Implementation of an Onboard Decision Support System for Real-Time Stability Assessment of Fishing Vessels

Fishing is a high-risk activity with significant fatalities, particularly for small- and medium-sized fishing vessels. Capsizing is a common cause of accidents in these vessels, often due to crew’s lack of training. To address this issue and using the concept of Internet of Things, a system that integrates sensor technologies and vessel-specific information to assess the stability level and generate real-time alerts is proposed. The overall goal is to provide proactive guidance and enable skippers to make informed decisions to minimize risk and improve operational performance. The stability assessment methodology analyzes real-time roll motion data to estimate the natural roll frequency. Towing tank tests were conducted to evaluate the onboard guidance system.