Why AI is perfect for maritime operations

 

 

Frank Coles picks out certain aspects of shipping that could be revolutionised by artificial intelligence. 

During my time as CEO of Transas from 2015 to 2018, we discussed at length the use of machine learning in our models for routing and advancement of the predictive models. Now it seems the buzz word of AI is in full force.  It is used in an amorphous way.  It seems everyone is laying claim to doing AI and machine learning, and in the same sentence no less. I won’t delve into the definition of AI because the internet will do a far better job.  Suffice it to say a lot of what is called AI in the maritime marketing blurb is more machine learning than the generative AI using neural networks in deep learning. 

However, the advancement of generative AI is possibly going to disrupt shipping in ways nobody has even considered at the moment.  It may even speed up the transition to nuclear-powered vessels. How do I come to that conclusion? 

Nuclear innovation

The massive increased use of AI and particularly the demand for bigger faster data centres means the drain on energy resources is immense. The current energy being consumed in the US is set to double over the next five years as bigger faster chips and larger data centres create a demand that the current grid cannot cope with.  Companies like Microsoft and Google as well as the other big seven are looking at nuclear power as an answer to this problem.  Microsoft has advertised for a principal program manager for their nuclear strategy.  Specifically they are looking for someone to manage a plan to roll out small modular reactors.(SMRs).  In January the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certified a SMR design for the first time.

It’s not a huge leap of neutrons to see how the advancement of SMRs can benefit maritime as the growing pressure on a clean fuel continues. The knock-on effect of the advancement of AI will drive many changes and have an impact in many areas of the maritime industry. 

Training

Of course the use of AI by Apple and Microsoft is likely done on a different scale to any maritime players.  However, it is not a stretch to see the increased use of generative AI create a disruption of the business of maritime training. There are two key elements to training. The creation of the content and keeping it up to date and, the provision of the training to the people who need it.  Increasingly with the right tools, creating content, and monitoring the use of the content will become easier. ChatGPT is a toy compared to the tools coming down the line that will put the capability into the hands of the training officer of any shipowner. This is the democratisation of the internet at its best.

Safety management systems

This legally required management tool could be facing a very big disruption through AI. Currently a big headache, voluminous in size and wordy to the point of distraction, AI could change the process and operation to the point that one person could manage 100 ships, maybe even 200.  At this point I can see the dinosaurs and doubters thinking I have finally lost my mind.

But the power of AI is made for something like the SMS process, the repetitive nature of checks, report writing and the need to stay up to date with compliance, etc. If you take the STCW, TMSA requirements, compliance regulation,s etc, and dump it into an AI tool, along with four or five drafts of various owners’ SMS, AI is more than capable of drafting a standard SMS, that should satisfy the industry. Why do we need a million drafts?

Not only that, AI can operate in the background, ensuring all new regulations and rule changes are added and the SMS adjusted.

On the output side, reports, checklists, action items and much else can be produced with considerably less effort than today. The SMS becomes an owner’s friend not something that causes angst amongst users.  This has the power to completely transform the model of ship husbandry.

The use of generative AI in the maritime industry

Benefits from the use of AI that are often cited:

Automation of repetitive tasks.
More and faster insight from data.
Enhanced decision-making.
Fewer human errors.
24×7 availability.
Reduced physical risks.
When you consider these points it is easy to see how AI has the power to disrupt the maritime operations model. It is like these benefits are aimed at the industry.