What maritime really thinks about AI and where they’re making it work
In this report
The trust paradox: Why an industry that's broadly optimistic about AI has so few organisations with a formal policy to scale it.
Where AI earns trust first: The four use cases professionals rate most useful, from charter party clause analysis to voyage red flags.
Six risks, reframed: Job displacement, hallucinations, vendor hype, data privacy, model collapse and regulatory uncertainty, each paired opportunities opened.
The maritime AI maturity curve: Four stages from awareness to maturity, and why the climb has shortened from 10 to 15 years to just 2 to 3.
Seven recommendations: Practical steps on governance, training, transparency and keeping people in charge of decisions.
Summary
Maritime has moved past asking whether AI matters. 81% of respondents have launched pilots or small-scale projects, yet only 33% have taken AI beyond the pilot into operational use. The report calls this a trust paradox. The benefits of AI are broadly recognised, but that same potential is causing hesitation. And the barriers it finds are not technical. They are governance, culture and communication.
Beyond the Hype draws on 130 survey responses and in-depth interviews across the industry. It maps where AI is already proving its value, where trust breaks down, and what moves an organisation from pilot to everyday operations.
81%
have launched pilots or small-scale AI projects
33%
have progressed beyond pilots
11%
of organisations have a formal AI policy
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