In a significant step towards advancing maritime safety, IIT Bombay and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) marking the beginning of a crucial initiative aimed at developing a ship trajectory prediction tool. Mr. P.K. Mishra, Joint Managing Director of IRS, and representatives from IIT Bombay formalized the agreement.

This innovative tool is designed to enhance early warning systems and improve rescue operation planning by accurately predicting the movement of disabled ships and floating objects in the open sea. Understanding and predicting the drift of disabled vessels and floating objects, influenced by location-specific environmental conditions, is crucial for timely and effective response and rescue efforts.

The collaborative project will focus on creating a trajectory prediction tool that enables quick response for locating drifting vessels and rerouting nearby ships to bolster maritime safety. Additionally, the project will develop a computer program with automated report generation capabilities for seamless integration into existing IRS Emergency Response System (ERS) software programs.

Prof. Manas Behera and Prof. V.K. Srineash of IIT Bombay highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating that it underscores IIT Bombay’s commitment to active industry-academia interaction to achieve several national goals. As an Institute of Eminence, IIT Bombay is dedicated to developing ‘Made in India’ software systems that will significantly enhance maritime safety, rescue, and support operations.

This partnership between IIT Bombay and the IRS represents a pivotal moment in maritime safety advancements. By integrating advanced trajectory prediction tools and automated reporting systems into maritime safety protocols, IIT Bombay is not only contributing to national goals but also setting a global benchmark for industry-academia collaboration. This project is a testament to IIT Bombay’s unwavering commitment to enhancing safety, fostering innovation, and driving progress in critical sectors.