# Harnessing AI for Sustainable Shipping and Green Ports: Challenges and Opportunities
## 3 The Role of AI in Sustainable Shipping
### Operational Optimization
Previous navigation systems assisted navigators, but the NAVDEC system takes it a step further--besides providing information about the situation at hand, it also considers the provisions of international maritime law and indicates which vessel has the right of way. If a collision situation arises, it advises the navigator on how to change course to safely pass other vessels. Another innovative feature of the NAVDEC involves analyzing and evaluating the navigational situation concerning all nearby vessels within an adjustable radius of eight nautical miles (which can be modified by the navigator). This aspect typically falls within the decision-making process of the navigator, as the situation assessment considers pertinent regulations. With the NAVDEC system, the navigator receives guidance on identifying an encounter situation in accordance with Collision Regulations, which define the rules of the road at sea to prevent collisions between vessels, also known as COLREG. When a situation is classified as a collision scenario, the navigator determines a safe maneuver to resolve the situation, including adjustments to course and/or speed as well as the timing and parameters of the maneuver. The system is well versed in COLREG, best seamanship practices, and the criteria used by experienced navigators. In addition to providing a specific solution, the system also offers alternative solutions compliant with regulations (possible ranges of course and/or speed adjustments). Furthermore, the navigator receives a rationale for the proposed maneuver. This functionality applies to all or selected targets. The navigator has the entire navigational situation depicted on an electronic map, which includes other ships (Figure 4). For the system to operate correctly, it must cooperate with standard equipment and systems installed on board (often also used on recreational vessels), such as a log, gyrocompass, ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid), GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), AIS (Automatic Identification System), ENC (Electronic Navigational Charts), and sources of current navigational data. Like the ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), NAVDEC serves informational functions--displaying bathymetric data from electronic charts, surface imagery from the tracking radar, and position information from AIS and GNSS receivers on a single screen. Finally, it determines and presents to the navigator the parameters of the movement of navigational objects nearby [138]. It is hard to predict how quickly and in which way AI responsible for anti-collision maneuvers will further develop. However, it could be postulated that ships would communicate with each other to indicate their intentions towards certain anti-collision measures, or the decision will be taken by an operator--a human situated onshore who operates the ship's integrated systems from there. The integration of AI navigation systems also allows for better coordination with port operations. Autonomous ships in the future could possibly communicate with port authorities to streamline docking and cargo-handling processes, reducing waiting times and further improving efficiency. However, these aspects are still in the theoretical phase. As the technology advances, fully autonomous vessels could revolutionize maritime logistics, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency and sustainability [139, 140]. AI for Logistics and Supply Chain Management  
AI has a profound impact on logistics and supply chain management within the maritime industry, driving significant improvements in efficiency and sustainability. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets from various sources, including shipping schedules, cargo volumes, and port traffic, to optimize logistics operations and supply chain workflows [115, 141, 142]. One of the primary applications of AI in logistics is predictive analytics. By analyzing historical data and identifying trends, AI can forecast demand for shipping services, allowing companies to optimize their fleet deployment and reduce idle times.