AI-powered 24-hour operations centres are set to redefine shipmanagement, potentially doubling the industry's share of the world fleet, according to a recent analysis on Splash247.
The Current State of Shipmanagement
According to Splash247, just about 15% of addressable IMO-registered vessels currently use third-party management. The article argues that this could be raised to between 30% and 50% in the next five years if the value propositions to owners are right. The present modus operandi of shipmanagers has not changed much in the last 20 years: a line organisation from fleet manager supervising the superintendent using outsourced workforce to be the custodian of the vessel budget and safe PMS-driven operation, often extrapolating historical values and burdened by inaccurate underlying data structures and faulty inventories. Much of the technical questioning and bureaucratic reporting is pushed to already stretched resources on vessels.
The Future: AI-Powered 24/7 Operations Centre
Two key partnerships are driving this shift. Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and IBM have jointly developed an AI-powered platform designed to improve decision-making across MOL's global vessel operations. Simultaneously, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has signed a digital transformation deal with Microsoft. The Splash247 analysis, authored by Peter Schellenberger, sees both an opportunity and a threat for the next generation of shipmanagement from these news items from Japan.
With effective internal workflow reorganisation and delegation of decision-making, setting up a truly integrated 24-hour operations centre cum AI intelligence platform would create the shipmanager of the future. A mix of AI/digital and final human decision-making is envisioned. The analysis outlines three waves of response:
- First wave: Automated first-wave responses for standard questions from vessels, which are about 50-60% the same or recurring and can have pooled answers.
- Second wave: A link to operational platform specialists that can take operational decisions with internal subject matter specialists.
- Third wave: Integration and delegation to outside specialists such as OEMs or crisis boards.
A shipmanager could dramatically scale operations, increase visibility and transparency, and retrain superintendents into subject matter specialists who jump in digitally and physically when needed. The operations centre would also include supply chain/logistics tools and people to handle important/urgent matters, plus bring together purchasing power. Complex tools for ever-increasing regulations, preventative maintenance, and smart voyage planning/bridge controls will make this concept even more meaningful.
Another future function of the ops centre will be all actions related to CO2 reporting and certificate dealings. Specifically, shipmanagers operating in Europe complain that the crew onboard is totally overburdened with checklists, which keeps them from focusing on safely operating their asset. AI support can help correlate and analyse data that would not have been available otherwise, requiring effective data federation.
Key Metrics and Targets
| Metric | Current Value | Target (5 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party shipmanagement share | 15% | 30–50% |
| Recurring standard vessel questions | 50–60% | Automated first-wave responses |
Implications for Operators and Shippers
For freight forwarders and logistics managers, the adoption of AI in shipmanagement promises greater transparency and efficiency in fleet operations. The analysis suggests that a direct link to charterers as stakeholders for fast decision-making should be embedded in the future setup, as charterers have so far often been neglected despite their high impact on operations. Operators should consider investing in AI platforms similar to those developed by MOL-IBM and NYK-Microsoft to reduce crew burden, streamline email flows, and improve regulatory compliance, particularly around CO2 reporting.
Watch List
- Regulatory pressure: CO2 reporting and certificate dealings are expected to increase, driving demand for AI support.
- Technology adoption: The success of MOL-IBM and NYK-Microsoft partnerships may encourage other liner companies to follow suit.
- Crew welfare: Overburdened crews on European vessels could accelerate the push for automated first-wave responses and operational delegation.
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