115 Photo: iStock/Denys Yelmanov route planning smarter, safer and more efficient,” says Norman Schmiedl, CEO at COLUMBIA blue, which provides management services to cruise brands around the world. “Modern systems use real-time data, from weather to vessel performance, to recommend optimal routes and proactively adjust itineraries. The differentiator is AI’s ability to learn, adapt and deliver informed decisions by bringing together multiple disparate data sources in real time, transforming how ships are navigated and maintained. The result is safer voyages, reduced disruptions and significant efficiency gains, underpinned by responsible AI deployment practices aligned with internal governance expectations.” AI can also help passenger ship operators to improve situational awareness and safety. FarSounder, for example, is researching and developing AI-based sonar capabilities to enable onboard teams to monitor key underwater targets, including seafloor features, wake-related bubbles, engine noise interference and in-water objects such as whales, ice, rocks and coral. The research will support future updates such as pilot-assist systems for high-speed passenger vessels, further strengthening navigational safety and environmental protection. Building on these advances, operators are increasingly using AI-powered digital systems to monitor ship health, strengthen safety processes and maintain compliance. “Operators now rely on digital tools to flag anomalies and maintain compliance with international regulations,” says Schmiedl. “The real shift is the move from ad-hoc checks to continuous, automated governance.” Digital safety management systems embed the International Safety Management code, established by the IMO, directly into daily workflows to ensure safety at sea, prevent human injury and avoid environmental damage. AI can review logs, permits and incident reports to flag non-conformities early. “Risk-based analytics further reshape audits, enabling operators to prioritise inspections and automatically verify records such as oil books and maintenance logs, while compliance platforms map IMO requirements to company procedures for fleet-wide consistency,” says Schmiedl. “Live data from onboard sensors, navigation systems and engine monitoring tracks safety, machinery health, fuel efficiency and environmental performance, helping crews prevent breakdowns, emissions deviations and port state control issues before they occur.” AI is also being applied directly to bridge operations. “We are using AIpowered voice recognition so officers can issue commands on the bridge faster and more easily,” says Claudia Bosse, maritime and port logistics researcher at the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services. “The system uses speech recognition software to understand commands accurately, repeat them back for confirmation and “ AI can recommend when to maintain or replace parts” Claudia Bosse, Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services
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