Human-Centered Maritime Operations Strategies for Addressing Automation and Artificial Intelligence in the Maritime Industry

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FORMOSA NEWS -Banten - Human-Centered Strategies Are Essential for Safe Automation and AI Integration in Global Maritime Operations. In 2026, researchers Pierre Marcello Lopulalan and Rahmat Santoso from Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, alongside Surnata from Politeknik Transportasi Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan Palembang, published a comprehensive study examining how the maritime industry can safely navigate the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and automation. Published in the Asian Journal of Community Services, the research highlights that while digital transformation and autonomous ships drive operational efficiency, they simultaneously introduce critical risks regarding seafarer competency, decision-making, and human-machine collaboration. The findings underscore that successful maritime modernization requires a robust, human-centered operational framework to protect workforce readiness and safeguard global supply chains.

Navigating the Digital Shift in Global Shipping

The global shipping industry forms the backbone of international trade, transporting over 80% of the world's goods by volume. Although maritime trade continues to evolve, the sector faces growing economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions. To adapt, shipping lines and ports are increasingly adopting advanced technologies such as intelligent navigation systems, data analytics, and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). However, these technological shifts fundamentally alter daily seafarer duties, task contents, and competency requirements. Without proper alignment between technological investment and human capabilities, digital innovation risks compromising operational safety rather than enhancing it.

Rigorous Systematic Literature Review
To uncover the most effective operational strategies, the researchers adopted a systematic literature review design adhering strictly to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The team searched three major international academic databases—Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect—for peer-reviewed publications released between 2020 and 2025. Using targeted search strings combining keywords related to maritime automation, artificial intelligence, human factors, and seafarers, the initial search yielded 214 records. Following a rigorous screening and eligibility assessment, 25 high-quality articles were selected and examined through detailed thematic synthesis to identify overarching operational strategies.

Key Findings: Five Pillars of Human-Centered Operations
The systematic analysis revealed five core themes defining human-centered maritime operations:

• Digital Competence and Adaptive Training: Artificial intelligence cannot replace traditional seamanship; instead, workforce training must combine classical navigation skills with modern ICT, AI literacy, and troubleshooting capabilities. Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions must overhaul their curricula to include digital information interpretation and automated system supervision.
  
• Meaningful Human Control: Operators must maintain active authority and clear intervention procedures rather than being reduced to passive backup systems when automated technology encounters unexpected failures.
  
• System Transparency and Calibrated Trust: Autonomous systems and AI decision-support tools must clearly present operational limits, system statuses, and reasoning logic to prevent automation surprises and foster balanced, trustworthy human oversight.
  
• Workload-Aware Supervision: Shore-based control centers must carefully regulate operator-to-vessel ratios and response times to prevent cognitive overload, detection delays, and takeover failures during emergency scenarios.
  
• Integrated Risk Governance: Safety management must treat human and technological elements as interconnected parts of a sociotechnical network, evaluating operational failures as system-wide interactions rather than isolated human errors.
  

Real-World Implications for Industry and Policy
The study delivers actionable insights for diverse stakeholders across the maritime ecosystem. Shipping companies are urged to align technological upgrades with structured workload management and clear handover protocols. Meanwhile, technology developers must integrate transparent AI interfaces that clearly communicate system limitations to human operators. Regulators are encouraged to update international safety standards to mandate operator competence, clear divisions of authority, and robust shore control center frameworks. Ultimately, these measures ensure that digital transformation enhances both productivity and safety across global shipping networks. Emphasizing the core philosophy of their research, Pierre Marcello Lopulalan, Surnata, and Rahmat Santoso note that as automation increases, human functions naturally shift away from routine manual execution toward high-level monitoring, diagnostics, and abnormal condition intervention. They assert that a human-centered approach is indispensable for maintaining operational reliability, safety, and workforce readiness in an increasingly automated maritime landscape.

Author Profile
Pierre Marcello Lopulalan: Lecturer and researcher at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, specializing in maritime operations and safety.
Surnata: Academic and researcher at Politeknik Transportasi Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan Palembang, focusing on river, lake, and ferry transportation systems.
Rahmat Santoso: Researcher and educator at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, focusing on maritime education, technology, and operational safety.

Source
Pierre Marcello Lopulalan, Surnata, Rahmat Santoso. Human-Centered Maritime Operations Strategies for Addressing Automation and Artificial Intelligence in the Maritime Industry. Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5, No. 9, hlm. 751-768.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i9.76 
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs