Decentralized Documentation of Maritime Traffic Incidents to Support Conflict Resolution

For the investigation of major traffic accidents, larger vessels are obliged to install a voyage data recorder (VDR). However, not every vessel is equipped with VDR, and readout often manual process that costly. In addition, only ship-related information can be relevant for reconstructing but also from other entities such as meteorological services or port operators. Moreover, another challenge tend trust their records, those others these could manipulated in favor particular recording entity (e.g., disguise any damage caused). This paper presents an approach documenting arbitrary different trustworthy, decentralized, tamper-proof manner support conflict resolution process. this purpose, all involved situation contribute documentation by persisting available data. Since maritime stakeholders various sensors, diverse meaningful foundation aggregated. The then signed mutually agreed upon timestamping authority (TSA). way, everyone cryptographically verify whether has been subsequently changed. was successfully applied practice vessel’s mooring maneuver.