Ogheneruona Tejiri, Warri
There is the urgent need to introduce Artificial Intelligence(AI), Internet of Things (IoT)into the marine and blue economy to tackle rising wave of sophisticated fraud bedeviling the maritime industry.
This is contained in a paper presented by Mr. Oghor Kevin Ogbodu, world acclaimed Marine Consultant and Surveyor at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Paris France as a guest speaker, he said that traditional detection methods which are often manual, paper-based and slow, can no longer keep pace with modern threats of sophisticated technology in fraud in the industry.
Mr. Ogbodu said that as global trade expands and maritime logistics grow increasingly complex, the industry faces a rising wave of sophisticated frauds that should be tackled headlong with smarter tech-drive systems that would be capable of safeguarding international shipping which remains the backbone of global commerce.
Mr. Ogbodu added, “traditional detection methods often manual, paper-based, and slow can no longer keep pace with modern threats ranging from cargo theft and document forgery to cyberattacks and smuggling. This has intensified calls for smarter, technology-driven systems capable of safeguarding international shipping, which remains the backbone of global commerce an integral asset to boost as well as sustain the emerging blue economy.”
According to Mr. Ogbodu, “ a new wave of innovation is now transforming the maritime sector through the integration of Business Intelligence (BI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT devices, including sensors, RFID tags, GPS trackers and smart surveillance systems, provide real-time visibility of vessels, cargo and port operations.
“When combined with AI-powered analytics, this vast data stream becomes a powerful tool for detecting anomalies, predicting risks and flagging fraudulent behaviour before it disrupts supply chains. These technologies significantly enhance transparency in maritime logistics, allowing stakeholders to monitor shipments end-to-end, respond rapidly to suspicious activities and strengthen compliance with global regulations.
“Beyond fraud prevention, Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things(BI-AI-IoT) integration also improves route planning, inventory management and operational efficiency boosting investor confidence and national logistics performance.”
The International Maritime expert was of the view that time should not be wasted before these technologies driven systems are deployed in the Maritime industry, adding, “ as fraud grows more technologically advanced, the industry must invest in skills, infrastructure and collaborative digital standards to keep pace with a view to forestall challenges and nip fraud cases in the bud and grow global blue economy.”
The Delta State born Maritime Consultant and Surveyor spoke further, “the maritime sector stands at a turning point. With strategic deployment of AI-driven intelligence and IoT-enabled visibility, global shipping can evolve into a more secure, efficient and resilient ecosystem capable of protecting trade, deterring fraudsters and strengthening trust across international supply chains.”
