114 Powering smarter operations Alice Chambers explores how AI is driving smarter, safer and more sustainable marine operations The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework, expected to come into force in October 2026, will reshape how ship operators manage greenhouse gas emissions. With regulatory and commercial pressures mounting, they are under increasing scrutiny to improve environmental performance. The framework has two core elements: reducing the carbon intensity of fuels and introducing a price on emissions to drive compliance. For cruise lines and ferry operators, this is creating a new opportunity for artificial intelligencedriven fuel optimisation and smarter operational decisions that support sustainability goals. By combining historical data, vessel modelling and simulation, operators can forecast how changes in operational profiles – such as speed optimisation, fuel mix adjustments or the use of shore power – will impact efficiency and regulatory exposure. This predictive approach moves operators away from reactive decision-making, allowing them to optimise investments, reduce emissions and avoid penalties under frameworks like the IMO Net-Zero rules. Few areas demonstrate AI’s operational impact more clearly than route planning, where navigation, fuel efficiency, cost management and sustainability objectives intersect. “Passenger ship operators are increasingly turning to AI to make FEATURE The Carnival Maritime Fleet Operations Center in Hamburg, Germany, uses NAPA Fleet Intelligence to track marine operations in real time Photo: Carnival Maritime
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