The recent tanker collision in the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through the maritime industry, serving as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our current navigational systems. Yarden Gross, CEO and co-founder of maritime technology company Orca AI, argues that this incident is more than just a tragic accident; it’s a wake-up call for the industry to bolster its situational awareness capabilities, especially in the face of increasing GPS interference and AIS spoofing.
The collision between the tankers Front Eagle and the Adalynn occurred in an area known for intense satellite jamming and AIS spoofing. The Adalynn, allegedly part of the so-called “dark fleet” that operates without AIS transponders, and the Front Eagle, which was reportedly shown in vessel tracking data to be onshore in Iran two days before the collision, highlight the fragility of maritime situational awareness in high-risk regions. Gross points out that the digital infrastructure we’ve long relied on—GPS, AIS, and electronic charts—is increasingly vulnerable to manipulation, particularly in geopolitically tense chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
Bridge crews are navigating in a kind of digital fog, where position data can be corrupted, nearby ships may be invisible by design, and critical seconds for decision-making are lost to uncertainty. Gross asserts that we cannot continue to expect human watchkeepers to bear that burden alone. It’s time to rethink navigation resilience.
AI-powered situational awareness systems, particularly those based on computer vision, offer a critical second layer of perception. These tools can detect, classify, and track vessels and other objects in real time, regardless of whether they are transmitting AIS or whether GPS is functioning accurately. They act as a digital co-pilot, alerting the crew to nearby threats and enabling faster, more confident decisions even when traditional tools fail.
While radar remains the primary and most trusted anti-collision tool, it has its limitations. Interpreting radar returns can be challenging in heavy-trafficked waterways, small targets may be lost in noise, and there is no automatic identification. Advanced technologies like AI-powered situational awareness based on highly sensitive computer vision can play a vital supporting role. These systems offer a second layer of perception, working in parallel with radar to detect, classify, and track vessels and obstacles in real time, regardless of whether AIS and/or GPS are functioning.
According to tracking data reconstructions, the Front Eagle made a sharp starboard turn just before the collision. In such moments, when an unreported or unidentified vessel suddenly emerges in close quarters, the value of a redundant, independent perception system becomes obvious. Computer vision sees what’s physically there, not what compromised data might suggest. This isn’t about replacing radar or human vigilance; it’s about strengthening both.
In areas where spoofing and jamming are increasingly common, and where there is dark-fleet activity more specifically, AI and computer vision can serve as a vital safeguard to detect the undetectable, confirm the uncertain, and ensure crews remain situationally aware when traditional inputs are in doubt. Gross emphasizes that we’ve long accepted redundancy in mechanical systems as a maritime safety principle. We double up critical systems, train for worst-case scenarios, and insist on backup plans. It’s time to apply the same logic to navigational awareness.
Because when the digital map becomes unreliable, when GPS falters and AIS goes dark, the ship still moves forward. And what’s needed then is intelligent vision that helps bridge navigators see, and take appropriate action, with clarity.
This incident and Gross’s insights raise important questions about the future of maritime navigation. As GPS interference and AIS spoofing become more prevalent, how will the industry adapt? Will AI-powered situational awareness become a standard feature on vessels, particularly those operating in high-risk areas? And how will the maritime community balance the need for enhanced situational awareness with the potential risks and ethical considerations associated with AI and computer vision technologies?
The Strait of Hormuz collision serves as a catalyst for these discussions, pushing the maritime industry to innovate and evolve. The path forward is clear: to ensure safe navigation in an increasingly complex and challenging environment, the industry must embrace advanced technologies and rethink its approach to situational awareness. The stakes are high, but the potential benefits—safer seas, more secure shipping, and greater resilience in the face of digital threats—are well worth the effort.