The global shipping industry is turning to artificial intelligence to combat a worrying rise in fires at sea, many caused by undeclared hazardous cargo, particularly batteries and other flammable materials.
According to the World Shipping Council (WSC), 2024 saw a decade-high number of ship fires, largely due to mis-declared dangerous goods. To address this, the Council is launching an AI-powered system that scans millions of cargo bookings in real time. Using advanced pattern recognition, the system will flag suspicious entries, allowing carriers to inspect high-risk shipments before they set sail.
WSC Chief Executive Joe Kramek, announcing the initiative at London International Shipping Week, said carriers representing 70% of global container capacity have already signed on. “Too many tragic incidents have been caused by mis-declared cargo,” he noted, citing fires such as the recent Wan Hai 503 disaster that claimed four lives off the coast of India.
The initiative has been welcomed by maritime insurers, including the International Group of P&I Clubs, which covers 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage. Insurers and analysts alike see AI as a crucial safeguard as vessels grow larger and more cargo includes lithium-ion batteries, a sector projected to reach $322 billion by 2030.
The 2025 Allianz Shipping Safety Review warned that while technology drives progress, it also brings new dangers. With AI now stepping aboard, the industry hopes to detect risks long before they spark into catastrophe.
Credit: Financial / Enterprise
