Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2018)

Photo: Class NK There are many ideas on how to use AI in classi? cation and in shipping. It is important to keep in perspective though that only 30 years we could not imagine the iPhone of today; 30 years ago this was “ a dream.” For the shipping industry, the trick will be getting AI systems commonly accepted and in use across the industry, integrated and communicative with other ships. visit of a surveyor to a speci? c ship may though that only 30 years we could not New Rules = New Ships? fossil fuels will only go so far in saving not be as necessary.” imagine the iPhone of today; 30 years The maritime industry is in a transcen- GHG, new concepts are necessary,” said ago this was a dream.” dent period, with an avalanche of new Fujiwara.

Enter Arti? cial Intelligence For the shipping industry, the trick will emissions rules that promise to signi? - Through R&D ClassNK plans to main-

While ClassNK continues to study the be getting AI systems commonly ac- cantly alter the maritime landscape, and tain its leadership mantle in this regard, various technical points, such as sens- cepted and in use across the industry, in- potentially trigger a spate of new con- taking a deep dive into the digitalization ing technology, communication technol- tegrated and communicative with other struction as older ships prove too costly and data and it is central to meeting ever ogy and analysis technology, Fujiwara ships. to convert. more strict performance and environ- is clear that the future will be pave with While many insiders and outsiders When asked his thoughts on the new mental mandates.

Arti? cial Intelligence (AI). alike term the shipping industry ‘con- rules triggering a new ship order spree, “We are trying to make some rules re- “Many jobs that are currently carried servative regarding technology uptake, Fujiwara was succinct: “I hope so! As garding big data exchange, and we are out by humans will be replaced with AI. Fujiwara said, given its size, it should the CEO of ClassNK, I think I should certainly not alone in this regard, it’s the

In the classi? cation business, AI is very come as little surprise that it is a slower be a little pessimistic about that. At the same type of issue faced by the other useful to conduct some class-related process in shipping. moment ClassNK is very stable, and we tech giants … who owns the data, and jobs, but as AI gets better and better, we “The shipping market is not so big, and have the ability to invest in new technol- how can this data be used. It’s a big is- must discover new ways that AI can be the speed of technology really depends ogy. I see the market turning up in 2020- sue,” said Fujiwara. useful in the classi? cation business.” on the size of the market,” he said. “The 21, but I will take the pessimistic view “So we’ve built up some market rules

While the path is clear, the time-table Facebooks and the Googles of the world in case not. and set up a common platform with rules to arrive is a bit fuzzy. have grown up very quickly because He agrees that new rules surrounding to govern the collection, storage and use “It is very easy to dream!,” said Fuji- their market is huge. But shipping is not Greenhouse Gas Emissions are the big- of data. We are starting this year on a tri- wara. “There are many ideas on how to so big, and the lifetime of a ship is very gest change at the moment, particularly al basis, and many shipowners and ship- use AI in classi? cation and in shipping. long. So in the shipping world it will be the recent decision taken by IMO MEPC builders are joining. If it’s successful, we

It is important to keep in perspective gradual change as ? eets are renewed.” to cut emissions 50% by 2050. “Using will spread it to the rest of the world.” www.marinelink.com 29

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