Maritime classification has always evolved alongside the industry it serves. Built on robust rules, technical rigor and independent expertise, it has long safeguarded ships, crews and the marine environment. Today, however, the maritime sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by digitalization, decarbonization and increasingly complex regulations. In this context, the tools used to inspect, monitor and certify vessels are also evolving.
Artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and digital modeling are now beginning to reshape how classification societies approach inspection and assurance. Rather than replacing traditional survey methods, these technologies are strengthening them — allowing experts to work with richer data, improved visualization tools and safer inspection processes.
At Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, this transformation is reflected in the development of digital class. Digital classification integrates structured data, digital models and advanced analytical tools into the traditional class framework, connecting the different phases of a vessel’s lifecycle — from design and construction through to operation.
Within this unified digital environment, three-dimensional models and digital twins provide a shared reference for shipowners, shipyards and classification experts. By linking design models, survey findings and operational data, digital class improves traceability and collaboration while supporting more consistent and transparent decision-making.
Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly practical role within this ecosystem. Modern ships generate vast quantities of data — from structural inspection records to machinery performance information. AI technologies make it possible to analyze this data efficiently, helping identify patterns, detect anomalies and support faster and more informed decisions. Across the maritime sector, these capabilities are already contributing to areas such as predictive maintenance, performance optimization and improved design analysis.
At the same time, the effective use of AI depends fundamentally on the quality and reliability of the data that feeds it. Structured and validated datasets are therefore essential to ensure that digital insights remain accurate and meaningful. This is one reason why digital class emphasizes strong data governance and traceability across the vessel lifecycle.
One of the most tangible applications of this digital transformation within classification is Augmented Surveyor 3D (AGS 3D). Developed by Bureau Veritas, AGS 3D combines drone technology, LiDAR scanning, thickness measurement, and AI-supported defect recognition to create augmented three-dimensional models of ship structures.
Using remotely operated drones equipped with cameras and sensors, inspection teams can safely capture thousands of images inside complex areas such as ballast and cargo tanks. These spaces have traditionally required extensive preparation and direct human entry, often exposing personnel to confined and potentially hazardous environments.
With AGS 3D, these inspections can be conducted remotely. The collected visual and spatial data are processed to generate a precise 3D representation of the inspected structure. Within this digital model, structural features such as corrosion patterns, cracks and coating degradation can be identified and mapped directly onto the structure.
This approach significantly enhances inspection clarity, value and safety. By reducing the need for surveyors to enter difficult environments, drone-assisted inspections limit human exposure to risk while maintaining the depth and rigor required for classification surveys. At the same time, the digital model creates an objective and traceable record of inspection findings.
The resulting datasets provides long-term value. Each inspection produces a persistent digital record that can be compared with future surveys, enabling structural changes to be tracked over time and strengthening condition monitoring and maintenance planning. Clients can access the augmented digital twin through a collaborative platform allowing to take informed repair decisions.
Artificial intelligence further enhances this process by assisting with the analysis of the large volumes of visual data generated during drone inspections. Image-recognition tools can highlight potential anomalies within inspection footage, allowing surveyors to focus their expertise on areas requiring closer evaluation.
Importantly, however, technology alone does not define the future of maritime inspection. Ships remain among the most complex engineering systems in operation, and interpreting inspection findings requires the judgment and experience of trained professionals. AI therefore acts as an enabling tool — helping experts process information more efficiently while leaving final decisions firmly in professional hands. Bureau Veritas experts also act as “human in the loop” ensuring accuracy of the final deliverable.
Beyond structural inspections, digitalization is also enabling a broader shift toward data-driven maritime assurance. Increasingly, operational and machinery data can be analyzed to detect abnormal trends or deviations in performance. Combined with traditional survey activities, these insights support more proactive maintenance strategies and contribute to improved asset reliability.
More broadly, the maritime sector is entering an era in which digital technologies are becoming essential enablers of industry transformation. As shipping navigates challenges such as decarbonization, new fuel technologies and increasingly connected vessels, classification societies are expanding their role beyond compliance to support innovation and collaboration across the maritime ecosystem.
In this evolving landscape, solutions such as AGS 3D demonstrate how advanced technologies can strengthen the effectiveness of maritime inspections while maintaining the fundamental principles of classification. By combining human expertise with digital intelligence, Bureau Veritas is helping ensure that marine assurance remains rigorous, transparent and fit for the future.
Ultimately, the objective remains unchanged: safeguarding life, property and the marine environment. What is changing is how that mission is delivered: through a new generation of digital tools that empower surveyors and redefine how ships are inspected in an increasingly connected maritime world.
Maritime Economies - Bienniel POSIDONIA Edition
Author: George Stefanis, M&O GMC / BSA Commercial Manager