Shipping industry gathers to discuss AI

Held in Rotterdam from 7 November, Europort 2023 is a four-day event which is expected to welcome upwards of 25,000 visitors and more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 70 countries.

The opening summit began with an introductory speech and presentation crafted by artificial intelligence. The idea that AI can help humans to perform their jobs more effectively was then discussed by the speakers in the summit’s panel discussion.

“I fully believe that AI has a huge part to play in the maritime industry – but only with humans at the heart of it,” said Shane McArdle, chief executive of Kongsberg Digital. “When you put this technology in people’s hands, that’s when innovation happens.”

According to Sander Haas, head of Business Engineering and Transformation at Samskip, the widespread adoption of AI will need buy-in from the highest levels of the industry. “Leaders of both companies and regulatory bodies need to embrace AI,” he said.

“They need to see the possibilities as well as what is needed to bring it in, including new people with new ways of working and thinking.”

While the panellists were largely optimistic about AI in the maritime industry, there were some words of caution from Ilyaz Nasrullah, digital strategist & programme manager at SMASH!, who urged ship owners to have ‘realistic expectations’ over what the technology can help to achieve.

“AI requires a lot of data and money, and only big companies have that,” he said. “Without government intervention, there is no chance for smaller players to catch up.”