Gains:
- Ability to use artificial intelligence as a guide in finding out which contract/code an issue is mentioned in, clause simplification and audit preparation draft.
- Ability to verify provisions such as item number, date and numerical threshold from always up-to-date official source (IMO text, flag state, class, certificates)
- Recognizing the risks of hallucination and out-of-dateness in legislation and understanding that 'artificial intelligence said so' is not valid in an audit or investigation
Shipping is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), MARPOL (prevention of pollution of the seas), COLREG (collision prevention rules), ISM Code (safe management), STCW (seafarer training and watchkeeping standards), MLC (maritime labor contract) and numerous IMO regulations determine every aspect of the ship. These rules are constantly updated, amendments are added, and flag states and port states may apply them differently. Legislative research is finding the current and correct rule that applies to a question. AI navigates through this huge pile of text; but the provision itself is always confirmed from the official text.
In this unit, you will learn how to investigate security legislation with AI, protect against hallucination, and put verification at the center of the workflow.
Why AI alone is not enough in legislation
Large language models generate statistically “likely” answers from texts in training data. In legislation, this is dangerous because:
- Hallucination: AI can convincingly invent an item number, date, or threshold value that does not actually exist.
- Currentness: The rule may have changed; AI presents the old version as "correct". SOLAS is revised regularly.
- Difference in interpretation: The same rule may be applied differently depending on the flag/port state; AI gives one general comment.
- Context: A rule may depend on a particular ship type, tonnage or voyage region; The general answer is misleading.
So the correct workflow in legislation: use AI as a guide “showing you where to look”; Read and confirm the provision from the official source (IMO text, flag state legislation, class organization circular, ship certificates).
Caution: "That's what the AI said" has no validity in an audit (Port State Control), accident investigation or a certification question. Every rule you declare must be based on official and up-to-date sources. Never use the item number provided by the AI without verifying it.
Safe contributions of AI in legislation
When used correctly, AI can really speed up regulatory work:
- Guidance: "This issue is mentioned in which section of which contract?" Candidate answer to the question; Then you look at the official text.
- Simplifying: Explaining what a complex article means in plain language (for comparison with the official text).
- Checklist draft: A draft list of preparation for an audit or certification renewal.
- Comparison framework: Generating a set of questions to understand the difference between two situations.
- Training: Sample scenarios that explain the logic of a rule to the crew.
In all of them, the output is a starting point; Official verification is mandatory.
Tip: When asking the AI about legislation, include this phrase: "Don't give me the exact article number or date; just tell me which contract/code and which subject heading I should look at. I will read the final provision from the official text." This greatly cuts the risk of hallucinations.
three mini cases
Case 1 — Correct guidance. An officer wonders about the liferaft inspection interval. The AI tells him that this is in the lifesaving equipment section of SOLAS and the manufacturer/service approved procedure. The officer reads the exact range from the ship's certificate and official regulation. AI showed where to look; The official source gave the verdict.
Case 2 — Made-up threshold. An engineer asks the AI about the fuel sulfur limit in an emission zone; AI presents an old value "up to date". When the engineer checks the current MARPOL Annex VI and regional regulation, he sees that the value has changed. If you entered with the wrong fuel, a fine would be imposed. Official confirmation was mandatory.
Case 3 — Audit preparation. A ship is prepared for Port State Control. The captain receives a draft of a preparation checklist from the AI; This reminds you of items that may be overlooked. It then completes the list by comparing it with the ship's actual certification file and flag state requirements. AI was evocative; The official list has been confirmed.
Four copyable templates
1) Legislative guidance (not provision):
Your role: maritime legislation research guide. My question: [topic].Task: tell me in which convention/code (SOLAS, MARPOL, COLREG,ISM, STCW etc.) and under which title this topic is mentioned; Simplify your general logic. EXACT item number, date or numerical threshold GIVING; Redirect to "confirm from the official text and the current version".
2) Article simplification (comparative):
I will give you the text of a piece of legislation. Task: explain this to an officer in plain language — who, what, when does it cover? Don't ADD from your own knowledge; Just explain the text I gave you. Mark the unclear part as "not clear in the text".
3) Draft audit preparation list:
Ship type [x], [Port State Control / ISM internal audit] preparation.DRAFT me a preparation checklist of frequently checked areas (certificates, lifesaving, fire, pollution prevention, records). Note: this is a general reminder; I will confirm the applicable requirements from the flag state/class and current legislation.
4) Crew training scenario:
Create 1 realistic scenario and 3 discussion questions to explain [rule/procedure] to the crew. Its purpose is to make you understand the LOGIC of the rule. Giving exact numerical value; Add "see official procedure" redirect.
Weak prompt / Strong prompt
Weak prompt:
According to SOLAS, how many minutes are fire patrols carried out, article no ver.
The AI can make up an item number and duration; unverifiable and risky.
Powerful prompt:
Your role: regulatory research guide. Subject: Requirement of fire patrol on passenger ships. Task: give a general outline of how this topic varies according to which section of SOLAS and ship type; list which official sources (SOLAS current version, flag state, ship safety plan) I should look at. EXACT time/item noverme; I will read from the official text.
Keeping AI as a guide and leaving the decision to the official source removes the risk.
Legislative research: distribution of roles
Quest
Contribution of AI
Human/official source
Subject-contract matching
redirect
Official text confirmation
Article meaning
Simplification
Comparison with text
Exact threshold/date
(Shouldn't)
Current official source
Audit preparation
list draft
Flag/class confirmation
native app
General framework
Port/flag state
Education
Scenario
Official procedure
Common mistakes
- Getting the item number/threshold value from the AI. The most common hallucination occurs here; Read from the official text.
- Assuming timeliness. Rules change; AI may return the old version, please confirm the current version.
- Forgetting the local difference. Flag and port state practice varies; The general answer is not enough.
- Saying "AI said so" in the audit. It has no validity; The statement is based on official sources.
- Not giving context. Ship type/tonnage/region changes the rule; If you do not specify, the answer will be misleading.
In summary
Security legislation is broad, changing and security-critical. AI is an accelerator in finding out which contract an issue is mentioned in, simplifying the clause, and producing audit preparation drafts. But the provision itself — article number, date, numerical threshold — is always read and confirmed from the current official source (IMO text, flag state, class, ship certificates). Use AI as a “guide to where to look”; Base the decision and statement on the official source. Because of the risks of hallucination and topicality, verification is at the heart of regulatory work.
Application task
Select a safety issue (liferaft, fire equipment, ballast water, emission zone fuel). With the “regulatory guidance” template, have the AI ask which contract/code you are looking at; Ask him/her not to give an exact value. Then write how you would confirm that value from a real/official source (hypothetically) and check if it is a hallucination.
checklist
- [ ] I used AI as a guide; I read the provision from the official text.
- [ ] I confirmed the item number, date and threshold values from the official source.
- [ ] I checked the current version of the rule and its changes.
- [ ] I observed the flag/port state local application.
- [ ] I have never based any official statement on "that's what the AI said."