Early-stage design assessment of loads such as vertical bending moments can be a critical quantity of interest for design exploration. Traditionally, classification societies’ rules are used to calculate such loads. However, relying solely on these rules for designing new vessels may be insufficient, and conducting direct analyses of a large number of designs to support design exploration is computationally infeasible. Currently, key factors such as wave-induced loads are typically evaluated only in later design stages, where a limited number of promising designs are under consideration. This research explores the potential of harnessing multi-fidelity models for early-stage predictions of wave-induced loads, with a specific focus on wave-induced vertical bending moments. As an initial step in this direction, the vertical bending moment analysis was simplified to consider responses in a regular sea state, where the wavelength matches the vessel’s length. The assessed multi-fidelity models include the application of both linear and nonlinear Gaussian processes and compositional kernels to improve predictions of wave-induced loads, specifically focusing on wave-induced vertical bending moments. The case study focuses on the early-stage exploration of the AXE frigates. Multi-fidelity models were constructed using both frequency- and time-domain methods to evaluate the vertical bending moments experienced by the hull. Finally, a critical reflection is provided on how traditional early-stage design processes can be enhanced by integrating multi-fidelity models.