Improvement of Loading Computer for RoPax Using Image Recognition Technique

One of the most prevalent maritime accidents that continues to occur is the loss of stability. This issue is particularly common in RoRo or RoPax ships, which have a high center of gravity. Due to the nature of these ships, which transport vehicles, it is difficult to accurately estimate stability because the cargo weight and loading positions are not standardized. Therefore, this study proposes a method to improve the loading computer using image recognition technology. First, the axle load of cargo vehicles waiting to board the ship is measured. Second, the vehicle's license plate and type are recognized. The position of the vehicles is then tracked using the recognized license plate information and cameras mounted on each deck and ramp. Finally, once the vehicle stops, this information is transmitted to the loading computer. We applied the proposed method to RoPax vessels to evaluate their effectiveness. We modeled a total of two decks and loaded 60 vehicles to verify whether the positions of these vehicles were accurately received by the loading computer through interface. loading plan was then utilized to assess the ship's stability. This confirmed that the proposed method can be used to improve the accuracy of stability assessments by eliminating human error. As a result, more precise and reliable evaluations of a ship's stability can be achieved using proposed approach.