More than 70 maritime professionals joined the CIMAC Circle at the SMM Digital Stage on 3 September 2026 to discuss how shipboard operations can safely combine human expertise with increasingly advanced digital systems.
Moderated by Pieter Huyskens of Damen Shipyards, the session featured a keynote by Dr Jonathan Earthy of Lloyd’s Register and a panel with Capt. Eero Lehtovaara (ABB), Dr Bernard Twomey (Kongsberg Maritime), and Capt. Brandon J. Larson (GE Aerospace).
Managing Alerts with People in Mind
The discussion centred on Engine Control Room Alert Management (ECRAM) and Human-Centred Design (HCD). Participants highlighted alarm overload as a growing safety challenge: crews must assess increasing numbers of alerts, identify priorities, and maintain safe operations, often without sufficient contextual support.
A Whole-System Approach
The panel called for a goal-based, whole-system approach that brings together operators, manufacturers, shipyards, classification societies, and regulators. Future systems should not simply generate more data; they should present the right information, in the right context, at the right time, helping crews understand system status and make safe, informed decisions.
CIMAC Supporting Practical Regulation
CIMAC is actively contributing technical and operational expertise to the IMO Correspondence Group on ECRAM. This engagement helps ensure that future internationally harmonized requirements are practical, effective, and grounded in real-world engineering experience.
Looking Ahead
The strong attendance confirmed the growing importance of ECRAM and human-centred design as shipping becomes more automated and digital. The central message was clear: digitalization should empower crews, reduce cognitive workload, and support better decisions
A more detailed report about the CIMAC Circle is avaiable in the prevous CIMAC circles section.