Ambient intelligence technologies in support of shipping markets’ operations

The Intelligent Maritime Environment (i-MARE) framework and technological platform we introduce in our paper conceptualize an innovative, collaborative and context-aware network business model for cargo shipping. The i-MARE framework considers ambient-intelligence technologies, in particular an ontology-derived and web semantics based interoperability framework and application modules for key shipping process areas, namely the maritime regulations-rules compliance and port operations support. We explain how the improvement of the later operations can be realized in terms of the proposed technological platform towards the effective matching of individual companies’ capabilities and needs with market demands for cargo shipping. Whereas cargo shipping refers to a number of different markets, our framework is generic and adaptable to the requirements of particular sectors, for instance ocean bulk shipping or short sea container shipping. The framework presented is proposed for testing and application in the maritime sector, whereas in our paper we examine, as a proof of concept, short sea shipping business cases and a normative modelling and architectural solution.