Last week, I chaired a workshop for the Society of Maritime Industries’ Digital Technology Group that reminded me why this work matters. We had technology companies, research bodies, defence primes, and a vessel operator in the same room. The conversation was honest, practical, and at times uncomfortable. That’s exactly how it should be.
The standout moment came from an operator running a small fleet of ageing vessels with a lean team. No slide deck full of ambition. Just a clear problem: they want intelligence, not data. Traffic light simplicity, not 5,000-line spreadsheets.
That single statement should be pinned to the wall of every maritime technology company in the world.
"They want intelligence, not data.
Traffic light simplicity, not 5,000-line spreadsheets."
The Monitoring Gap
Here’s the reality. A significant proportion of major hull and machinery insurance claims could be identified earlier with continuous monitoring. Not predicted by some future AI system. Identified earlier, with technology that already exists.
The shift to satellite connectivity is making continuous monitoring a reality for smaller fleets that were previously cut off from real-time data. The technology isn’t the barrier anymore. The barrier is how we present the information, and whether it actually helps the person on the other end make a decision.
Simulation, AI, and the Case for Prevention
One of the most striking parts of the workshop was a demonstration of AI-assisted advisory tools built on simulation. Using real-world incident scenarios, the modelling showed how relatively simple, low-cost interventions could have prevented catastrophic outcomes. We’re talking about small decisions with enormous consequences.
What makes this more than an academic exercise is who’s paying attention. P&I clubs are actively pulling this kind of technology forward. The insurance industry, often seen as conservative, is becoming one of the most progressive forces in maritime digital adoption. They see the data. They understand the cost of inaction. And they’re investing in prevention rather than just paying out claims.
The workshop also highlighted something important about AI in maritime: synthetic data generated through simulation can massively accelerate how AI systems learn, without waiting for real-world incidents to happen first. That changes the economics and the ethics of AI training in safety-critical environments.
Data Before Technology
A separate presentation showed how new approaches to coastal monitoring can deliver results at a fraction of the cost of conventional methods, opening up a conversation about data standards like S-100 and their potential to connect capabilities across the maritime ecosystem.
This connects to a theme that runs through every DTG discussion I’ve chaired: data standards are the foundation that everything else depends on. You can have the best AI in the world, but if the data feeding it is inconsistent, incomplete, or locked in silos, you’ll get inconsistent, incomplete results.
The IMO approved its global strategy for maritime digitisation and cybersecurity measures earlier this month. The Maritime Single Window for port-ship information exchange is coming, with enforcement expected by 2029. This isn’t a future conversation anymore. It’s a present one.
What the Maritime Industry Needs Now
If I took one message from last week’s session, it’s this: the gap between what technology can do and what operators actually need is still too wide. Closing it doesn’t need more innovation. It needs better listening.
Operators need tools that respect their time, their crew’s competence, and the reality that most maritime businesses aren’t running Silicon Valley budgets. They need intelligence delivered simply. They need vendors who understand that installation and support matter as much as the product itself. And they need an industry that builds on common standards rather than competing proprietary ecosystems.
The DTG exists to bridge this gap. We bring operators, technologists, researchers, and regulators into the same room and work on real problems together. No sales pitches. No corporate positioning. Just honest conversations about what’s working, what isn’t, and what we need to build next.
If you’re working in maritime technology and want to be part of these conversations, the Society of Maritime Industries is the place to start. The best ideas come from the widest tables.
Adam Dennett is CEO of SpecTec, whose AMOS™ platform supports asset management for maritime fleets worldwide, and Chair of the Society of Maritime Industries’ Digital Technology Group.
