Business

Kaiko Systems predicts AI will become the maritime industry's central operating brain by 2026

Monday, 1 December 2025 5:22AM UTC

Kaiko Systems forecasts that artificial intelligence will revolutionise vessel management within three years, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and predictive maintenance in the maritime industry.

Kaiko Systems, a pioneering AI-powered platform in maritime technology, forecasts that artificial intelligence will become the central operating brain of vessel management within the next three years. Emir Kocer, AI Product and Strategy lead at Kaiko Systems, highlights that the maritime industry, despite its abundance of data and operational complexity, has lacked a unified intelligent resource capable of transforming fragmented information and workflows into timely, actionable decisions. He emphasises that AI is not about replacing crew members but enhancing their capabilities, enabling superintendents to manage larger fleets confidently and chief engineers to focus on proactive safety measures rather than paperwork. The company envisions AI relieving personnel from repetitive and error-prone tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more strategic and fulfilling responsibilities.

Kaiko Systems offers an end-to-end platform that digitises frontline workflows, facilitates collaboration between ship and shore teams, and analyses vessel health and compliance data at scale. Its AI product, KAI, currently assists crews by automating inspection support, corrosion detection, and condition analysis, providing standardised, summarised reports that highlight critical findings. According to Kocer, the real transformative power of AI lies in its predictive capabilities, spotting weak signals that human eyes might miss and recommending maintenance actions before failures occur. This shift from reactive reporting to proactive prevention, he argues, is key to enhancing operational resilience in shipping. The company warns that owners who adopt AI early will gain competitive advantages, while those resistant to change may struggle to keep pace with evolving industry standards.

In addition to onboard solutions, Kaiko Systems is developing tools for document ingestion to convert PDFs, forms, and logs into structured, searchable data. This advancement will allow ship managers to benchmark performance, identify trends, and make verified data-driven decisions across fleets. Looking further ahead, the company envisions AI becoming intrinsic to vessel operating systems, encompassing a unified memory of inspections and maintenance, evolving predictive maintenance scoring, automated task generation, and cross-domain reasoning that integrates hull condition, weather, and operational data to forecast failures before they happen.

The future may also see vessel-specific AI agents serving as digital chiefs of staff or TSI assistants. These agents would possess comprehensive knowledge of a ship’s history, condition, and operational profile, augmenting rather than replacing human crews by providing memory, foresight, and guidance. This vision aligns with Kaiko's recent product launches intended to streamline maritime operations and enhance safety. For instance, the digital tool 'Shore Reports' has been introduced to replace manual workflows in shore-based inspections with real-time, structured data delivery via mobile apps and dashboards. Similarly, the 'Vessel Health Map' consolidates complex operational data into accessible, colour-coded visuals and 3D models to facilitate proactive maintenance.

Kaiko Systems continues to innovate with solutions aimed at regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Their collaboration with Risk4Sea produced a mobile-first platform to assist crews in preparing for port state control (PSC) inspections, blending Kaiko’s data capabilities with Risk4Sea’s PSC risk database for tailored, predictive compliance strategies. Moreover, the ‘Kaiko CharterReady’ product streamlines cargo hold inspections and reporting through AI, enhancing transparency and early issue detection for stakeholders.

Backing these innovations, Kaiko Systems secured €6 million in Series A funding led by Hi inov and Flashpoint Venture Growth, which will fuel expansion into new markets and accelerate further product development. This investment underscores the growing recognition of AI’s potential to revolutionise asset-heavy industries such as shipping, where safety, compliance, and operational efficiency are paramount.

