PROSPECTS FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE GLOBAL FREIGHT MARKET

Chartering is an important part of the process of transporting goods by sea. Freight brokers or brokerage companies have been arranging communications between cargo owners and shipowners for charter party conditions discussion and approval. The communication facilities modernization, the computers usage, the Internet and artificial intelligence have significantly expanded of the freight broker possibilities. One of the most significant challenges of the modern freight market is the digital technologies using, including artificial intelligence and neural networks. Analysts' opinions on the possibility of replacing a broker with a digital resource based on artificial intelligence are different. Some admit this possibility in the future, while others believe that a complete rejection of human`s supervision is impossible. It is important that the freight market isn`t formally subject to legal or regulatory frameworks, and its activities are based on the traditions of the international maritime community, which facilitates the implementation of innovations. The authors have analysed the possibilities of nine specialised freight platforms currently offered on the digital resources market. These resourses are greatly facilitate and speed up the search and processing of information, but none of them can automate all stages of chartering. Less than half of them use elements of artificial intelligence, allowing to edit charters, generate invoices and support the bills of lading turneover. Presently, the artificial intelligence level does not allow to replace a broker; digital resources make it possible to organize a "virtual workplace" only. Chartering broker prepares a task for information retrieval and processing and generates decisions which is based on systematized information by himself. Further freight market development is possible after artificial intelligence (AI) next generation introducing ("strong" AI).