“Investing in digitalisation and technology will improve predictability and reliability of shipping, and applying technologies such as Al, machine learning, blockchain and the internet of things will result in performance optimisation for monitoring, routing, speed and predictive maintenance – which can all help accelerate decarbonisation,” Ms. Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director (Technology and Logistics), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), says at the launch of the agency’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023.
AI is playing a major role in the transformation of our industry as it moves towards net zero and Waves is taking the opportunity to examine its use, discovering the advantages and the possible pitfalls. We have spoken to a supplier of technology and also companies at the vanguard who are taking advantage of the ways its adaptation can benefit their business.
Stormgeo has been in business since 1998, growing from a small company to an international organisation providing weather intelligence and decision support to key global industries including shipping. French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM is the third largest container company in the world with a fleet of just under 593 vessels. Finally we spoke to Columbia Shipmanagement, a company with more than 40 years’ experience which has embraced digitalisation and all the benefits it brings to shipping.
Weather Impact on Fuel Consumption
One area that AI can pay big dividends is in route optimisation where its use can lead to significant increases in energy efficiency so it is at the heart of many companies’ decarbonisation plans. By making use of weather predictions and data, vessels are able to work in parallel with meteorological conditions and oceanic current systems rather than trying to move in opposition. For example, Columbia Shipmanagement has been working on a project since 2021. Varun Iyer Mani, the company’s Technical Fleet Manager, explains, “We are looking at Machine Learning, assessing weather impact on the vessel speed and fuel consumption using Artificial Intelligence based algorithms that are able to predict vessel specific speed/power impact based on weather parameters.”
This is an area where Stormgeo has developed much expertise. Michael Krch is the Asia Pacific Operations Manager and is keen to emphasise that environmental goals become more attainable when weather conditions are incorporated into route planning, “Weather data has improved so much over the past decades and this can be analysed to calculate a truly optimised route which will be commercially beneficial and also increase vessel and crew safety.” The company has developed a system using digital twinning so that detailed analysis can predict performance and adjustments made to ensure efficiency is optimal.”
Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific Ltd, is equally pleased with the amount of data currently available to shipping companies. “Our Singapore centre supports the group’s 600 plus vessels, providing round-the-clock tracking of nautical, meteorological and geographic information in real time. We are able to obtain live analytics of vessels’ operating speeds, ocean currents, weather forecasts and high traffic areas so that we can assess, anticipate and mitigate any navigation related risks to operations. We have been able to optimise sea routes, speeds and fuel consumption across the fleet while ensuring the safety of our crew, cargo and vessels.”
Importance of Collaboration
As an industry, we are all up against some challenging environmental targets, reaching a reduction in GHG emissions of at least 40% by 2030 will require focus and dedication so that we can all move ahead together. Fortunately, companies at the forefront of this technology are keen to share their knowledge for the greater good of the industry as a whole and both Columbia Shipmanagement and CMA CGM are committed to making information available to others. Continues Varun, “By making available performance data, often specifically customised, in such a way that even staff without a marine background can understand, our clients are able to focus their attention on building their own business while relying on us to provide the data that tells them when interventions are needed.”
Meanwhile, CMA CGM has launched the Kyutai Lab alongside Iliad and Schmidt Futures. It is the first European private initiative laboratory that is dedicated to open research in artificial intelligence and addresses AI challenges, prioritising large multimodal models and innovative algorithms to improve reliability and efficiency. Its ambition is to share its advances with the entire AI ecosystem.
Lowering Carbon Emissions
Many companies have found that AI has allowed them to lower carbon emissions and reduce their overall carbon footprint resulting in tangible improvements and financial savings as well. In fact, one of Stormgeo’s clients has found that, when sailing at a constant power as a result of implementing the results of AI optimisation technology, they achieved a cost saving of approximately 3% in fuel savings. And, of course, it doesn’t end there as Michael comments, “By working with the weather, the vessel is safer and there is less wear and tear so lower maintenance costs too.”
For CMA CGM the savings have been multi-faceted as AI has significantly saved time and simplified the analysis of huge volumes of complicated data collected daily from each vessel. “What’s more it provides real-time monitoring of ship operations and triggers alerts if any ship should deviate from optimal trajectory in terms of estimated time of arrival, sailing speed and energy consumption, enabling us to keep our fleet efficient and sustainable,” adds Bo.
Columbia Shipmanagement sees the benefits in terms of the ease with which journeys can be planned – the process is now fast, efficient, repeatable and free from error. Varun also sees advantages in terms of dealing with the shortage of trained and experienced seafarers. “We are now able to shorten the learning curve of new navigators.”
Many Uses Beyond Route Optimisation
The savings for shipowners of using AI solutions are varied and can overcome many of the complexities of owning a ship today. “CMA CGM is using AI for port pairing, cargo types, transshipment and intermodal connectivity, all of which would otherwise warrant significantly more time and effort to operationally manage them,” says Bo.
Route optimisation isn’t the only area where AI can make a difference. It is also being used to aid with monitoring and predictive maintenance resulting in a reduction in downtime and increased operational efficiency. Twinning such as that carried out by Stormgeo is also facilitating understanding on shore of what is happening at sea onboard the vessel’s systems, it can provide valuable early insight into potential attrition and weathering on the ship so that preventative measures can be taken before damage occurs. Michael also sees a potential role for AI in bunker planning, providing information on where bunkers are located, number of vessels waiting to bunker and predicted wait times so that voyages can be planned accordingly.
Today AI is being used more and more widely, for example it can aid in the design and construction of ships that are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, from hull design to propulsion systems, and we expect to see its use expanding. As Varun says, “We are only still scraping the surface on these possibilities. But some aspects of shipping where AI will surely make an impact are: conducting life cycle analysis of assets considering construction, energy and resource usage and recycling; predictive maintenance of machinery to manage cost and down-time, and ensuring the machinery operates at the most optimal efficiency; and smart cargo planning and handling, particularly for container vessels by optimizing stowage, vessel’s trim as well as minimizing the need for energy intensive operations such as adjustment of ballast.”
But as we examine the huge potential of Artificial Intelligence, perhaps the last word should go to Michael, “While AI can bring us all benefits, it’s vital that we don’t fall down the rabbit hole of trusting AI even when our brains and eyes are telling us something different. Seafarers should trust their experience and view AI as simply one of the many tools at their fingertips.”
“Our Singapore centre supports the group’s 600 plus vessels, providing round-the-clock tracking of nautical, meteorological and geographic information in real time. We are able to obtain live analytics of vessels’ operating speeds, ocean currents, weather forecasts and high traffic areas so that we can assess, anticipate and mitigate any navigation related risks to operations. We have been able to optimise sea routes, speeds and fuel consumption across the fleet while ensuring the safety of our crew, cargo and vessels.”
Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific Ltd