Using AI, digitalisation and connectivity to create smart offshore vessels  

Developments in artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and connectivity are enabling owners to monitor fuel consumption and emissions, produce vessel reports, and it will soon be used to operate critical machinery autonomously. These developments will require high levels of offshore connectivity through hybrid communications networks using satellite constellations and 4G/5G.

These advances were described at length during a technical session on the first day of Riviera’s Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference, Awards & Exhibition, held 4 February 2025.

At the end of the session, Seaonics sales manager for offshore energy, Bjørnar Huse, described how AI is enabling automatic operation of gangways and cranes.  

He said AI is “revolutionising offshore handling equipment” while mutli-layered neural networks are assisting in “problem solving and advanced decision making”.

He expects the next generation of gangways will have AI packages to recognise optimal and safe landing positions on offshore platforms. AI will also help crane operators to safely transfer cargo to offshore energy production facilities, said Mr Huse. "We are looking at how to test AI models and re-engineer what is happening in the control systems.” This involves hardware-in-the-loop and people-in-the-loop testing on simulators and hands-on testing.

Digital Ocean is applying AI and machine learning to smart vessel chartering, crew management and predictive maintenance in the coming months to enhance operations and business opportunities while lowering the risk of machinery failures.

“We are setting up tools to digitalise ship and company processes, with cloud-based and web-based applications,” said Digital Ocean chief commercial officer Remy Ausset.

“On smart chartering, we have been working with ADNOC to identify vessels for chartering – to ensure they have the right equipment, cranes, capacities and certifications,” he said.

“Smart crewing will manage crew schedules and compliance and seafarer availability with an AI assistant coming in the next few weeks,” Mr Ausset added.

"On predictive maintenance, based on data from sensors, we are partnering with hardware providers and Bureau Veritas for planned maintenance, managing spares, maintenance costs, safety and compliance.”