The promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maritime isn’t abstract; it is already being applied in ways that save time, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. This article explores the areas where professionals see AI delivering the greatest value, from reducing manual workflows to supporting compliance and decision-making.
According to Thetius’ recent survey of maritime professionals, the following areas are seen as offering significant benefits from the application of AI.
Reducing Manual Workflows
97% believe that AI is useful or extremely useful in reducing manual workflow inefficiencies, such as augmenting inboxes to automatically flag key data. This is a popular starting point, as the application of AI in this context is low risk: it does not make decisions, but instead organises information and enhances visibility.
Charter Party Analysis
87% of respondents believe AI is useful for analysing clauses in charter party contracts. AI is being used to scan lengthy charter parties, contracts, or legal documents to identify risks or extract key information. However, it is important to point out that 69% also said they are concerned about poor business outcomes if AI solutions miss critical red flags in contracts or voyage planning. This suggests that while there is motivation to use AI in contract analysis, it must be done with caution and human oversight to avoid business critical errors.
Voyage Operations
85% say that AI is useful or extremely useful for identifying risky voyage decisions and red flags in voyage profitability.
Regulatory Compliance Monitoring
85% believe that AI is useful or extremely useful for regulatory compliance monitoring in maritime operations.
Opportunities and Risks: Perceptions of AI Today
AI is perceived as highly valuable in several key areas of maritime operations. However, significant change inevitably invites some resistance. The key questions are, where does this resistance come from, how much of it arises from tangible concerns, and how much is shaped by subtler perceptions and uncertainties? Even if a fear is exaggerated, it can still slow or derail an AI project if not addressed. Part of creating opportunities from AI solutions involves not just managing actual technical risks, but also managing perceptions and trust.
Takeaway: AI is being embraced first where it supports, not replaces, human judgement. These early use cases build confidence without compromising on risk.
For further insight into the areas highlighted in this article, download our thought leadership report, Beyond The Hype, created in partnership with Marcura.
