Maritime navigation remains a complex, high-risk activity in which human performance plays an important role. Despite rapid technological advancement and the increasing integration of navigation instruments, more than 80% of maritime accidents is considered to be caused by the human and organization factors (Apostol-Mates & Barbu, 2016). Among the various contributors to human error, inadequate ergonomic design of navigational interfaces—particularly those embedded in Integrated Navigation Systems (INS) and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)—is recognized as a barrier to safe operations (OH et al., 2016). This research explores how to identify ergonomic weaknesses within modern bridge systems, with an emphasis on ECDIS usage and the interaction between display design and bridge lighting conditions. The primary objective of this research is to provide an understanding of how navigators visually process complex digital interfaces in realistic operational scenarios and how specific ergonomic shortcomings influence cognitive workload, situational awareness, and decision-making accuracy. While prior studies have examined elements of visual scanning or situational awareness on ship bridges, few have focused on the combined effect of interface ergonomics, variable illumination, and layers within ECDIS displays (bin Kamarumtham et al., 2026). This project contributes an original methodological framework that places eye-tracking at the centre of ergonomic evaluation, enabling analysis of gaze patterns, fixations, pupil dilation, and scan path metrics across different lighting environments and various tasks. The study is conducted using a full-mission navigational simulator equipped with eye-tracking technology, enabling precise monitoring of visual behaviour during simulated watchkeeping scenarios. Participants are both senior and junior navigational officers and nautical students, allowing for comparative analysis between expert and novice visual strategies. Test scenarios are constructed using ergonomic deficiencies of ECDIS and INS equipment identified during workshops with active deck officers. The research is currently being conducted, with simulator scenarios involving navigational officers underway. As data collection and analysis are ongoing, this contribution focuses on the study design and intended evaluation framework, with full results to be presented in future work. All participants provide informed consent prior to participation, and the study is conducted in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines, ensuring the voluntary nature of participation and the anonymised use of collected data for research purposes. The study is expected to produce a list of the ergonomically critical interface components within modern bridge systems, ranked according to their influence on navigational safety. The eye-tracking data will support a set of targeted recommendations to improve interface design, including aligning display behaviour with human perceptual thresholds under varying lighting conditions. Next, the research aims to provide actionable guidance for equipment manufacturers and maritime academies to enhance training methodologies and standards for electronic navigation. Finally, the project contributes to a deeper theoretical understanding of how digital interface design shapes the cognitive environment of ship navigators, offering insights that can help reduce human error and strengthen the safety of maritime transport.
Mišlov et al. (Mon,) studied this question.