NMEA Launches Marine Data Initiative to Advance Safety & Ocean Preservation Driving Innovation in Technology, Safety, Marine Mammal, and Ocean Conservation

Feb 11, 2025

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) is excited to announce the launch of the NMEA Cloud Initiative to its membership, a pioneering project to aggregate existing marine data for safety, conservation, and innovation. We invite all NMEA member manufacturers, programmers, IT experts, and cloud data specialists to help shape the future of maritime operations.
 
Key Highlights of the NMEA Cloud Initiative

            • Privacy First: Participation is voluntary, and all shared data will remain anonymous. The data will not be used for enforcement or surveillance purposes.

            • Transforming Vessel Data into Actionable Insights: Peripheral Data from NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 systems, widely used on vessels worldwide, will have consumer options to be anonymized and securely shared to enhance navigation safety and conservation efforts.

            • Protecting Endangered Marine Mammals: In collaboration with the Whale and Vessel Safety Taskforce (WAVS), NMEA is leveraging data and cutting-edge technology to prevent vessel strikes on endangered North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) and other marine mammals.

            • Cutting-Edge Technology: Machine learning and AI tools will transform collected data into actionable insights, enabling faster development of safety and risk-reduction solutions.

            • Broad Collaboration: This initiative engages boaters, commercial operators, manufacturers, and researchers, creating a robust ecosystem for shared knowledge in a collective effort to enhance maritime safety and environmental preservation.

            • Initial Goal: By 2026, the goal is to have 200 vessels actively contributing data to build a comprehensive global resource for marine safety and conservation.

How You Can Help

            • NMEA members with NMEA 0183/2000/OneNet certified hardware can contribute by participating in the initiative’s working committees.

            • Automated Data will be collected seamlessly through vessel connectivity, with no disruption to normal operations.

            • Boaters, industry professionals, and “citizen scientists” are encouraged to join and play an active role in marine conservation, ocean preservation, and maritime safety.

This initiative marks a significant step towards revolutionizing the future of Maritime Safety and Security operations while protecting marine life and the oceans.
 
For information, and to get involved contact:
Mark Reedenauer, NMEA President, 857-523-0790
mreedenauer@nmea.org