Europe’s maritime and inland waterway transport sectors are undergoing rapid digitalisation, but the challenge has shifted from mere innovation to robust protection. As vessels become more connected, ensuring their systems are secure, resilient, and dependable has become urgent. In response, the EU-funded initiative WARRaNT (WAterborne fedeRated systems and models for secuRe and resilieNT operations) has launched, uniting 14 leading organisations across Europe. The project kicked off with an in-person meeting in Athens on 24–25 June 2025, marking the start of a three-year mission to future-proof the digital backbone of European shipping.
“WARRaNT is more than a research project — it’s a strategic partnership to shape the digital backbone of Europe’s future maritime industry,” said Georgia Tsiochantari, Senior Project Manager at Inlecom Group. Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, WARRaNT aims to address the complex safety, cybersecurity, and operational risks posed by increased automation, AI, and connectivity at sea. “With our diverse and highly skilled consortium, we are ready to deliver practical tools and standards for a safer, smarter, and greener shipping sector,” added Anargyros S. Mavrakos, Senior Research Engineer at Inlecom Group.
The timing of WARRaNT is no coincidence. Cybersecurity threats are growing more sophisticated, automation systems face increasing scrutiny, and environmental demands are reshaping the maritime landscape. The project arrives at a critical juncture where trust in digital systems must be earned, and resilience built into every layer of maritime operations. WARRaNT aims to strengthen that trust, laying the groundwork for safer, smarter vessels by embedding cybersecurity, AI, and smart mobility systems into the fabric of European shipping. By integrating digital twins, advanced risk models, and human factors, the initiative supports the evolution of connected and autonomous vessels that are sustainable, secure, and dependable.
Over its three-year course, WARRaNT will develop a validated methodology for ensuring the dependable operation of Waterborne Digital Systems (WDS) and the Safe, Resilient Operation of Digitalised Ships (SRODS). This encompasses AI integration, remote operations, cybersecurity frameworks, and human-machine collaboration. The project will also establish a collaborative Knowledge Platform to foster data sharing, simulation, risk-based design, and digital assurance across the sector. Innovation will be tested and refined through four Living Labs, each focused on real-world maritime environments—including containerships, smart containers, autonomous green vessels, and remote shipping operations. Through this hands-on approach, WARRaNT will engage stakeholders, deliver tailored training programmes, and contribute to policy recommendations and industry standards, ensuring Europe’s digital shipping transformation is bold and built to last.
The project unites 14 partners from eight countries, spanning the full maritime innovation chain. INLECOM Group (Belgium) leads the project, focusing on digitalisation strategies, resilience frameworks, and transport dataspaces. SINTEF Ocean (Norway) leads methodology and standardisation for dependable waterborne digital systems, while SINTEF Digital (Norway) handles cybersecurity assurance and training. DNV AS (Norway) provides risk assurance, classification, and certification expertise. DST (Germany) leads the Living Lab on autonomous green vessels, and TU Delft (Netherlands) focuses on safe and autonomous marine vessel systems and operations. VLTN (Belgium) handles stakeholder modelling and adoption pathway simulations, while TECNALIA (Spain) develops cybersecurity tools and privacy-enhancing technologies. NTUA (Greece) leads the Living Labs ecosystem and HAZOP risk analysis, and SEAFAR (Belgium) leads the Living Lab on dependable remote operations. AELER (Switzerland) leads the Smart Container Systems Living Lab, and KONNECTA (Greece) develops the Knowledge Platform, digital twins, and AI. DANAOS Shipping (Cyprus) leads the Living Lab on digital containership operations, and Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium) is an associated partner on port-ship cyber-resilience.
This news shapes future developments in the sector by highlighting the critical need for cybersecurity and resilience in maritime digitalisation. As vessels become more connected, the industry must prioritise protecting these systems to ensure safe and efficient operations. WARRaNT’s focus on practical tools, standards, and real-world testing through Living Labs sets a precedent for how the sector can address these challenges. The project’s collaborative approach, involving stakeholders from research to regulatory compliance, ensures that the solutions developed are comprehensive and widely applicable. By embedding cybersecurity, AI, and smart mobility systems into the fabric of European shipping, WARRaNT paves the way for a future where maritime operations are not only digital but also secure and resilient. This initiative is a wake-up call for