Lloyd’s Register expands AI readiness benchmarking

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has expanded its Digital Maturity Index (DMI) with a new artificial intelligence assessment, helping shipowners and operators evaluate their readiness to adopt AI as digital transformation accelerates across the maritime industry.

The enhanced benchmarking tool was unveiled at Smart Maritime Network Singapore 2026, marking a milestone of more than 100 participating organisations. It enables companies to assess their digital capabilities against industry peers, identify gaps and prioritise investment.

Eleanna Apostolidi, head of DMI Product Innovation at LR, said: “Across the industry, we’re seeing organisations move beyond AI curiosity and into practical implementation. The challenge is that many companies are investing in AI before fully understanding whether their governance, data and internal capabilities are ready to support it.”

The new assessment examines the organisational foundations required for successful AI implementation, including governance, workforce training, company culture, data readiness and performance measurement. It also considers applications across crew management, trade execution, vessel technical management and commercial operations.

By evaluating organisational preparedness alongside technology adoption, the assessment aims to help operators identify barriers to implementation and establish a clearer roadmap for scaling AI-driven decision-making.

LR has also introduced sector-specific digital use cases for LNG operators, covering challenges including boil-off gas management, sloshing risk, cargo ageing prediction, rollover prevention, pump tripping mitigation, tank maintenance and brittle fracture monitoring.

Constantinos Chaelis, Gas Segment director at LR, said: “For LNG operators, digital transformation needs to be grounded in the operational realities of gas shipping.

“By embedding targeted LNG use cases into the Digital Maturity Index, LR is helping operators benchmark their digital readiness against the specific challenges they face, from cargo management and asset integrity to maintenance planning and operational performance.”

The latest enhancements build on LR’s Digital Transformation Research Programme, supporting maritime organisations in identifying investment priorities.