Incoming American President Donald J. Trump has long said he will impose sweeping tariffs on goods imported from China, but recently he also vowed 25% tariffs on China and Mexico. Will Trump’s tariffs transform trade routes and the global supply chain? Quantifying the Present to Understand the Future Windward looked at monthly port calls by...
Sometimes you read an article about your industry and think, “Yes. THIS!” Politico’s “Private companies need to get better at monitoring threats” article really hit the nail on the head regarding underwater infrastructure and the overall maritime risk landscape. This is a hot topic following the damage to two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea...
The ocean leg of the supply chain is part of the foundation of today’s global economy. The vastness of the world’s oceans and the sheer number of ships at sea make it difficult to monitor vessel movements and ensure safety and security. Maritime tracking that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) can help…
What is AI-Powered Maritime Tracking?
Maritime tracking is the process of monitoring and recording the movement of vessels in real-time, using satellite-based technology, such as global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and the automatic identification system (AIS). This technology enables the collection of information such as a vessel’s location, speed, direction, and other relevant data, which is then transmitted and displayed on a map.
A maritime tracking solution that leverages AI can provide real-time information on the movements of ships and vessels, which is valuable for a wide range of stakeholders in the maritime industry, including shipping companies, port authorities, and government agencies.
How Does it Work?
As mentioned in a previous blog post, “Maritime AI™ is the result of training deep learning AI models to understand many factors affecting the maritime industry. These AI prediction algorithms weigh each factor, including all of those affecting container shipping. The data used to train these AI models comes from multiple sources, including AIS transmissions, weather forecasts, and historical data. A multi-source data pool helps deliver a real-time, accurate view of what is happening at sea, increasing efficiency and scalability by streamlining data collection and analysis processes, all while minimizing the need for any manual work.”
4 Benefits of AI-Based Maritime Tracking
Maritime tracking backed by AI provides a number of benefits for various stakeholders in the shipping industry:
Efficient shipping operations: understanding port congestion based on transit times, efficiency based on call duration by different container vessel sizes, and overall pressure based on TEU capacity sailing into the ports, is crucial to helping logistics managers plan accordingly and avoid unnecessary delays.
Sanctions compliance:maritime vessel tracking systems that leverage AI can help shippers proactively identify entities at high risk for sanction violations before they are listed. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) takes these crimes seriously and has stated, “OFAC of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.”
Comprehensive due diligence:AI-powered maritime ship tracking can help shippers keep their reputations intact by monitoring their fleet and understanding the cost of doing business with high-risk vessels. Being on the lookout for deceptive shipping practices (DSPs) ensures shippers constantly monitor bad actors that are getting increasingly sophisticated. DSPs are constantly evolving, from “going dark” and switching off AIS, to GNSS manipulation, where bad actors conceal their illicit activities by electronically manipulating their transmitted GPS location.
Environmental protection:maritime tracking can also support efforts to protect the environment by assisting shipping stakeholders in implementing a successful environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategy. This includes tracking illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and support fleets.
Maritime vessel tracking that leverages AI is a critical technology that supports safe, efficient, and sustainable maritime operations. A maritime tracking solution that merely utilizes AI, with no specific maritime expertise, simply cannot provide the level of accuracy and consistency that is so challenging to reach. The main reason for this is that the ocean is such a complex landscape, in which a multitude of factors can affect a voyage, from point A to point B. AI models must be trained and supervised by maritime industry experts, who intimately understand the intricate nature of this ecosystem.
AI-powered container tracking is also important and has various benefits. Container tracking provides real-time visibility of the location, status, and condition of containers. This helps shippers and freight forwarders make informed decisions. Container tracking also enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs by ensuring delays are avoided, and extra charges like detention and demurrage are avoided. Container tracking also provides end-to-end visibility of the supply chain, which can help shippers better manage their inventory levels and optimize their logistics operations.
As the maritime industry continues to grow and evolve, the importance of maritime tracking will only continue to increase, as it is an essential tool for ensuring the safety and success of this critical sector. In this time of economic uncertainty, it’s important to optimize planning, save time and money, and mitigate disruptions.
Everything you need to know about Maritime AI™ direct to your inbox
As we start 2023, major supply chain “woes” have been alleviated, the major crises that affected the supply chain in the last few years have come to an end, and the supply chain is slowly getting back to some sort of “normal.” The major priorities for this year are making operations efficient and minimizing avoidable...
Delays will happen. AI can help you understand why…
Delays are occasionally welcomed. Who doesn’t like a delayed deadline? Who would be angry at a delayed flight back from the Bahamas? For freight forwarders, importers and exporters, beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), and others in the supply chain ecosystem, delays are damaging and unfortunately prevalent. Over 40% of shipments are delayed. Considering this reality, you...
Supply chain efficiency is crucial to success in today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving business environment. The maritime industry is no exception, as effective supply chain management encompasses all the activities involved in the flow of goods and services from procurement, to delivery to the customer. This blog will outline three practical steps to increasing supply...
