VR for High-Stakes Maritime operations

and where CAVE systems are still better

Marin, the Maritime Research Institute in the Netherlands, has spent decades building high-fidelity maritime simulations, and virtual reality is opening new possibilities. In this interview, Giorgio Ballestin explains how cave systems and VR fit together, where each one performs best, and why the transition is slower than many people expect. He breaks down how Marin combines hydrodynamic models, Unreal Engine, motion platforms, and tracked physical objects to test operations before vessels are built. The conversation also explores interaction design, visual fidelity, security constraints, mixed reality experiments, and how teams decide which XR capabilities are worth developing long-term.

Before getting into the interview, I wanted to quickly introduce you to today’s sponsor Gracia AI. Gracia AI is the only app that allows you to experience Gaussian Splatting volumetric videos on a standalone headset, either in VR or MR.

It is a truly impressive experience and I recommend you to try it …