Will AI replace Marine Engineers and Naval Architects?

AI can do 67% of the work Marine Engineers and Naval Architects do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 30 tasks, while 15 more are ready but barely used so far. 13 still need a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 8% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.Mostly automated6% of time
  • Analyze data to determine feasibility of product proposals.Mostly automated2% of time

AI could do this next15 · 58% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.8% of time
  • Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.6% of time
  • Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.5% of time
  • Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.5% of time
  • Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.5% of time
  • Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.5% of time
  • Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and structures.5% of time
  • Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.4% of time
  • Establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment.4% of time
  • Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.2% of time
  • Act as liaisons between ships' captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained, and that ships are operated safely and efficiently.2% of time
  • Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.2% of time
  • Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on ships to ensure that costs are economically sound.2% of time
  • Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems.2% of time
  • Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.1% of time

Still needs a person13 · 33% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.5% of time
  • Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties.4% of time
  • Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.4% of time
  • Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for installation on vessels.4% of time
  • Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.2% of time
  • Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.2% of time
  • Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment.2% of time
  • Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.2% of time
  • Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery.2% of time
  • Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.2% of time
  • Oversee construction and testing of prototype in model basin and develop sectional and waterline curves of hull to establish center of gravity, ideal hull form, and buoyancy and stability data.1% of time
  • Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.1% of time
  • Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises.1% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

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What this means

AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 7 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.

What to do next

  • Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 15 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Build on the 13 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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