LoRa-based IoT systems have been increasingly explored across various domains including agriculture, industrial monitoring, and maritime applications. In maritime contexts, where traditional communication methods such as satellite and VHF radio are expensive and energy-intensive, LoRa offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative, particularly for small vessels operating in remote or low-resource environments.

Several studies highlight LoRa’s feasibility and effectiveness in maritime communication:

• J. Pinelo et al. demonstrated the potential of LoRaWAN to maintain vessel communication over distances exceeding 100 km in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) ocean environments by deploying gateways on elevated terrains.

• The study “LoRa Mesh Networks for Emergency Marine Communications” proposed using LoRa to enhance safety with mesh networking, providing redundant communication layers in areas lacking traditional coverage.

• A multi-gateway LoRaWAN setup in Lake Toba, Indonesia, showed that vessel tracking could be achieved in maritime zones with limited internet connectivity.

• LR-MPIBS, a system developed by Zhengbao Li et al., applied LoRa for man-overboard detection, leveraging satellite positioning and transmitting signals over 5 km to nearby gateways.

• Sandra et al. investigated using buoy-mounted antennas for LoRa transmission to model path loss and improve offshore communication accuracy.

• Sagala et al. explored a multi-hop topology for LoRa networks, improving transmission range and reliability by relaying data through intermediate nodes.

These studies collectively underscore LoRa’s growing relevance in supporting maritime safety, vessel tracking, and environmental monitoring, especially in areas where conventional technologies are impractical.