Shipping was the first avenue that allowed man to explore his world. This exploration opened up trading, and over the centuries while air and space travel took off, shipping continues to be a main means of commerce for businesses, and an avenue for leisure for individuals. However, when taking into consideration the fragility of record keeping on ships, and the ease with which files can be destroyed or go missing, the impact of this technology in naval matters becomes paramount.
According to naval law, the captain’s logbook is a legal document that should not be interfered with. Although forging it would be difficult to conceal, a skilled person can make modifications in the book, or easily tear out the pages they wish to remove — making that information lost forever. Another instance when information can be lost is if the ship were to sink with no crew member able to retrieve the log books ahead of time. Blockchain technology can help solve these centuries old issues.
Because blockchain is essentially a distributed ledger system, all of the ship’s files can be copied and stored on multiple worldwide servers via the vessel’s computational device that accesses the internet through satellite. Each entry will be verifiable by the captain’s digital signature.
To prevent information going missing, the logbook servers are kept in constant communication with each other to synchronise the logbooks’ content. The servers close a page in the ship’s logbook (the equivalent of a ‘block’) if a majority of them agree that they hold identical copies. Diverging copies are disregarded. An encrypted checksum of the verified ‘block’ page is computed, so that later alterations can be detected. Afterwards, a link to the following page is added as the ‘chain’ of ‘blocks’ grows.
By doing this, record keeping is kept generally indestructable, save for a worldwide disaster.
Hydrography is the science of the measurement, description, and mapping of the surface waters of the earth, with special reference to their use for navigation. In the last quarter of 2017, the Caribbean Sea was devastated by two major hurricanes (Irma and Maria), which brought hydrography studies to an intersecting point. Until presently, it was difficult to assess a chart’s reliability, and one had to depend on the word of the Hydrographic Offices (the reliability diagrams for example) or of a chartmaker in general.
Compiling a chart using blockchain will lay open the originator of the survey data which went into the chart, its time stamp, the identity of the chart compiler, and the means of the generalisation used. Mariners will be able to check the reliability and usability of any chart, whether produced by the HOs or by private entities, and chose one that is most accurate and appropriate for their needs. In addition, it is to be expected that independent, private chartmakers will adopt this technology much faster than the HOs. This will create a completely new situation by making commercial charts certifiable and classifiable.
In closing, to make the switch from present-day record keeping to DLT is a costly and one that require trust among all parties involved (publicly accountable bodies, private organisations and naval staffs). But, the technology offers a way forward for a revamping of the profession of private chartmakers working alongside HOs who are free to join the effort on the same basis. This spells great benefits to international shipping. Navigators, captains and pilots will be able to use the best nautical data available, no matter whether it is of ‘official’ or ‘private’ origin. After all, the end goal is the reliability and accuracy of nautical information which can help save lives and cargo.
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