The Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) and Fujitsu Limited announced the start of implementing an artificial intelligence-based crew shift schedule optimization system, reports Seafarers Journal.
Today, shipowners develop shift schedules taking into account factors such as:
Previously, when creating crew shift schedules, MOL relied on data manually collected by staff from separate databases, which was time-consuming.
As SJ previously reported, the situation regarding port and country shifts can be viewed in the updated guide.
The new system developed by Fujitsu uses mathematical optimization for crew shift scheduling, taking multiple factors into account.
The AI-based system ensures an optimal balance between sea duty periods and shore leave, evenly distributing workload among crew members, while also considering personal life events such as weddings and childbirth when creating shift schedules.
This system aims to improve crew shift planning and enhance work-life balance for seafarers through shorter voyages and sufficient leave periods.
According to developer forecasts, using this system will reduce crew shift scheduling time by approximately 70%.
Full-scale implementation is planned to begin in Japan in May 2025.
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