With 50+ years shaping maritime technology coverage, Jim Fullilove serves as the editorial compass at Marine Electronics Journal. His work bridges the gap between naval engineers and commercial operators through rigorous technical analysis.
"The business of fishing is done offshore and often out of sight of land. If the public knows anything about commercial fishing at all, the impressions are usually negative." [National Fisherman, 1987]
This seminal 1987 analysis dissected the growing divide between public perception and technological reality in commercial fisheries. Fullilove contrasted media portrayals of antiquated practices with on-the-ground reports of computerized catch monitoring systems and sonar-assisted trawling operations. The article's call for industry transparency became a rallying cry, leading to the creation of several fishing technology expos.
In his Marine Electronics Journal editorial, Fullilove mapped the convergence of navigation, communication, and safety systems into integrated marine networks. The piece highlighted case studies of collision-avoidance systems reducing Alaska fleet accidents by 42% and predictive maintenance algorithms saving operators $18M annually. His technical diagrams of NMEA 2000 networks remain required reading for installers.
As BWI board member, Fullilove crafted guidelines for technical journalism that balanced accessibility with precision. His framework for grading marine electronics reviews introduced the 5-Pillar System (reliability, interoperability, scalability, maintainability, cost-efficiency) now used by 89% of maritime publications.
Fullilove prioritizes stories demonstrating how new technologies integrate with existing maritime systems. His analysis of radar/AIS integration in the Bering Sea fleet (MEJ Q3 2022) shows his preference for solutions that enhance rather than replace legacy infrastructure.
Successful pitches to Fullilove include predictive maintenance case studies with verifiable ROI metrics. His award-winning series on corrosion monitoring systems (NF 2019) established a benchmark of 23% operational cost reduction as the industry standard.
With 37% of his bylines addressing safety tech, Fullilove seeks solutions that reduce man-overboard incidents and improve emergency response times. His coverage of EPIRB innovations in the North Atlantic fisheries (BWI 2021) demonstrates this focus.
Awarded by the International Marine Press Guild for his 45-year contribution to technical maritime reporting. The selection committee particularly noted Fullilove's ability to translate complex IEC standards into actionable trade insights.
Recognized by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services for his series on cybersecurity in shipboard networks. His exposé on vulnerability testing in the Gulf of Mexico offshore industry led to revised NIST guidelines.
