AI Can Help Shipping Industry Reduce Emissions, Report Finds

The global commercial shipping sector could potentially reduce its carbon emissions by 47 million tonnes annually by incorporating artificial intelligence into sea navigation, according to a study released by the autonomous shipping startup Orca AI.

This technology can help minimize unnecessary maneuvers and route deviations that arise from close encounters with high-risk marine entities like other vessels, buoys, and marine animals by providing real-time alerts to the crew.

The significance of this development is underscored by the fact that shipping, which facilitates approximately 90% of international trade, accounts for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This percentage is projected to increase unless more stringent pollution control measures are introduced.

The International Maritime Organization has set a goal to reduce emissions by 20% by the year 2030, although this target is currently jeopardized by the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea.

Yarden Gross, CEO of Orca AI, noted, “In the short term, it can lead to fewer crew members on the bridge, while those who remain will experience a lighter workload and be able to concentrate on complex navigational tasks, thereby optimizing voyages and cutting down fuel use and emissions.” He also mentioned that, “In the long term, it will pave the way for fully autonomous shipping.”

In 2022, global carbon emissions from shipping reached an estimated 858 million tonnes, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Orca AI’s study indicates that an average of 2,976 marine incidents occur annually.

The potential reduction in route deviations could translate to ships saving approximately 38.2 million nautical miles each year, equating to an average fuel cost savings of $100,000 per vessel. Additionally, AI has the capability to reduce close encounters in open waters by 33%.