AI for Maritime Compliance: Faster Interpretations of SOLAS & MARPOL

December 4, 2025 By OceanDocs AI

Maritime regulations grow more complex every year, and staying compliant is harder than ever. AI for Maritime Compliance: Faster Interpretations of SOLAS & MARPOL is now becoming essential as shipowners, operators, and charterers face increasing scrutiny from inspectors, Port State Control, and chartering companies. With artificial intelligence, maritime teams can interpret rules faster, reduce human error, and make safer, more sustainable decisions at sea.

Why Modern Shipping Needs Smarter Compliance

Every vessel depends on accurate shipping documentation and clear shipping compliance processes to operate safely and legally. Requirements from SOLAS, MARPOL, the ISM Code, and the ISPS Code influence everything from equipment safety to pollution prevention and onboard security.

Manual review of long maritime documentation is time-consuming and prone to mistakes. One missed clause can lead to a PSC inspection detention, a failed sire vetting, or a pollution-related incident.
AI solves this by scanning large volumes of ship documents, identifying gaps, and highlighting issues—often before inspectors find them.

From Static Files to Smart Shipping Documents

Most fleets still keep critical shipping documents in:

• Shared drives

• Email chains

• Paper binders

• Unorganized folders

These include certificates, manuals, logbooks, cargo records, and vetting reports. Finding the latest version during vetting inspection preparation or before a sire inspection is often stressful.

AI Fixes This by:

• Extracting expiry dates from certificates

• Mapping company procedures to specific MARPOL and SOLAS clauses

• Highlighting gaps in HSEQ procedures

• Tracking inspection readiness for SIRE 2.0 and PSC

This reduces time spent searching and increases accuracy during audits.

How AI Supports Vetting and Inspections

Preparing for a vetting inspection is one of the toughest tasks for tanker and gas carrier operators. A single oversight can impact the entire report.

AI in maritime helps by:

• Comparing procedures with the latest SOLAS/MARPOL updates

• Reviewing incidents and near-misses to identify risk patterns

• Linking evidence and records to ISM Code requirements

• Organizing documentation for quick access during walkarounds

For SIRE 2.0, AI enables consistent and data-driven responses across the fleet, supporting ISM compliance, ISPS readiness, and MARPOL reporting.

Practical Uses On Board and Ashore

AI supports both ship crews and shore staff. Examples include:

• Chief officers checking if ballast water records match MARPOL rules

• Superintendents reviewing SOLAS meanings inside the same platform as manuals

• DPA teams comparing drill records with ISM Code requirements

• Vetting staff validating SIRE 2.0 answers using AI-classified documents

This helps teams move from reactive compliance to proactive safety leadership.

Building a Data-Driven HSEQ Culture

HSEQ data is often scattered across different systems. Crews may not see the big picture, and shore teams cannot easily connect incidents with regulations.

AI changes this by:

• Analyzing past safety reports

• Highlighting recurring problems

• Identifying equipment risks

• Linking issues to the correct SOLAS or MARPOL clauses

This builds a continuous improvement loop that reduces detentions, claims, and operational delays.

Conclusion

AI for Maritime Compliance: Faster Interpretations of SOLAS & MARPOL is transforming how maritime companies understand and apply complex regulations. By turning static files into intelligent, searchable documents, AI enhances safety, supports smoother vetting, and improves PSC inspection outcomes.

For operators aiming to streamline shipping documentation, reduce risk, and build a strong HSEQ culture, AI-powered maritime solutions are becoming essential. OceanDocs AI delivers these capabilities in one platform; helping fleets stay ahead of regulations without increasing manual workload.