AI, Digital, and Green Corridors: A Path to a Brighter Future

The current horizons for the maritime sector are filled with hopeful rhetoric and a plethora of innovative technological advancements, all striving to help propel the sector towards its net-zero goals.

Whereas only a few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI), green shipping corridors, and port digitalization were still in their infancy stages, today, we find ourselves at a moment when they’ve started to grow and are being implemented at ports across the globe.

AI is already proving to be a success in revolutionizing the industry by increasing efficiency, safety, and reducing operational costs. Green shipping corridors are recognized as a crucial next step in charting the collaborative efforts required by ports to develop the infrastructure and facilities to supply zero-carbon fuels at scale. Finally, the implementation of digital systems is turning ports “smarter”.

However, while all of this sounds promising, how do we ensure they all come together and create that smarter, greener and more efficient future that we’re striving for?

AI: a perfect student if instructed the correct way

AI solutions depend heavily on the methods used to train their underlying algorithms and the data inputted into them. This training aspect should not be overlooked when AI is first drafted in, and clearly defined outputs are essential to ensure that the system will not come up with unrealistic solutions. Moreover, the dataset used to help AI increase its learning and effectiveness must be clearly defined and ring-fenced, so the algorithm can “learn” from the port’s unique operations.

The results can be exceptional when implemented correctly. Our MarineM system, for example, has been able to reduce the overall distance travelled by tug and pilot operations by 20% since its deployment at Tanjung Priok port.

Dealing with data silos

While the digitalisation of systems has been in full swing for a while now, to make digitalization truly work, ports need to ensure they’re not deploying a host of digital solutions without considering how they integrate and “talk” to each other.

When seamlessly integrated into the different services and providers involved in supporting arrivals in a port, a cohesive digital system that works together will undoubtedly increase a port’s efficiency as well as other areas, such as the welfare and safety of workers at the port.

How green corridors can help open the door:

Green corridors are one of the most popular buzzwords for ports across the globe right now, but with these collaborative agreements comes a need to ensure that a strong digital foundation is in place. Once built, the sharing of real-time data between ports will help optimize voyages for ships, while also leading to further innovation.

AI and digitalization will be the key to unlock the potential of all these initiatives and moving them from agreements on paper to tangible results.

Read more in David’s editorial published in the Maritime Journal