Greater intelligence, safer ports

How can artificial intelligence and machine learning improve maritime and port security both on land and sea?  

AI has the potential to revolutionise the global economy and is an area of substantial investment across the world by companies big and small. 

For the maritime industry it is no different as ports, terminals, carriers and other supply chain stakeholders look to utilise the near-exponentially increasing amount of data.However, new technologies also bring risk. It must now be considered how best to implement cybersecurity and how to keep the digital and automated programmes ports increasingly rely on safe. 

The maritime industry is not unique in needing to be hyper-aware of the threat hackers pose; in 2018 alone, there were 10.5 billion malware attacks globally. 

Companies across the world, from heavy industry to finance are all spending big money to keep their data and operations safe, to the point where the Cloud segment alone will rise from $5 billion in 2018 to $12.6 billion in 2023. 

The number of data points in the maritime chain – vessel navigation, cargo handling, container tracking systems on shore and at sea, automated processing, etc – make it particularly important that decision-makers make their AI-powered systems as resilient as possible. In fact, AI itself may prove to be the solution. 

Machine learning 

AI is a broad term to describe a machine’s mimicking of a human brain, but to do that it needs machine learning, its most indispensable subset. 

In ordinary AI-driven operations, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) collects data and builds a decision making support system, from which AI then can spot patterns and make subsequent preparations. 

When it comes to improving cyber-security machine learning can be used to process information from previous hacking attempts. When combined with AI-decision making, threats can be spotted quicker and acted upon before operations are harmed. The drawback is that AI and machine learning algorithms needs months of event-specific data to set baseline, at which point it can detect anomalies and sophisticated threats. 

While undeniably valuable, this doesn’t necessarily help prepare for all future attacks because the cyber-threat is getting bigger and more advanced all the time. 

How can ports use Artificial Intelligence? 

Cyber-criminals themselves utilise AI systems to get around security processes, which means ports and all stakeholders have to constantly adapt and update their defences. This is particularly true at a time when ports are investing heavily in smart technologies to connect fleets of machines and automate processes. 

A possibility might be a different subset of AI called machine reasoning, which is a deeper layer of machine learning. It does all the things machine learning does but is much broader and flexible, and allows the critical human oversight needed to prevent malicious activity. 

Whereas machine learning will ingest mountains of data, machine reasoning, or automated reasoning as it is also known, will analyse it within a certain set of rules which are encoded and overseen by people. 

Ultimately, once machine reasoning software detects an unfamiliar attempt to access data, it will send a notification to the security team, which will have the final say over whether or not to grant it. 

It isn’t only cybersecurity where AI can help ports be more resilient, they also need to consider non-cyber health and safety. For carriers, it can also help with voyage optimisation, maintenance and vessel tracking, which can help a port’s operations by keeping cargo traffic flowing and increasing supply chain visibility. 

For more news updates, check out our June issue here.

Media contact 

Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, 

Editor, Security Portfolio 

Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922

About Security Buyer

Security Buyer is the leading authority in global security content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the security sector.

To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team below.

Rebecca Spayne picture 2025

Rebecca Spayne

Managing
EDITOR

Georgina Turner image

Georgina Turner

Sales
Manager

Afua Akoto image - Security Buyer

Afua Akoto

Marketing Manager

Read the Latest Issue

Follow us on X

Follow us on X

Click Here

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Click Here

Advertise here

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise here

Click Here

Related News

Ports

Addressing Physical and Cyber Threats

Joseph Clarke, Assistant Editor of Security Buyer, Simon Barnes of Genetec and Zak Doffman of Digital Barriers emphasise cyber…

Unlocking the full potential of edge-AI cameras

Artificial intelligence has revolutionised video security by providing unprecedented control over situations. Security cameras…

Freshworks add AI integration to digital assistant

Freshworks Inc. today announced new GPT-based conversational enhancements to Freshworks’ natively-built AI powered assistant, Freddy.
maritime

Addressing the shortcomings of maritime cyber security

The maritime industry plays a vital role in the global economy, with shipping responsible for as much as 90% of trade worldwide…

KEYper Systems and iDter Exhibiting at NADA

KEYper Systems, an ASSA ABLOY Company and global provider of innovative key and asset control management solutions, together with iDter,
Azena

Digitising oilfield operations with AI video analytics

Digitising oilfield operations with AI video analytics, by Leena Sudhakar, Oil and Gas, Azena, and Technical Editor for Security Buyer
Ports

5G+4L autonomous driving make smart port safer

At the end of last year, port congestion caused severe disruptions in global supply chains, leading to stock shortages in many stores
Hanwha

Hanwha Techwin and Assan Port

Protecting international shipping containers in a major port connecting the Eastern Mediterranean and Anatolia with the West.
Ministry of Defence

New £50m UK defence centre to open

A new £50 million UK centre will support the training of world-class cyber experts, both domestically and internationally.
Scroll to Top