The maritime sector’s AI adoption journey is accelerating, with potential impact to industry competitiveness, business, and workforce development. As companies in the sector progressively roll out AI strategies, a focus on people and workflows must go together with the search for the right tools.
Over 100 industry players, AI practitioners and policy makers convened to discuss how AI can be implemented meaningfully across maritime functions at the SSA’s Maritime AI Readiness Forum 2026. The conversations focused on practical value—how organisations can begin their AI journey and build the capabilities for sustainable, long-term transformation.
AI’s Transformative Potential for Maritime
Experts highlighted that the industry’s evolving AI journey will transform business operations, fleet management, port efficiency, and sustainability.
Presentations by Mr Thomas Ting, Chief Digital Officer from Maritime Port of Authority Singapore (MPA), and Mr Tommy Tan, Senior Manager-Digital Solutions from PwC Singapore, emphasised that rather than replacing human expertise, AI augments it. By automating manual or repetitive tasks, AI frees maritime professionals to focus on higher value work such as decision-making and risk management. This shift supports a more future-ready workforce capable of thriving in an increasingly digital maritime landscape.
The presentations also underscore the importance of having maritime leaders bring their people alongside this transformation and build AI capabilities with confidence.
Practical Pathways to Scalable AI Adoption
In helping shipping companies of all sizes navigate this, the need for practical, sustainable AI implementation strategies becomes clear. Moving forward, the SSA will facilitate:
1. Redesigning for AI
The right support is crucial for organisations to kickstart their AI adoption quickly. SSA’s AI Enablement Programme provides a structured, three-pronged approach of awareness, training, and adoption, to help companies kickstart their AI journey. The programme equips organisations with skills to identify use cases, pilot solutions, and deploy AI tools that enhance productivity. By bridging gaps in AI literacy and digital readiness, the initiative helps companies build confidence in adopting AI responsibly.
2. Strengthening Domain Expertise with AI Skills
Industry leaders agreed that maritime professionals possess deep operational understanding that must remain central to any digital transformation effort.
To support this, SSA has introduced a series of maritime-focused AI training courses. The first is SSA’s upcoming ‘Anchoring AI: Transforming Shipping with GenAI’, a hands-on training that equips individuals with practical skills to apply Generative AI in maritime operations, workflow optimisation, compliance, and documentation. Overall, it supports companies looking to build confidence and readiness within their workforce as they adopt AI-enhanced workflows.
3. Workforce Readiness for AI
As AI reshapes our industry and jobs, preparing our maritime talent has become increasingly crucial.
Mr Aloysius Ng, Senior Manager from Workforce Singapore (WSG) shared on WSG’s Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for Sea Transport. CCP supports companies in redesigning roles responsibly while helping employees transition into more strategic and analytical roles. Mr Ng also shared case studies of how PSA Singapore redesigned jobs around AI. This highlighted that with structured support, AI can take on routine or repetitive tasks with humans acting as a ‘second brain’. This unlocks stronger career pathways for Singapore’s maritime workforce.
Building an AI-Ready Maritime Singapore
The forum featured a robust panel discussion, including audience Q&A, on how the maritime industry adapting to the AI wave. The discussion covered topics such as:
- Ownership and governance of output created by AI-enhanced workflows.
- High-level cost-benefit analysis of AI implementation on critical processes.
- The importance of accurate and intentional identification of use cases.
The panel highlighted that successful AI implementation requires more than technology. AI is reshaping the maritime sector, not by replacing people, but by empowering them. It demands data readiness, change management, and a strong culture of continuous learning across maritime roles.
SSA extends its appreciation to Workforce Singapore (WSG), the forum’s sponsor, and PwC Singapore, the supporting partner, for enabling the success of this event.
For details on SSA’s upcoming AI courses, including Anchoring AI: Transforming Shipping with GenAI, please contact the SSA Training Team at trainingsupport@ssa.org.sg.
For grants support on workforce transformation, please contact the SSA CCP team at ccp@ssa.org.sg.
To view photos of the session, please visit the Maritime Readiness AI Forum 2026 photo album.