From isolation to integration: creating safer maritime together

The maritime sector faces challenges that no single organisation or individual can solve alone: climate change, digital transformation, and systemic safety risks. When projects happen in isolation, when knowledge isn’t shared, and when resources aren’t pooled, gaps emerge. And in maritime, gaps in safety can have serious consequences. Investigations show that systemic failures. such as poor communication, inconsistent processes, and lack of data sharing, are underlying factors in many maritime accidents (Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Safety Challenges at Sea).

Investigations into major incidents nearly always reveal the same underlying issues: missing information, poor communication, and fragmented systems. Crews have faced extreme conditions without timely weather data; critical safety details have gone unshared between operators and authorities, leading to navigation errors or delayed emergency response; and there have even been tragedies where training standards varied so widely that crews weren’t prepared for emergencies.

These examples show why connectivity matters. When roles, systems, and knowledge remain disconnected, risks multiply. Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Maritime Connected initiative exists to close those gaps by linking people, sharing data, and creating solutions that prevent accidents before they happen.

Some solutions already exist - weather routing tools, safety data platforms, and global training standards, for example. The problem isn’t that these ideas don’t exist; it’s that they are rarely joined so that they work together. Sometimes systems don’t communicate with each other. Other times, people with valuable insights and innovative ideas just aren’t included in decision-making - and even when they are, their voices aren’t heard. Add to that regional variations in standards and data that remains locked away instead of shared, and the result is a fragmented approach to safety.

That’s where Maritime Connected comes in. We’re not reinventing the wheel- we’re working towards connecting it to the rest of the vehicle. By linking these efforts, creating interoperability, and encouraging collaboration, we can turn good ideas into global solutions. Connectivity closes the gaps that lead to accidents and builds resilience across the entire maritime ecosystem.

After all, safety isn’t about luck - it’s about connection.

When we connect people and roles - from engineers and operators to policymakers and researchers - we create opportunities for collaboration that wouldn’t otherwise exist. When we integrate systems and data, combining safety insights with climate science and digital platforms, we uncover patterns and solutions that can prevent accidents before they happen. And when we share ideas and lessons learned, what works in one part of the world can strengthen safety everywhere.

So what might this look like in practice? Picture a global platform where training academies, shipping companies, and technology providers work together - not in isolation - to deliver digital skills for crews and shore-based teams. By pooling expertise and sharing resources, this connected approach ensures consistent standards worldwide, closing the safety gap that could emerge if training varies. In an increasingly automated environment, that kind of collaboration can prevent errors before they happen.

Or think about a project that examines how rising sea levels and extreme weather affect port safety. By linking local authorities, maritime organisations, and climate experts, the project co-develops adaptive strategies to prevent infrastructure failures and navigation hazards before they occur. Because in maritime, one missed connection - a piece of data, a shared protocol, a training standard - can set off a chain of events with devastating consequences.

These are just examples, but they show the kind of thinking Maritime Connected is here to support: ideas that link roles, close safety gaps, and create solutions that scale.

If you have an idea - big or small - that connects people, systems, and knowledge to transform maritime safety, we want to hear from you. Funding is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis - so don’t wait. Submit your proposal today and help us build a safer, more sustainable maritime future.