Artificial Intelligence and its Transformative Impact in Shaping the Maritime Industry

<p>The fourth industrial revolution’s advanced technologies is reshaping the maritime industries’ operational models and services to achieve greater efficiency. Among all advanced technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) is promised to have a profound effect on shaping the future role of seafarers and marine operators. By utilizing AI, equipment and systems are becoming intelligent enough to be able to collaborate with humans in areas such as collision avoidance, route optimization, reduction of fuel consumption, and preventative maintenance. To achieve this, AI employs other advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Modern ships integrate IoTs (advanced sensors) in the ships’ hull, machinery, and navigation systems. Data collected by IoTs is then processed and analyzed by AI and presented to humans for decision making processes. Although AI as an intelligent agent provides measurable results, the question remains how the workforce and human agent can trust, validate, measure, and correctly interpret AI results and integrate them into different sectors of the shipping industry. With the emergence of remotely operated and autonomous ships, answering this question is becoming more critical. Although AI provides a great opportunity for integration of human and machine operations however, AI, like all other advanced technologies, has its own shortcomings. These require the maritime industry—and more importantly, its leading regulators, such as the international maritime organization (IMO)— to be watchful of how AI is getting integrated into the sector and how it will be used in the decision-making processes. It is required to ensure safe and ethical use of artificial intelligence and provide a foundation for the necessary training scheme for the marine workforce to adopt and work alongside AI.</p> <p>This article aims to use a systematic literature review to provide a brief overview of AI’s role and its effect on the human element in the maritime industry, along with its utilization in the remotely operated and autonomous shipping. The results show that despite the limitation of AI, in its current condition</p> <p>(narrow AI), it has great potential to revolutionize the industry. However, care has to be taken as it presents many risks and vulnerabilities. The authors suggest that it is crucial for the maritime industry to avoid sleepwalking into a no return state where the entire industry becomes overly reliant on AI and AI</p> <p>generated results without fully understanding AI structures, behaviors, and the critical role of human operators in the future of the shipping industry.</p>