As pressure mounts to reduce maritime shipping’s environmental footprint, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative ally. This report follows a virtual 20,000-kilometer voyage from Shanghai to Santos to explore how AI is being deployed—on land, at sea, and in port communities—to cut emissions, enhance safety, and protect marine biodiversity. From digital twins and predictive emissions tracking in Brazil to AI-enhanced ballast systems and whale-aware routing across the South Atlantic, this study reveals AI’s role in slashing fuel use, cutting noise pollution, and improving operational resilience.
But the voyage is not without turbulence. The authors—Thierry Verheije, Soffía Alarcón, and Tania Miranda—also assess AI’s own energy footprint, regulatory gaps, and digital inequities in smaller ports. Still, with proper investment and inclusive governance, AI offers a scalable pathway toward sustainable, climate-ready maritime logistics.
What you will find in the report
- AI at Ports and Terminals: From Smart Cranes to Emissions Dashboards
- AI at Sea: Voyage Optimization, Predictive Maintenance, Crew Safety & Operational Resilience
- Marine Biodiversity Protection Through Quieter, Cleaner Tech
- Key Implementation Challenges: Energy Use, Regulation & Equity
Key Questions
- Can AI meaningfully decarbonize shipping operations?
- What are the challenges for smaller ports to close the tech gap?
- What are the co-benefits for port cities and marine ecosystems of using AI?
- How do we govern AI’s expansion in an equitable, climate-smart way?