DigiMar Project: Strengthening Maritime Communication for Safer Seas

The maritime industry is one of the most globally interconnected sectors, yet miscommunication remain a major contributing factor to accidents at sea. To address this critical issue, the DigiMar project (Digital Education for Maritime Communication) was launched in October 2023, uniting maritime authorities and higher maritime education institutions from Northern and Southern Europe. Running until September 2026, the three-year initiative focuses on improving routine maritime communication through digital learning tools, training pilot studies, and cross-border collaboration. The project is funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union.

Novia University of Applied Sciences is among the ten partners in DigiMar, working alongside universities, maritime administrations, and vessel traffic services (VTS) centers from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Croatia.

Why DigiMar Matters

Communication at sea has evolved significantly over centuries, but modern shipping still faces challenges. Misunderstandings, deviations from communication protocols, and language barriers often contribute to unsafe situations. DigiMar aims to bridge these gaps by creating new ways of teaching Standard Maritime Communication Phrases (SMCP) and related protocols.

“This project is about bringing together education institutions and maritime authorities from various countries in the Northern and Southern regions of Europe to discuss and find ways of ensuring that routine communication happens the way it should,” says Project Manager Franklin Nyairo from Novia.

“We’re happy to have experts from the maritime sector engaged, and we look forward to feedback on the instructional videos and other digital tools we’ve developed.”

From Fire Beacons to AI Chatbots

One of DigiMar’s strengths is its dual focus on the past and the future of maritime communication. Project Researcher Anne Bouyssou Chen emphasizes that maritime communication has always been at the heart of safety at sea.

“From fire beacons and signal flags to Marconi’s radio and now to digital tools, communication has been the backbone of navigation, rescue, and cooperation,” Bouysson Chen explains. “The shift we are experiencing today is towards hybrid communication, less human voice, more digital, and even machine-to-machine data exchanges as autonomous shipping develops. But we still need a common language to avoid misunderstandings.”

Anne Bouyssou Chen gives a historical overview that traces the path from the First International Code of Signals in 1855, through the First International Code of Communication created by Samuel Morse (the Morse Code), the distress signals used by the Titanic, to the First Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS convention) of 1914, which made continuous radio watches mandatory on ships. Today, international organizations like the IMO, the IALA (International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation) and the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) regulate maritime communication standards, but DigiMar is taking this a step further by embedding new digital learning materials directly into training.

What DigiMar Delivers

The project has already produced instructional videos and is developing chatbots to help cadets and officers practice communication scenarios. These tools are designed to be practical, short, and highly relevant for use in classrooms and simulator training.

“We carried out pre- and post-training studies to measure how students applied routine communication before and after using the materials,” Franklin Nyairo explains. “The aim is to see measurable improvement in how correctly and confidently they use communication standards.”

Scenarios are inspired by real-world incidents where communication failures played a role, covering everything from the use of the phonetic alphabet to the correct reporting of ship positions. VTS authorities and maritime administrations have validated the relevance of these materials to ensure they add value to both education and operations.

Looking Ahead

The DigiMar project not only aims to strengthen training and operational practices but also to contribute to revising international communication standards. By integrating digital learning and new technologies into maritime education, the project seeks to equip the next generation of seafarers and VTS operators with the communication skills required for safer, more efficient navigation.

“We believe that the findings of DigiMar will help improve how maritime communication is taught and practiced, leading to safer seas for everyone,” Franklin Nyairo concludes.

The next DigiMar Multiplier event at Aboa Mare will take place on Thursday 18 September (9-10 online). For more information contact Anne Bouyssou Chen or Franklin Nyairo.