RFL deploys AI to enhance fleet safety management
Reederei F Laeisz (RFL), a German owner and manager of gas, car, and container ships, is rolling out AI-driven programs across 23 vessels and its shore offices. The goal: sharper safety management, faster decisions, and fewer manual reconciliations across systems.
AI will support ship masters and senior officers in daily operations and inspections, while technical superintendents and safety managers gain real-time insight from shore. The move follows RFL's development partnership with Sealenic since 2024, where the company tested early versions and fed back into platform development.
What's changing on board and ashore
RFL will use Sealenic's AI to continuously sync company procedures, analyze live vessel data, and surface the latest regulatory guidance for each task. Crews and managers will no longer chase multiple systems, external sources, or circulars to confirm what's current.
Each vessel receives clear, localized guidance tied to the job at hand, keeping workflows consistent and documentation accurate. This directly supports compliance, lowers administrative friction, and gives leaders a cleaner operational picture.
"AI is on everyone's lips," said managing technical director Harald Schlotfeldt. "It increases process reliability and frees up resources that can be used elsewhere."
"With Sealenic, we have an AI tool that allows fast, targeted and therefore efficient access to all parts of our safety management systems on board ships and on land," he added. "We are excited to see what other tasks and system integrations we can use Sealenic for in the future and in our constant pursuit of improvement."
Why it matters for management
- Higher process reliability: one source of truth for procedures and updates.
- Audit and port-state readiness: standardized records and traceable actions.
- Fewer manual checks: reduced time spent reconciling systems and circulars.
- Faster decision cycles: real-time views for technical and safety leadership.
- Consistent execution: localized, task-level guidance for crews.
Scope and rollout
The deployment covers gas tankers, container ships, and car carriers. Onboard users include ship masters and senior officers; shore users include technical superintendents and safety managers.
RFL's early involvement since 2024 means the platform has been tested against real operational conditions, with feedback loops in place to refine features before broader rollout.
Governance and compliance
Automated alignment with procedures and regulations reduces variance and speeds up corrective actions. This supports obligations under safety frameworks such as the ISM Code and related maritime rules.
For reference on the ISM Code, see the International Maritime Organization overview here.
What leaders should set up now
- Define core KPIs: near-miss closure time, audit findings per vessel, time-on-task for inspections, and unplanned off-hire events.
- Map integrations: PMS, QHSE systems, crewing, document control, and sensor data feeds.
- Clarify governance: change control for procedures, approval flows, and audit trails.
- Train for adoption: short, role-based sessions for masters, officers, and shore teams.
- Monitor data quality: naming standards, version control, and exception handling.
The bottom line
RFL's move puts AI to work where it counts: procedure accuracy, real-time visibility, and consistent execution. Expect fewer compliance gaps, faster inspections, and better-operating discipline across ships and shore.
If you're building leadership fluency in AI for operations and safety, explore role-based learning options here.
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