The ESABALT project is a feasibility study of an integrated system for enhancing maritime safety, which incorporates the latest technological advances in positioning, maritime e-Navigation, Earth observation systems, and multi-channel cooperative communications. The most novel part of the ESABALT concept, however, is a focus on user-driven crowdsourcing techniques for information gathering and integration. The system will consist of a situational awareness solution for real-time maritime traffic monitoring via utilizing various positioning technologies; an observation system of the marine environment relevant to transportation and accidents including assessing the sea ice, oil spread, waves, wind etc.; and a methodology for context-aware maritime communication with cooperative, multi-channel capabilities. The project will define an intelligent, novel, user-driven solution and associated services for enhancing the maritime safety in the whole Baltic area.