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eracy, and confidence in using decision support tools, alongside traditional seamanship.On shore, the shift is more pronounced. With real-time data available, superintendents are moving from reactive troubleshooting to proactive oversight, enabling one person to support more vessels effectively.Importantly, AI is not being used to replace human judgment in safety-critical decisions. Instead, it is used to reduce friction, allowing experienced professionals to focus on what truly matters.Are charterers and cargo owners advocating data transparency and digital performance reporting strongly enough? Progress is uneven. Energy majors and some large owners have been pushing data transparency for years, setting higher expectations and gradually moving the industry forward. However, many charterers still rely on PDF-based noon reports and trust-based reporting, despite having the leverage to demand more.The real shift will occur when transparency becomes commercially relevant rather than a compliance exercise. Once verified, performance data directly influences charter terms, financing, or insurance premiums, and thus demand will accelerate.Has cyber risk become a serious threat to fleet safety and business continuity as ships become increasingly connected and software-driven? To what extent is the industry truly prepared to protect itself against these threats?Cyber risk is now a significant operational concern. The attack surface has expanded with satellite connectivity, IoT sensors, ECDIS updates, remote support systems, and third-party software on board. A successful breach could impact navigation, propulsion, or cargo operations, or simply restrict access to essential data.Industry preparedness is improving, but vulnerabilities remain, particularly among older vessels with legacy systems that were never designed for network connectivity. Overall, the industry is better positioned than it was five years ago, but continued focus and investment are necessary.Looking ten years ahead, which element of smart shipping do you believe will be the most transformative and why?Today, the same data is reported, re-entered, and reformatted multiple times across stakeholders such as vessels, managers, owners, charterers, classification societies, and authorities. This duplication creates inefficiencies and increases the risk of errors.Over the next decade, this will change. AI agents integrated directly into operational systems will take over much of the repetitive shore-based work, including reporting, reconciliations, follow-ups, document handling, procurement, and travel coordination.As a result, organisations will become leaner but more specialised. Stakeholders will be able to access the data they need directly from connected systems, rather than relying on manual reporting from crews or managers. Thus, efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making across the value chain will be improved.May 2026 189Crew services and medicalTechnical Ship Repair ServicesLogistics & Spare Partscomercial@rudder.euSpain and North Africarudder.euYour 24/7 local expert