New Technology

Why will AI at sea transform shipping only when data, people, systems and governance are ready to support it?

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now firmly part of the maritime transformation agenda. For an industry that carries much of global trade, the appeal is clear: safer operations, sharper decision-making, better fuel performance, stronger compliance, and more reliable sustainability outcomes. Yet the challenge is no longer whether AI has potential. It is whether maritime organizations are ready to turn that potential into trusted operational value. Across ship owners, operators, ports, regulators, engineers, and technology providers, expectations are high. But adoption remains uneven, often constrained by fragmented data, legacy systems, unclear problem statements, limited digital readiness, and a naturally cautious operating culture. This article examines the gap between ambition and execution and argues that maritime AI will succeed only when it is built on strong data foundations, clear use cases, domain expertise, responsible governance, and a realistic view of AI as a decision-support partner rather than a replacement for human judgment. Continue reading “AI at Sea: From Maritime Hype to Operational Readiness”

What is AI?

I cannot believe the term AI has passed you by, but in case it has, here is a definition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of research in engineering, mathematics and computer science that develops and studies methods and software that enable machines to perceive their environment and use learning and intelligence to take actions that maximize their chances of achieving defined goals.

AI doesn’t strictly “think” like a human brain; rather, it uses advanced algorithms and massive datasets to identify patterns, make predictions, and adapt to new information. Continue reading “Spotlight on emerging AI technology in the maritime sector”

Marine surveying has long been regarded as a profession which has been shaped (not merely) by technical knowledge, but by experience, instinct and judgement, developed over years at sea, in shipyards and “on job training”. Traditionally, a marine surveyor arrives on board equipped with a notebook, camera, torchlight and (most importantly) a trained eye. Observations are handwritten, photographs are selectively taken and conclusions are drawn based on evaluation of accumulated knowledge of vessel’s operations, machinery behaviour and assessment of real-world failure patterns.

Today, however, the emergence of artificial intelligence has introduced a new dimension to surveying. An “AI Surveyor” can process documents, interpret images, analyse certificates and identify inconsistencies within seconds. Tasks that once required years of experience can now be (partially) replicated by a digital model. Continue reading “AI Technology in marine surveying: A utility assessment”