Most maritime firms remain stuck in early-stage AI adoption, with optimism tempered by concerns over risk, governance, and a lack of strategy, according to a new research report.
The report, Beyond the Hype: What the maritime industry really thinks about AI, was published by Marcura and Thetius, relying on data collected from interviews and a survey.
The research found that 82% of maritime professionals are optimistic about AI and 81% are running pilot projects, but only 11% have formal policies in place to guide scaling. Nearly a quarter said vendor promises often fail to match reality when it comes to AI technologies.
Respondents highlighted clear benefits in reducing workflow inefficiencies, charter party contract analysis, and identifying risky voyage decisions. However, 69% expressed doubts that AI systems can reliably interpret the nuances of maritime contracts and operations, with 37% reporting they had witnessed AI failures first-hand.
“A general AI agent might say that SF means standard form, but in shipping, it means stowage factor,” said Janani Yagnamurthy, VP Analytics at Marcura.
“Off-the-shelf solutions might automate basic processes, but they miss the nuanced context that maritime professionals rely on.”
The report also found strong resistance to full automation. Some 70% said AI should provide recommendations while leaving final decisions to humans, and 66% expressed concern that over-reliance on technology could erode human skills and judgement.
When it comes to scaling AI adoptions. the study concluded that structured governance and training are required rather than enthusiasm alone, with 38% of respondents citing inadequate training as the main barrier.
