Gordon Meadow

Gordon is committed to the long-term development of maritime education and training. He is chair of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST) Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Special Interest Group (MASS SIG). The MASS SIG is engaged in seafarer workforce succession planning to determine the nature of future human-machine integration and how this will inform future skills and training requirements to the years 2035 and 2050. Formerly an associate professor engaged in applied research at Warsash Maritime Academy – one of the UK's leading maritime training institutions – he is now founder and CEO of SeaBot Maritime .

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Presentation

Augmenting human capabilities in the era of autonomous shipping

This presentation examines human-AI competence in cyber-physical systems, focusing on AI-enabled maritime operations. In a new project led by Caitlin Bentley (King's College) and Gordon Meadow (Seabot Maritime), the presentation addresses two key risks: operator deskilling as roles shift from active operation to passive monitoring, and workforce development pathways amid skills shortages. It will explore the impact of simulated training for unexpected failures and questions surrounding operator qualifications. The aim is to ensure that autonomous shipping augments human capabilities rather than replaces them.