Overall, Kaiko Systems’ vision and recent advancements illustrate a transformative trajectory for the maritime sector, positioning AI not as a tool of replacement but as an indispensable collaborator that enhances human expertise, operational resilience, and competitive advantage in an increasingly complex industry landscape.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Cyprus Shipping News) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
^[2] (Assafina Online) - Paragraph 1
^[3] (Ship and Offshore) - Paragraph 6
^[4] (Smart Maritime Network) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (Hi inov) - Paragraph 7
^[6] (IIMS) - Paragraph 7
^[7] (Sea and Job) - Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/12/01/ai-will-become-the-focal-point-for-vessel-operations-by-2030-says-kaiko-systems/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.assafinaonline.com/en/article/ai-will-become-the-focal-point-for-vessel-operations-by-2030-says-kaiko-systems - Kaiko Systems predicts that within the next three years, AI will evolve from a collection of tools to the central operating brain of vessel management. This transformation aims to enhance operational resilience by enabling ship owners to make data-driven decisions, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in the maritime industry.
https://www.shipandoffshore.net/ship-repair/detail/news/kaiko-systems-launches-new-digital-tool-for-shore-based-vessel-inspections.html - Kaiko Systems has introduced 'Shore Reports', a digital inspection tool designed for vessel superintendents and shore managers. This platform replaces manual workflows with a mobile app and dashboard, delivering structured inspection data in real time, thereby improving efficiency and safety oversight in shore-based inspections.
https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2024/08/02/kaiko-systems-introduces-vessel-health-map/ - Kaiko Systems has launched the 'Vessel Health Map', a tool that consolidates complex operational data into understandable insights using colour-coded visuals and 3D models. This system highlights the status of various areas of the ship based on recent crew inspections, facilitating proactive maintenance and operational decision-making.
https://www.hiinov.com/kaiko-systems-raises-e6m-series-a-funding.html - Kaiko Systems has secured €6 million in Series A funding, led by Hi inov and Flashpoint Venture Growth, with continued support from Motion Ventures. This funding aims to accelerate the company's expansion into new markets and advance product development, enhancing safety, compliance, and efficiency in asset-heavy industries.
https://www.iims.org.uk/streamlining-psc-inspections-through-ai-powered-approach/ - Kaiko Systems and Risk4Sea have collaborated to launch a dynamic, mobile-first digital solution designed to assist crews and shore teams in port state control (PSC) preparation. This joint solution combines Kaiko Systems' advanced data collection platform with Risk4Sea's database of prioritized PSC risks, offering a tailored and predictive approach to port inspection compliance.
https://www.seaandjob.com/kaiko-systems-launches-new-product-kaiko-charterready-to-streamline-cargo-hold-inspection-and-reporting-with-an-ai-powered-app-and-dashboard-for-crews/ - Kaiko Systems has introduced 'Kaiko CharterReady', a new product aimed at streamlining cargo hold inspection and reporting. This AI-powered app and dashboard enable crews to ensure cargo holds are prepared effectively for loading, proactively identifying potential issues and enhancing transparency for stakeholders.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative was published on December 1, 2025, and is the earliest known publication of this specific content. However, similar statements by Kaiko Systems regarding AI's role in vessel management have appeared in previous reports, such as those from November 26, 2025. ([shipmanagementinternational.com](https://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/news/ai-to-become-central-operating-brain-of-vessel-management-within-three-years-predicts-kaiko-systems?utm_source=openai)) This suggests the content may be recycled, with updated data justifying a higher freshness score. Additionally, the narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The direct quotes from Emir Kocer, AI Product and Strategy at Kaiko Systems, appear in earlier material, indicating potential reuse. For example, similar statements were made in reports from November 26, 2025. ([shipmanagementinternational.com](https://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/news/ai-to-become-central-operating-brain-of-vessel-management-within-three-years-predicts-kaiko-systems?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, suggesting paraphrasing rather than direct reuse. No online matches were found for the exact wording of the quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from Cyprus Shipping News, a niche maritime news outlet. While it provides industry-specific information, its credibility is uncertain due to limited online presence and verification. The report is based on a press release from Kaiko Systems, a reputable organisation in the maritime technology sector. However, the reliance on a single source for the narrative raises concerns about potential bias or lack of independent verification.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about AI becoming the central operating brain of vessel management within the next three years are plausible and align with ongoing trends in maritime technology. Similar statements have been made by Kaiko Systems in previous reports, such as those from November 26, 2025. ([shipmanagementinternational.com](https://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/news/ai-to-become-central-operating-brain-of-vessel-management-within-three-years-predicts-kaiko-systems?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with industry reports, and there are no excessive or off-topic details. The tone is formal and typical of corporate communications, with no unusual drama or vagueness.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents plausible claims about AI's role in vessel management, supported by statements from Kaiko Systems. However, the reliance on a single source and the recycling of earlier content raise concerns about freshness and originality. The source's credibility is uncertain due to limited online presence. The lack of supporting details from other reputable outlets further diminishes confidence in the narrative's accuracy.

AI
Maritime Technology
Digital Transformation