AI at Sea: Empowering Crews, Not Replacing Them

Insights from Yarden Gross (Orca AI) & Dipali Kuchekar (Lloyd’s Register)

At Nor-Shipping 2025, Orca AI’s Yarden Gross and Lloyd’s Register’s Dipali Kuchekar joined TradeWinds Content Studio for a direct and honest conversation about the real impact of artificial intelligence on maritime operations. The central question: Is AI a threat to seafarers—or a tool to support them?

From Automation to Augmentation

“AI is replacing tasks, not people,” Yarden stated clearly. “It’s about removing the repetitive, time-consuming work so crews can focus on what truly matters.”

Dipali echoed that sentiment: “Human-in-the-loop is non-negotiable. AI should empower people—not sideline them.” Rather than seeing AI as a disruptor of the human role, both leaders positioned it as an enhancer—improving efficiency, building new skills, and supporting better decision-making.

Solid Infrastructure, Trustworthy Technology

For AI to succeed at sea, the foundational elements must be in place. Yarden pointed to the growing connectivity between ships and the cloud, unlocking the potential for more intelligent, responsive systems. But alongside opportunity comes responsibility.

“How do you validate a model at sea? That’s what we’re working on with Lloyd’s Register,” he explained. It’s not just about throwing more data at a problem—it’s about curating better data, ensuring reliability, and building trust.

Dipali emphasized the importance of transparency: “We need traceability—clear understanding of where data comes from, how it’s processed, and what outcomes it drives. That’s how we earn trust and create safe, scalable frameworks.”

Tackling Risk Head-On

With greater AI use comes increased scrutiny around cybersecurity and model reliability. As ships become more connected, protecting sensitive systems is essential. But even more pressing is the need to ensure that AI models perform as intended—especially as they begin making autonomous decisions.

“These aren’t problems a single company can solve,” Yarden noted. “It requires ecosystem-level collaboration: shipowners, operators, regulators, insurers, and tech providers all at the table.”

Dipali added: “We’ve always balanced innovation with safety. AI doesn’t change that—it just raises the stakes. Our job is to make sure innovation happens responsibly.”

Act Now, Lead Tomorrow

Both Yarden and Dipali wrapped the discussion with a clear call to action: early adoption matters. The maritime AI wave is already underway—and those who prepare now will shape how it rolls out.

“AI will transform how ships and crews operate,” said Yarden. “Leaders who invest in the right systems, partnerships, and strategies today will be the ones who lead tomorrow.”

Dipali concluded with pragmatic optimism: “AI is just a tool. Accept it, embrace it, and you can shape it to work in your favor.”

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence is not a threat to seafarers—it’s a force multiplier. Through strategic adoption, regulatory alignment, and deep industry collaboration, the maritime world can harness AI to create smarter, safer, and more empowered operations at sea.