The maritime industry is the cornerstone of global trade and faces growing challenges, while automatization and digital transformation open new perspectives of innovation, coupled, however, to issues related to workforce safety, ethical implications, and cybersecurity risks. As one of the activities of the INNO2MARE project, the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and the University of Rijeka (Croatia) organized in this context an Innovation breakfast entitled “Automation and Digital Transformation in Maritime Industry: Benefits, Risks, and Challenges”. The event aimed to provide a platform for industry professionals and academia to discuss the future of maritime operations in the digital era. It underscored the necessity for a balanced approach that leverages technological advancements while addressing potential risks, ensuring sustainable development in the marine sector.
Prof. Dr. Saša Zelenika, Head of the INNO2MARE Innovation Council, opened the event highlighting the need to discuss the application of artificial intelligence and general automation technologies in the maritime sector with the present industrial and academic representatives. A speech delivered by Eveline Buyck discussed then the methodologies for setting up the ecosystem around or within the Blue Cluster – an association of 194 companies, of which 103 are unique. She emphasized the importance of creating strong ecosystems by uniting companies, knowledge institutions, and relevant stakeholders to drive innovation in the maritime economy via networking events and corporate days that foster collaboration, ultimately stimulating sustainable development and innovative projects.
The panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Dr. Saša Zelenika, saw as panelists Prof. Dr. Marina Ivašić-Kos (Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies & the AIRI Center of the University of Rijeka), Jurij Mimik (expert at the Strategic Development Department at Luka Koper), Prof. Dr. Dirk van Rooy (University of Antwerp Behavioral Design Lab), Yves van Seters (Antwerp Maritime Academy), and Dr. Ali Anwar (University of Antwerp and imec-IDLab). Mrs. Eveline Buyck also joined the discussion.
The panellists answered some of the maritime industry’s pressing challenges, highlighting the need for workforce inclusion and protection. This element has to include additional initiatives for adopting new technologies through worker education. A human-centered approach is inevitable in relation to AI, and would benefit maritime companies and workers.
The safety and reliability of AI were the horizontal topics of the conversation, highlighting the risks of biases in AI systems and their potential misuse, which could lead to security breaches. The need for rigorous testing, transparency, and regulatory compliance is, therefore, crucial. There is herein a tension between innovation and regulation, with regulations delaying the implementation of new technologies. This prompted the speakers to emphasize an urgent need to find a balance between regulation – that provides security and protects different stakeholders on one side, and innovation and new technology – that, on the other, drive economic growth. The panellists touched also upon the key elements of the pressing questions in the maritime industry and the respective innovations, and the complex issue of integrating AI technologies in this sector through various aspects of the maritime industry, including automation, digital transformation, workforce implications, and regulatory frameworks.
Further discussions on these areas have to be organized to draw concrete conclusions and create a roadmap for a structured change.
