Maran Tankers adopts AI technology to enhance tanker safety

When sailing in Chinese waters, the maritime traffic density, and especially the density of smaller fishing vessels, “makes it impossible for a tanker to sail smoothly and safely through that area without maximum attention from the crew,” he added.

This could easily create onboard challenges with seafarer rest hours and crew tiredness.

“Seafarers can work through this time, including rest periods, especially when ships are sailing out of a Chinese port and everybody is fatigued,” said Capt Asteros. 

Maran Tankers uses Orca AI’s SeaPods to continuously monitor the surroundings of its tankers, providing information and insights to bridge teams, especially in darkness or poor visibility. “The system on its own is determining the targets crew should worry about,” said Capt Asteros.

“It automatically highlights potential risks to the vessel even in poor visibility,” he said. Orca AI complements information available to crew on radar and ECDIS for safe navigation.

On shore, managers get this information to review and monitor information on encounters or near misses and to get actionable insights. These are relayed to crews on tankers and instructions are given to change operations and “dramatically reduce the high risk of collisions” especially in congested areas.

Capt Asteros said adopting AI is one of “the biggest changes the industry has ever seen” and it can help shipping avoid dangerous situations. AI could become a “major factor for improving safety if handled correctly,” he said.

The shipping industry should ensure AI is deployed “to assist crews, and not take over, or provide additional pressures on operations. Systems should be able to assist and enable crew to engage with it,” said Capt Asteros.

Captain Georgios Asteros was speaking during Riviera hosted webinar: The illusion of safety: what we are getting wrong about crews, technology and fatigue, which was held in association with Orca AI on 13 May 2025.