# Visual Navigation Systems for Maritime Smart Ships: A Survey
## 2 Smart Ships and Navigation Technology
### Smart Ships
#### 2.1.2 Progress and Development of Smart Ships
And as ships move towards autonomy, the number of crew members will be reduced and agencies will need to consider specialized training and education for personnel involved in special functions to further develop smart ships. Smart ships have a positive impact in terms of capital savings, lower fuel costs, energy savings, improved safety at sea and environmental protection. However, there are challenges in terms of port operations, port capacity and insurance. Putting smart ships into practical use reduces human error, which in turn reduces the costs associated with accidents and subsequent insurance and optimizes operations and processes [13]. Increased cargo handling capacity and up to a 90% reduction in labor costs will result as smart ships achieve targeted efficiencies without the need for personnel [14]. Figure 2 shows the overall percentages for the annual cost of cargo transportation. Smart ships can also increase productivity and reduce fuel consumption, with each smart ship saving more than USD 7 million over 25 years in fuel consumption, crew wages and supplies [15]. In addition, the use of smart ships can ensure more effective surveillance activities and facilitate the integration and visualization of global trade supply chains. Through more advanced and efficient automated energy management systems and improved navigation systems, smart ships can also increase the effectiveness and efficiency of other shipping activities, such as loading and unloading and lock access. The development of smart ships cannot be separated from the progress of technology, and the development of smart ship technology is a gradual evol  
Figure 2: Cargo annual costs. Source: Rolls-Royce data. tion technology is the basis for the development of smart ships, and it has undergone an evolution from single sensors to multi-sensor fusion. Initially, perception technology relies on basic sonar systems, which can only provide limited environmental information. As technology progressed, perception technology began to integrate multiple sensors, such as radar, infrared and vision systems, to collect richer data. These data include not only static obstacle information, but also dynamic currents and weather conditions. With the continuous optimization of algorithms, perception technology has become more accurate and efficient, capable of processing a large amount of data in real time to provide strong support for ship navigation and decision making. The development of communication technology is closely linked to the progress of perception technology. Initially, ship communication mainly relied on radio waves, and although this communication method can realize basic information transmission, it is limited by its signal coverage and transmission speed. With the emergence of satellite communication and broadband network technology, the communication capability of ships has been greatly enhanced. Modern smart ships are able to transmit a large amount of information in real time through high-speed data links, including the ship's position, status and environmental data, thus realizing more effective ship management and maritime traffic coordination. Motion control technology is the core of the autonomous navigation capability of smart ships. In the early days, the motion control of ships mainly relied on manual operations, and the crew needed to adjust a ship's heading and speed based on experience. With the development of automation technology, motion control systems began to integrate advanced algorithms and sensor data to realize automatic navigation and path planning. The motion control system of modern smart ships can automatically optimize routes, reduce fuel consumption, and maintain the stability and safety of ships under complex sea conditions. Collision avoidance technology is the key to ensuring the safe operation of smart ships.