V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, is set to host a day-long event titled ‘AI in Ports and Maritime Operations: Practice, Policy, and Future’ on February 9, marking an important lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from February 14 to 20.
Designated as an official Pre-Summit Event, the programme aims to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and the maritime sector, highlighting how AI can address the complexity, scale and safety challenges inherent to maritime infrastructure. The sector has been identified as a key domain requiring long-term AI integration to enhance efficiency, resilience and decision-making.
Announcing the event on X, the Port Authority stated that the pre-summit will focus on real-world AI deployments across ports and maritime operations, with emphasis on operational optimisation, safety, resilience and policy preparedness, moving decisively beyond conceptual discussions and pilot projects.
The initiative comes ahead of V.O. Chidambaranar Port’s participation in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where it will host a dedicated session on February 17 at 10:30 AM at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The session, titled ‘AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations’, will build on the outcomes of the February 9 pre-summit and chart a roadmap for deeper AI adoption across India’s maritime ecosystem.
Inviting stakeholders to participate, the Port Authority noted, “Together, let us define the ‘next system’ for Maritime India,” underscoring the alignment of AI-driven port modernisation with the nation’s broader Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
