Michalis Gountas, founder and CEO of AskChief, pointed out the ways in which artificial intelligence can fundamentally change ship management at sea and on land. He explained that this technology can convert years of scattered practical knowledge into an accessible resource.
Change in Dependence on Individual Experience
It is noteworthy that the future of ship management will rely less on individual experience, organizational memory, and the availability of specific individuals. Gountas stated, "Artificial intelligence can reduce dependence on those who are available or remember what happened." This transformation, instead of replacing experienced observers or seafarers, allows them to have immediate access to the accumulated information across the entire fleet of the company.
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Access to Information at the Right Time
According to Gountas, corporate systems will become inactive archives. At sea, crews will be able to access documentation and previous experiences during a problem. On land, teams can review the evidence behind a reaction, prepare for inspections, and systematically manage SMS changes. He added, "Shipping companies already have vast knowledge in manuals, SMS, vessel histories, defect reports, and inspections, but this knowledge is scattered, and technical and HSQE teams spend a lot of time gathering context before taking action."
Artificial Intelligence as an Assistive Tool
It is worth mentioning that while general AI systems can summarize documentation, Gountas believes that the shipping industry needs something more specific based on company procedures, practical evidence, and defined responsibilities. AskChief focuses on the daily workflows of technical observers and designated persons on land (DPA), helping them solve problems, prepare for inspections, and manage compliance.
Maintaining Human Responsibility in Decision-Making
Gountas emphasized that decision-making must remain entirely in human hands. He said, "Safety judgments, approvals, and final decisions must be made by a responsible expert. AskChief supports judgment rather than replacing it." Gaining the trust of shipowners, who are often conservative, has been one of the main challenges. For example, Seanergy has worked as a design partner with AskChief, and Castor Ships and Delia are among the operators using this technology.
Building Trust Through Transparency
Gountas stated that trust depends on transparency, and users must be able to link the responses generated by AI to their manuals, operational procedures, and vessel histories. He also believes that the adoption of technology should focus on solving specific practical problems rather than launching broad digital transformation programs.
Looking to the future, it is evident that every technical problem solved can become part of a growing body of practical information available to entire fleets. Gountas added, "Every resolved case can give the next ship and team a better starting point." While the size of the fleet may remain the same, the workload will change. Artificial intelligence provides empowered teams with better support without taking responsibility away from them.
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