Support vessel owners are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize offshore operations, improve decision-making, and reduce costs. By using AI to streamline logistics, they can lower fuel consumption, cut emissions, and minimize waiting times for cargo and personnel. AI also helps reduce the number of vessels needed to service multiple offshore installations.
P&O Maritime Logistics reports fuel savings of 20% to 35% by using AI to optimize offshore cargo logistics. Kris Vedat, the company’s Head of Technology and Logistics, explains that AI helps create more efficient schedules by considering cargo needs and backloading, thus reducing fuel consumption and emissions while also shortening delivery times.
AI analyzes historical and real-time data to plan routes, identify patterns, and suggest optimizations, such as adjusting speeds or diverting vessels to reduce fuel use without delaying arrivals. However, Vedat notes that data quality is crucial for AI’s effectiveness: “Data is the lifeblood of AI insight,” he says, emphasizing the importance of clean, accurate data.
Fugro, a global leader in subsea services, is also using AI to automate data processing and enhance navigation, making operations more efficient. Fleet Development Manager Peter Toxopeüs sees AI as a tool to streamline processes and improve effectiveness, though he believes it could also create new career opportunities through the need for retraining and upskilling.
DEME Group’s Jiska Verhulst supports the use of AI for data collection and analysis to improve operational efficiency. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce and other engine manufacturers are focusing on using data analytics to monitor and optimize vessel performance, maximize uptime, and reduce emissions. Rolls-Royce’s Phil Kordic highlights the benefits of real-time engine performance monitoring for condition-based maintenance.
Despite these advancements, experts like Caterpillar Marine’s Nathan Ankersen stress that AI should be used in conjunction with human oversight. Ankersen warns that relying solely on AI-generated data can be risky, advising a balance between machine insights and human judgment to make informed decisions. AI is revolutionizing offshore operations, but its success relies on high-quality data and the integration of human expertise.
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