AMONG the most promising innovations is Management by Exception (MbE) — a methodology that shifts the focus from constant oversight to targeted intervention when exceptions occur. This approach, paired with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, has the potential to revolutionise shipmanagement.

What is management by exception?

Traditionally, shipmanagement has required meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of operations — tracking vessel performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing crew planning and monitoring voyage execution. While effective, this model is nonetheless resource-intensive, error-prone and leaves little time for long-term planning.

MbE offers an alternative approach. By automating routine processes and raising only anomalies or deviations that require attention, MbE shields individuals from data overload and repetitive tasks, letting them concentrate on optimising fleet performance, improving sustainability and navigating complex regulatory requirements.

Why does MbE matter for maritime?

The maritime industry is heavily reliant on manual workflows and experience-based decision-making, but these traditional methods are under increasing strain due to:

1. Regulatory pressures: new standards such as FuelEU demand precise monitoring and reporting of consumption and emissions.
2. Operational complexity: coordinating global operations, from crew changes to fuel procurement, has grown more challenging in a data-driven and interconnected world.
3. Data overload: modern vessels generate vast amounts of data, making manual oversight onerous and impractical.
4. Labour challenges: as experienced personnel retire, smaller fleets struggle to sustain operational expertise.

MbE provides a solution by automating routine tasks, reducing the risk of human error, and enabling individuals to focus on decision-making. It transforms operational oversight into a data-driven, exception-based model, delivering efficiency, compliance, and competitive advantage.

The role of AI in the future of MbE

AI is already emerging within maritime operations, and its rapid progress offers uncharted possibilities for the future of MbE.

Agentic AI has the potential to transform MbE from reactive alerting to proactive, autonomous exception management. Instead of simply flagging issues for human review, AI could analyse operational data, predict potential disruptions, and take corrective action in real time.

As AI capabilities mature and credible use cases emerge, 90POE’s OpenOcean STUDIO platform will make use of such knowledge, enhancing its event-based architecture and onRADAR, providing a robust framework for seamlessly integrating advanced AI capabilities like agentic AI, and enabling even greater automation and intelligent decision-making in maritime operations.

OpenOcean STUDIO: the MbE enabler

OpenOcean STUDIO is at the forefront of delivering MbE to the industry. As a cloud-based platform with modular features, it unifies traditionally siloed systems — such as fleet management, voyage execution and compliance tracking — into a cohesive ecosystem. This integration allows shipmanagers to adopt MbE by automating routine workflows and surfacing actionable insights.

Key features of OpenOcean STUDIO include:

1. onRADAR: real-time alerts are triggered for deviations, such as delays, operational risks, or compliance issues. Tasks are assigned automatically, complete with threaded discussions for collaboration between shore-based teams and vessels.
2. Centralised crew planning: the platform automates crew change scheduling by integrating crewing requirements, vessel itineraries and compliance constraints. Teams receive real-time updates ensuring smooth transitions and reduced manual effort.
3. Compliance management: the platform streamlines compliance with emerging standards by automating data collection, emissions reporting and alerting deviations.
4. Data-driven insights: fathomBI transforms raw operational data into actionable insights, providing individuals with fleet-wide dashboards, KPIs, and trends to identify areas of improvement.

By enabling these capabilities, OpenOcean STUDIO delivers the foundational tools required for MbE today while building a pathway for even greater automation through AI in the future.

The transition to MbE is more than a technological upgrade — it’s a fundamental shift in how maritime operations are managed. Those who adopt this model today will lead the industry into a more efficient, sustainable, and competitive future.