Maritime robotics in action

How robots are driving the future of the maritime industry

The maritime industry is at a turning point: imagine a world in which autonomous ships cross oceans on their own, smart offshore platforms work more efficiently and underwater robots explore the deep sea. This vision is increasingly becoming reality thanks to rapid progress in robotics.
But where is the concrete economic potential today? And how can maritime companies make targeted use of these technologies to operate more safely, efficiently and sustainably? This is precisely where EARLY BRANDS and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) come in: As innovation partners, they support companies in identifying attractive areas of application for robotics and AI at an early stage – not as a vision of the future, but as a tangible reality.

Advances in technology open new doors

The further development of robotics and AI is not only creating more powerful solutions for the maritime industry, but also economically viable ones. Large language models (LLMs) in particular are taking maritime automation to a new level. They serve as the “brain” of modern robotic systems, enable real-time data analysis and support decision-making on the high seas.

One example of this is the “Navigation-GPT” project, which uses LLMs for the navigation of autonomous ships. This technology allows ships to calculate and optimize complex routes autonomously – a revolution for maritime logistics.

Autonomous transport vehicles are also already being used in port logistics. At the Estonian terminal of HHLA TK Estonia, for example, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is cooperating with the Munich-based company FERNRIDE. Together, they are testing the use of remote-controlled and semi-autonomous tractor units for container transportation. This project aims to compensate for the shortage of drivers and increase efficiency in terminal operations. Autonomous delivery traffic is already taking place in the port of Rotterdam. (source)

Economic areas of application that are already possible today

Maximum efficiency: How automation is revolutionizing the maritime industry
Forget expensive downtimes and risky maintenance work on the high seas! Smart robots inspect offshore facilities around the clock, detecting the smallest weaknesses before they become costly problems and minimizing downtime. The result? More safety, lower costs – and an industry that is heading for the future at top speed.

Autonomous ports & offshore facilities: when machines set the pace
Welcome to the era of smart ports! Drones and autonomous robots are taking over ship handling, optimizing logistics processes and making procedures more efficient than ever before. While every maneuver on land is coordinated to the second, smart offshore systems ensure smooth processes in extreme environments.

Together with maritime companies, EARLY BRANDS and DFKI are analyzing which automation potentials are already economically viable – and where the greatest levers for future innovations lie.

Underwater robotics: the invisible heroes of the deep
Deep down, where humans reach their limits, intelligent underwater robots take command. They inspect pipelines, maintain underwater structures and provide high-precision environmental analyses – and do so completely autonomously. Whether for oil and gas platforms or for sustainable marine research, these high-tech pioneers are making the ocean more transparent, safer and more efficient.

Europe as a driver of innovation – act now!

While the USA and Asia are investing massively in maritime robotics, Europe must ignite the innovation engine. Companies that focus on robotics now will secure long-term competitive advantages. Cooperation between start-ups, research institutions such as the DFKI and innovation projects with industry are crucial to driving technological progress.

Strategic impulses for decision-makers

Top decision-makers in the maritime industry are faced with the question: How can robotics be used strategically? Three central fields of action provide the direction:

1. strengthening innovative strength – actively developing future-oriented technologies and making them economically viable for your own company.

2. cooperation with tech partners – making faster progress through collaboration with technology companies.

3. increasing sustainability and efficiency – robotics as a driver for resource-conserving and economically efficient processes.

The experts from EARLY BRANDS and DFKI are available to discuss these topics. They have been cooperating on AI and robotics since 2020. The focus: bringing AI and robotics that are economically attractive and provide high practical benefits to companies. In a short space of time, concepts for attractive areas of application are developed, their economic viability and feasibility validated and pilot projects implemented. For robotics and AI that already creates benefits here and now. The participating companies benefit from the global network of EARLY BRANDS and DFKI with leading technology companies in robotics and AI.

Strategydialog: Interactive platform for the future of the maritime industry

The Strategy Forum offers the ideal platform to not only discuss these questions in theory, but also to develop practical solutions. Here, top decision-makers from the maritime industry come together with leading robotics experts to develop innovative strategies together.

EARLY BRANDS and DFKI are there to provide impetus – with insights into current technology developments, best practices and interactive sessions that show how companies can already benefit from robotics and AI today.

Event information: The next Strategy Dialogue “Robotics for the maritime industry” will take place on April 23th, 2025 at the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center (RIC) in Bremen.

Interested in participating? Please send your expression of interest to: contact@earlybrands.de

Catch the Future…!