Intelligent Ship Engine Rooms: A Decade of Progress and Challenges

Abstract

The dual pressures of rapid digitalization and increasingly stringent emissions regulations are accelerating the development of intelligent ship engine room technologies. This literature review (2014 – 2024) elucidates the current state, technological maturity, and research trends within this domain. Applying the PRISMA 2020 methodology, a pool of 410 publications sourced form Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was screened. The analysis distilled five dominant research domains: AI-based diagnostics and predictive maintenance, monitoring and automation, energy efficiency and hybrid propulsion, digital twins, and condition-monitoring frameworks. Findings indicate substantial progress in modelling, optimization, and machine learning applications. However, validation is predominantly confined to simulations or laboratory settings, lacking robust testing under real-world ship operating conditions. This underscores a persistent gap between theoretical development and practical implementation, suggesting a transitional maturity stage. The paper concludes by delineating key challenges and future research priorities essential for enabling the large-scale, real-world deployment of intelligent engine systems, thereby fostering safer and more sustainable maritime operations.