Operations Clearing a
s the cruise industry sails past pre- pandemic levels – reaching 34.6 million passengers in 2024 – the expedition cruise sector is full steam ahead.
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Although capacity has been stymied by some ships exiting service and the sector adjusting to new entrants, growth is expected to return as passengers seek more adventurous experiences. As the expedition category continues to become synonymous with luxury, safety assurances for guests will be increasingly important, particularly with navigation systems encountering additional challenges due to climate change and the development of new dynamic itineraries. Incidents in these colder climes have increasingly hit mainstream media over the past few years. For example, in September 2024, Carnival Spirit collided with floating ice at the Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska but did not harm the ship or passengers, and in 2022, Norwegian Sun hit an Alaskan iceberg,
safer path
A new AI-driven approach from Lancaster University could detect icebergs and floating ice with a 94% success rate. Frances Marcellin reports.
resulting in itinerary cancellations and repairs. Although iceberg collisions aren’t common, those involving floating ice – sometimes called growlers – are more likely.
The forming and calving of icebergs affect more than just the tourism industry. They also impact the safety and production of other maritime activities, such as fishing, and oil and gas operations.
From galaxy clusters to icebergs Cruise ships use a combination of radar, sonar, satellite technology and human observation to guide detection, yet their effectiveness can be impaired by weather events or unexpected natural occurrences. But astrophysicist Dr John Stott, a senior lecturer at Lancaster University in the UK, believes that he has found a solution in a new approach combining AI and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, which could address concerns around limited detection range and visibility issues.
World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
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Michal Balada/
Shutterstock.com
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