Thirty years ago, the internet gradually took over our daily lives. Few of us could have foreseen the current triumph of e-commerce and the complete shift of communication between authorities and friends to internet.
However, shipping was lagging behind other industries in the development, because for a long time it was not possible to connect ships to internet cheaply and efficiently. The situation has changed a lot in the last five years, because satellites have significantly improved the Internet connection of ships.
Satellites now allow a continuous flow of information between ships and other land-based systems. Of course, there are even more changes: cargo can be monitored in real time throughout the entire sea voyage, weather conditions are taken into account when steering the ship, the ship’s propulsion systems can automatically adapt to the conditions, there are automatic steering systems, the condition of the ship’s machinery is monitored remotely, the ship’s arrival in port can be accurately predicted and fuel consumption optimized, etc.
Another great development is the news that the world’s first autonomous ships are already sailing the seas, but they still have people on board to ensure safety.
Now, all sectors are taking rapid steps towards artificial intelligence, which raises the question: what impact could artificial intelligence have on shipping? One thing is clear: even if we notice artificial intelligence software making multitude of mistakes, this should not confuse us – neither in the shipping industry nor in others. The Internet is also full of misinformation, but this does not prevent us from doing our banking or voting online.
Importantly, artificial intelligence allows software development to be done much cheaper and faster than before. Artificial intelligence has a huge amount of data to use to make decisions, while systems can also correct their own mistakes, act flexibly and learn from their experiences. The task of humans is increasingly concentrated on planning and control.
It is certain that the shipping companies of the future will be able to optimize their fleet in real time, based on a broad picture of the situation regarding transport volumes, weather, port operations, etc. Shipping companies will be able to update their entire offer accordingly, creatively combining different cargo flows and planning completely new routes based on information about customer needs and competitors. In addition, the artificial intelligence will enable the automation of shipping, which means that ships and ports will be able to operate autonomously in the future, while correcting their mistakes when necessary.
I dare to suggest that the artificial intelligence is quite a blessing for Estonian maritime research and development. Namely, as an advanced technological country, Estonia has a great ability to develop its shipping to meet the so-called artificial intelligence era. This does not only mean the efficiency of ports and shipping companies, but also a great opportunity for Estonia to develop and sell artificial intelligence technology as part of maritime technology worldwide and to the whole world.
In any case, the artificial intelligence will fundamentally and permanently change the Estonian maritime cluster – and very soon.
This opinion piece was published in Postimees newspaper on January 14, 2026.
Tales of Talsinki 