Development and Application of Ship Detection and Classification Datasets: A review

Ship detection and classification pose critical challenges in maritime surveillance and monitoring. On the one hand, they find applications in civilian domains, like fishery management, illegal immigrant monitoring, and marine rescue. On the other hand, ships are important targets in maritime combat. Ship detection and classification help to obtain timely maritime military intelligence that holds immense importance in seizing control of the maritime battlefield and ensuring the success of military operations [1], [2]. Remote sensing technology, facilitated by sensors mounted on platforms like satellites and airplanes, enables long-distance noncontact imaging of ground targets. It offers high timeliness, wide coverage, and low-cost accessibility and is not constrained by geographic conditions. Consequently, it has emerged as the primary method for monitoring vessels [4], [5].