By Jonas Røstad, Chief Commercial Officer 

As the offshore and maritime sectors enter 2026, we look out across an industry standing on the edge of a profound shift. For years, operators asked for better visibility of the ocean’s behaviors. Today, the conversation has moved far beyond that. 

As these industries push deeper into an era defined by digitalization, predictive intelligence and increasing operational complexity, the ability to understand the ocean in real-time is no longer sufficient enough for those at the forefront of next-generation maritime operations.  

Climbing the insights ladder  

The industry leaders of 2026 will be defined by their ability to transform insight into operational confidence, moving from a world where operators react to conditions to one where they plan ahead with greater confidence.  

Picture, for example, a ‘sea state insight ladder’, which illustrates the different maturity levels of sea state understanding in offshore operations. An organization relying solely on visual observations would sit on the lowest rung. Further up the ladder are those that integrate forecasts and real-time measurements and at the top rung are operators leveraging predictive insights from tools such as PredictifAI. Essentially, the further an organization moves up this ‘ladder’, the more informed and timely its decisions become, reducing uncertainty and improving safety.  

This shift is reshaping expectations across offshore energy, commercial shipping and even defense, where the reliability and integrity of environmental data are becoming strategic assets. In 2026, I expect to see more and more operators moving further up this ladder as real-time and predictive ocean intelligence becomes central to operational planning. 

Jonas Røstad explaining the principle of the Miros “Sea State Insight Ladder”

What does this mean for Miros? 

Operators no longer need to plan around worst-case scenarios, instead, they can make confident data-driven decisions based on actual conditions. This offers personnel a level of foresight that fundamentally changes safety and efficiency, particularly in high-risk offshore environments. 

AI and machine learning strengthen our work in oil spill detection (OSD). Cloud-based OSD monitoring lets you detect, track and respond instantly across multiple sites with secure, real-time, fully traceable data to keep operations efficient and compliant.  

Integrity is a critical foundation throughout this process. Beyond detection and response, operators must be able to trust their data and demonstrate accountability. The ability to verify what happened, when it happened and how the organization responded is essential not only for regulatory compliance and reporting, but for protecting the environment and maintaining operational credibility. Fully traceable data creates a single source of truth that supports the reasoning behind decision-making.  

The future lies in combining high-quality data with insights that help operators understand how conditions are evolving and how their assets may respond. This approach delivers clear benefits across the offshore value chain, enabling better-informed planning and operational decisions. Capabilities such as real-time RAO’s and vessel motion prediction can be enabled through our technology as part of this broader picture. 

The future of maritime technology 

Across all of these conversations, one idea keeps coming back. That is, vessel operators cannot rely on yesterday’s technology to meet tomorrow’s demands. It is a straightforward sentiment, but it captures the essence of where the industry is heading.  

Real-time data is still the most important step, but it is no longer enough. The future lies in combining that data with predictive intelligence that helps operators understand how conditions will evolve, and especially how their assets will respond.  

Underpinning all of this is our commitment to cloud-based solutions. The cloud is not simply a storage location for data. Cloud-based solutions ensure up-to-date records, data integrity and enable collaboration between offshore and onshore teams. 

The cloud keeps everyone aligned around a single source of truth, which is essential when predictive decision support becomes part of everyday operations. Without the cloud and without the integrity of reliable real-time measurements feeding into it, AI loses its grounding and predictions lose their value. 

Paying for what you need 

Looking ahead, the way we engage with customers is just as important as the technology itself. Our sea-state-as-a-service model allows customers to avoid the risk of owning, operating and maintaining the kit. They simply pay for every time the system is used – think of it like how you pay for your electricity. In 2025, we saw a notable uptake of this model in the key markets of Norway and Brazil. 

What’s on the horizon for Miros? 

As we enter 2026, Miros is committed to elevating operational capabilities across offshore energy, shipping and emerging markets. By pairing proven measurement technologies with advanced AI and cloud infrastructure, Miros is helping the industry move beyond observation toward anticipation. The mission remains the same, but the horizon continues to expand. 

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Miros