSC inspections as a criterion of risk for safety is consistent with the recommendations of the Maritime Safety Committee Circular (2006), MSC.1/Circ.1208. Another finding from the time series is that a greater rate of decrease is identified for GMDSS equipment-related deficiencies compared to GMDSS training-related deficiencies. This alone poses a review of the refreshing courses and methods to maintain the General Operator Certificate (GOC) qualification to operate maritime radio communications facilities belonging to the (current and future) GMDSS.

Maritime Communications—Current State and the Future Potential with SDN and SDR

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened up exciting possibilities for new applications. One such novel application is the modernization of maritime communications. Effective maritime communication is vital for ensuring the safety of crew members, vessels, and cargo. The maritime industry is responsible for the transportation of a significant portion of global trade, and as such, the efficient and secure transfer of information is essential to maintain the flow of goods and services. With the increasing complexity of maritime operations, technological advancements such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and the Internet of Ships (IoS) have been introduced to enhance communication and operational efficiency. However, these technologies also bring new challenges in terms of security and network management. Compromised IT systems, with escalated privileges, can potentially enable easy and ready access to operational technology (OT) systems and networks with the same privileges, with an increased risk of zero-day attacks. In this paper, we first provide a review of the current state and modalities of maritime communications. We then review the current adoption of software-defined radios (SDRs) and software-defined networks (SDNs) in the maritime industry and evaluate their impact as maritime IoT enablers. Finally, as a key contribution of this paper, we propose a unified SDN–SDR-driven cross-layer communications framework that leverages the existing SATCOM communications infrastructure, for improved and resilient maritime communications in highly dynamic and resource-constrained environments.

UAV Relay Energy Consumption Minimization in an MEC-Assisted Marine Data Collection System

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted maritime communication systems have drawn considerable attention due to their potential for broadband maritime communication applications. However, their limited energy resources remains a critical issue in providing long-term data transmission support for maritime applications. In this study, an integrated sea–air–terrestrial communication system was constructed for marine data collection, where several unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are deployed to collect marine data from underwater sensors (UWSs), and a UAV hovers above these USVs as a relay node, transmitting marine data from USVs to an onshore base station (BS). To prolong the lifetime of the UAV relay, mobile edge computing technology is applied in USVs for partial data computing, which reduces the to-be-relayed data volume from UAVs to USVs to onshore BS as well as the relay energy consumption of UAV. A parallel data computing and transmission scheme was developed for simultaneous local data computing and relaying in the proposed system. Accordingly, a UAV energy consumption minimization problem was formulated with constraints on the USV’s computational ability, the USV’s transmission power budget, the UAV transmission power budget, and the maximum system latency. To effectively solve this nonconvex optimal problem, an energy optimal partial data computing and relaying strategy was constructed by successively optimizing the data partial computational offloading ratio, USV transmit power allocation, and UAV transmit power. Numerical simulations were used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

Implementation of an Efficient Image Transmission Algorithm for Unmanned Surface Vehicles Based on Semantic Communication

With the increasingly maturing technology of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), their applications are becoming more and more widespread. In order to meet operational requirements in complex scenarios, the real-time interaction and linkage of a large amount of information is required between USVs, between USVs and mother ships, and between USVs and shore-based monitoring systems. Visual images are the main perceptual information gathered from USVs, and their efficient transmission and recognition directly affect the real-time performance of information exchange. However, poor maritime communication signals, strong channel interference, and low bandwidth pose great challenges to efficient image transmission. Traditional image transmission methods have difficulty meeting the real-time and image quality requirements of visual image transmissions from USVs. Therefore, this paper proposes an efficient method for visual image transmission from USVs based on semantic communication. A self-encoder network for semantic encoding which compresses the image into low-dimensional latent semantics through the encoding end, thereby preserving semantic information while greatly reducing the amount of data transmitted, is designed. On the other hand, a generative adversarial network is designed for semantic decoding. The decoding end decodes and reconstructs high-quality images from the semantic information transmitted through the channel, thereby improving the efficiency of image transmission. The experimental results show that the performance of the algorithm is significantly superior to traditional image transmission methods, achieving the best image quality while transmitting the minimum amount of data. Compared with the typical BPG algorithm, when the compression ratio of the proposed algorithm is 51.6% of that of the BPG algorithm, the PSNR and SSIM values are 7.6% and 5.7% higher than the BPG algorithm, respectively. And the average total time of the proposed algorithm is only 59.4% of that of the BPG algorithm.