Signal Ocean Launches Skipper: AI Shipping Assistant

Signal Ocean has launched a new AI assistant called Skipper. This tool lets users ask questions about shipping data using everyday language. Skipper then provides data-driven answers, complete with tables and charts. It acts like an on-demand shipping analyst, pulling information from various sources on the platform. Users can inquire about vessel tracking, supply, commodity flows, and freight markets without manual searching. For example, a query comparing dry bulk earnings showed capesize vessels outperformed panamaxes in average time charter equivalent earnings during 2025. Skipper combines large language models with Signal Ocean's specialized maritime datasets. It can answer questions on diverse topics like vessel positions, port congestion, and spot freight rates. The system provides structured outputs, not just text, to support its findings. During its preview phase, users get about 20 free queries weekly and can give feedback to help improve the system. This innovation could streamline how shipping professionals access and interpret crucial market data.