At last week’s Maritime CEO Forum held at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, a high-level panel explored one of the most pressing questions in shipping today: as artificial intelligence and digitalisation transform the sector, how can the workforce adapt, upskill, and thrive in a human-centred maritime future? The discussion, moderated by Mark Charman, CEO and founder of Faststream Recruitment, drew contributions from Marco Camporeale, vice president at Inmarsat; Su Yin Anand, partner at IBM Consulting and co-founder of The Captain’s Table; Vikas Trivedi, co-CEO of shipmanagement at Synergy Marine Group; and Vinod George, general manager of operations at CMB.TECH. Charman opened the session with characteristic energy, framing the debate around the reality that AI is no longer science fiction. He highlighted data from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, noting that globally, by 2030, 170m new jobs will be created and 92m lost – a net increase of 78m. “Technology, automation, and AI are going to shape our future landscape, and it will have a huge impact on the maritime sector,” he said. To set the scene, Charman asked the audience whether AI would create more maritime jobs than it eliminates. The show of hands revealed caution: many expected a reduction in jobs, though others predicted status quo or modest gains. Marco Camporeale of Inmarsat stressed that AI is primarily a bridge between ecosystems. “On ships, the impact of AI will be to connect operations more efficiently, streamline intelligence, and assist crew in making smart decisions, whether in navigation, technical operations, sustainability, or compliance,” he said. Camporeale emphasised that AI will support decision-making, incident response, and training, but the human element remains essential. “We need to have the right balance as of today,” he said. Su Yin Anand highlighted the growing demand for digitally literate, data-literate, and tech-savvy crew. “Ships are now highly connected with IoT sensors and real-time data links. This shifts the demand towards more tech-enabled, data-driven operations,” she said. Anand explained that seafarers increasingly need to interpret dashboards, troubleshoot onboard systems, and maintain cybersecurity. “High-tech ships are transforming the ratio of crew attention from physical operations to computer-based tasks. Technical proficiency for the remaining crew is increasing, even as some roles are reduced.” Charman and the panel agreed that the human workforce remains central. “In our survey of senior maritime executives, 61% said AI is their number one personal development priority. Two years ago, it was all about ESG and sustainability,” Charman said. The panel highlighted that 68% of executives now use AI in their daily work, up from 26% two years ago. Anand stressed the importance of upskilling for an AI-driven future. “We need to start by understanding the business in five years and what skill sets will be needed,” she said. “You shouldn’t recruit for skills that will be out of fashion in two or three years. Employees need to feel comfortable using AI, seeing how it augments productivity rather than replacing jobs. Management support is critical – if leaders aren’t comfortable with AI, it will never be adopted effectively.” Vikas Trivedi focused on the human dimension. “AI works with you as a co-worker, not just a productivity tool. As AI takes over repetitive tasks, we need to focus more on what it means to be human in the w