What's Happening?
A new tech startup, Dolgo, supported by NOAA's tech accelerator program, is addressing the loss of skilled workers in America's shipyards through an AI-powered training platform. This platform is designed to capture and reward the expertise of retiring employees, ensuring that their knowledge is not lost. The shipbuilding industry faces a significant challenge as a large number of experienced workers retire, taking with them decades of accumulated knowledge. Dolgo's AI software aims to mitigate this by providing a communication platform where personnel can collaborate on technical problems. The information shared is captured by a large language model AI, which tags contributions with the contributor's name, offering financial incentives for their input.
This initiative is supported by NOAA's Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, the Miami-based Seaworthy Collective, and the University of South Florida College of Marine Science.
Why It's Important?
The development of Dolgo's AI platform is crucial for the shipbuilding industry, which is experiencing a generational shift as many skilled workers retire. This loss of expertise poses a risk to operational efficiency and safety, potentially leading to costly mistakes and equipment damage. By incentivizing the transfer of knowledge, Dolgo's platform not only preserves valuable expertise but also enhances workforce training and development. This is particularly important as the demand for shipbuilding is expected to double in the next decade, necessitating a larger and more skilled workforce. The platform's ability to retain and disseminate knowledge could significantly reduce training costs and improve the industry's overall productivity.
What's Next?
Dolgo plans to formally launch its AI platform in February 2026, following positive prototype testing. As the platform becomes available, shipyards are likely to adopt it to address the challenges posed by workforce retirements. The success of this initiative could lead to broader adoption across other industries facing similar generational shifts. Additionally, the financial incentives provided by the platform may encourage more experienced workers to share their knowledge, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning within the industry.
