An industrial expert panel at Inmarsat's 'Connected to Performance' seminar in Hamburg examined the challenges of digitalization in the maritime transport industry. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the SMM Hamburg exhibition and emphasized the need for optimal use of digital technologies in maritime fleets.
The Gap Between Technology and Application in Maritime Transport
Adra Dables, Inmarsat Maritime's Strategy Director, addressed the significant gap between what technology and connectivity provide and what shipping companies are utilizing. She stated, "We connect global fleets and use advanced analytics and preventive maintenance. Therefore, the technology is available, but the way it is used in organizations needs transformation."
Utilization of Modern Technologies in Shipping Companies
Other participants also pointed to how modern technologies are being used in their operations. Patrick Briest, Chief Operations Officer of IT Products at Hapag-Lloyd, mentioned the adoption of real-time cargo tracking and trip optimization. Additionally, Konstantin Pukshin, Fleet Captain at Fairplay Towage, highlighted the importance of preventive maintenance for maintaining operational readiness.
Matthias Becker, Executive Director of Anglo-Eastern Germany, also emphasized the use of artificial intelligence for managing greenhouse gas emissions. These companies have widely adopted innovative technologies while acknowledging the weaknesses in optimizing digital and data processes.
Becker noted the need for integrating various systems, saying, "We have a lot of data today that resides in separate systems and products. If we can connect all these systems, we can find more savings and make better decisions."
Briest also pointed out that Hapag-Lloyd has created a fleet data ecosystem to analyze data in a seamless and comprehensive manner.
This meeting emphasized the importance of training and collaboration across sectors, as Becker stated, "Seafarers cannot become IT experts, and we need to bridge this gap."
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