BMT partners with South Australia to develop smart harbour management prototype

Maritime design house and technical consulting firm BMT is collaborating with South Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT SA) to develop a prototype version of its Adapt (Adaptive Dredging Automated Prediction Tool) platform for state harbour management.

Marking a significant step in Australia’s progression toward smarter, data-driven maritime operations, Phase 2 of the ‘Deep Blue’ programme will see BMT tailor its cloud-based Adapt system for local port and coastal infrastructure needs. The platform uses AI-enabled data processing to provide real-time environmental monitoring, predictive insights and more informed operational decision-making.

Adapt aggregates data from autonomous vessels, metocean sensors, survey models and machine-learning outputs, turning large and complex datasets into actionable intelligence. The system automates pattern recognition, anomaly detection and forecasting across port and environmental data, helping operators cut dredging costs, improve safety and optimise day-to-day harbour operations.

Early deployments show efficiency improvements of up to 15 per cent over conventional methods, driven by more accurate dredging forecasts, proactive maintenance to maintain channel access, and smarter scheduling that lowers fuel use and reduces emissions. These outcomes align with BMT’s broader focus on operational efficiency and sustainability.

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The platform draws on BMT’s long-standing work with Australian ports, where AI, simulation and digital twin technology are becoming central to future-ready asset management and sustainable dredging strategies.

Through the ‘Deep Blue’ partnership, BMT is advancing maritime data autonomy, moving beyond traditional remote-sensing approaches to create a dynamic data-as-a-service model.

Graeme Nayler, BMT’s regional business director, Asia-Pacific, says: “This project represents a step change in how Australia thinks about and manages maritime data. By combining AI and autonomy, ‘Deep Blue’ is proving that data is not just collected – it’s intelligent, active and transformative. Our collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport reinforces our commitment to helping government and industry reimagine data as a sovereign asset driving safety, sustainability and operational advantage.”