AI-Generated Shipping Clauses Still Need Human Review: BIMCO

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday August 10, 2026

Shipping industry body BIMCO has said human expertise remains essential as artificial intelligence becomes more common in shipping contract drafting and review.

A survey of BIMCO documentary committee members found that 20% of respondents already use AI for contractual work, while 70% expect adoption within the next three to five years, it said in a statement on its website last week.

One in four had encountered clauses drafted by AI instead of established wording.

BIMCO said AI can help with drafting, clause comparison and routine tasks, but warned that AI-generated wording may contain inaccuracies or miss important commercial and legal details.

Its standard contracts and clauses are developed through consultation between shipowners, charterers, brokers, lawyers and insurance experts before approval by the documentary committee.

“AI may be able to generate clauses,” BIMCO said.

“What it cannot replicate is the process through which BIMCO clauses are developed: consultation across the industry, scrutiny by experts, consideration of insurance implications, balancing of competing interests and approval by the Documentary Committee.”

Ship & Bunker News Team
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