French company CMA CGM has launched a project to develop a concept for an AI-powered container ship and decision support systems, in collaboration with the Shanghai Marine Design and Research Institute and Bureau Veritas, aiming to increase the automation of navigation, energy management, and operational functions while maintaining human oversight.
CMA CGM is responsible for defining operational requirements and use cases, while the Chinese institute will work on ship design, systems engineering, and the development of smart ship technologies. Bureau Veritas will handle classification, safety, human factors, and regulatory risk aspects.
The project aims to prepare an operational concept and preliminary design that define crew roles and technically supportable functions, before developing them into technical specifications and seeking preliminary approval. The study also includes initial estimates for capital and operating costs and a development roadmap.
The partners emphasized that the goal is to assist the crew, not replace them, while maintaining human supervision and operational control within the ship's design.
CMA CGM is one of the international maritime shipping companies specializing in container transport services, and it is working to integrate AI and smart ship technologies into its future operations.
