The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Seaport Management: Operations and Cargo Handling Management at the Misrata Free Zone

Abstract

This study aims to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the management of operations and cargo handling in seaports, using Misurata Free Zone Port as a case study. The significance of this study emerges in light of the rapid technological transformations taking place in the global maritime transport sector. AI is considered a strategic tool for improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and gaining a competitive advantage in port environments through applications such as volume forecasting, storage optimization, shipment tracking, smart scheduling, and computer vision. The study also reviewed the theoretical framework of artificial intelligence, its historical development, and its applications in global port management, with a focus on the benefits of integrating AI in operational and handling processes. The status of Misurata Port was analyzed in terms of infrastructure, operational capacities, and the extent of investment in AI technologies. The findings revealed limited technological adoption at the port due to several challenges, most notably the weakness of digital infrastructure and a lack of trained human capital.