90% of the world’s trade is carried by sea, making maritime transport essential to the global economy. Shipping is the most cost-effective and eco-friendly way to move goods and raw materials around the world.
However, customer demands and expectations are higher than ever before. Corporations relying on shipping to bring their products to ports around the globe turn to operators that deliver streamlined services and more value along the supply chain.
This puts intense pressure on shipping organisations to operate more efficiently, strategically and profitably. In an increasingly competitive maritime supply chain environment, ship owners and operators turn to information and communication technology (ICT) to meet the demands of their customers and deliver on global safety and sustainability expectations.
Ultimately, seaborne transport depends on a secure and trustworthy flow of information. In this new reality, access to quality data is essential for ship managers to make decisions, act on market opportunities, and meet new requirements.
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The future of shipping is connected and integrated
The maritime industry has long traditions of continuously adopting and adapting to new technology. However, the advances in ICT systems create vast amounts of data for analysis and integration into decision-making at all levels. This digital transformation will profoundly impact shipping by creating a more connected, integrated and efficient industry.
So how is ICT helping shipping become safer and more financially and environmentally sustainable?
Real-time cargo tracking
Shipping is part of a global supply chain, and stakeholders such as charterers and cargo owners require that shipping companies provide end-to-end visibility into cargo conditions and status.
In any supply chain, delivering products on time and in the agreed condition is key to making customers happy and bringing repeat business. Real-time cargo tracking is crucial for ships carrying time-sensitive cargo, such as perishable goods. IoT-based solutions integrated into cargo systems, such as refrigerated containers, provide the shipper with live monitoring of the product.
Advanced ICT allows data and information to be optimised and sent in real-time to captains, crew members, other vessels in the network, and shipping companies on land.
Predictive maintenance
Equipment and machinery failures and unplanned repairs are not rare occurrences for ships sailing the high seas. They often result in expensive downtime.
Onboard ICT systems can collect big data from sensor measurements and make them accessible for onshore resources like inspectors, supervisors and suppliers.
They can analyse patterns and trends to detect any deterioration and predict equipment failure to carry out maintenance in good time before this happens. This proactive approach to technical upkeep gives you a better overview of the condition of shipboard equipment. It will keep machinery and equipment operating optimally, lowering the risk of disrupting normal vessel operations.
Moreover, predictive maintenance enabled by ICT allows your crew to better plan their maintenance schedule.
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Making shipping greener and smarter
ICT systems automate and streamline the flow of information between the different parties in the maritime transport chain, improving their operations. Up-to-date data on all ships allows ports to plan accordingly. Consequently, the captain gets information regarding port availability and can optimise his route.
Utilising cargo- port– and environmental data, ships can plan voyages, take shorter routes and adapt the speed to port availability to save fuel. Moving freight faster and more efficiently through the maritime logistics chain will, in turn, reduce fleet CO2 emissions and reduce the cost for ship owners.
ICT adds value – internet connection enables it to do so
More than ever, the maritime industry relies on information and communication technologies. ICT systems add value to the sector by connecting ships, ports and people.
Digitalising your ship operations generates a range of data that helps you make better-informed operational decisions across your fleet. It lowers cost and improves vessel and environmental performance – while at the same time helping you meet ever-increasing customer expectations. Intelligent use of ICT gives you better shore-sea collaboration and the best possible business flow.
In essence, ICT creates the competitive advantage you need to sustain your business in a global market.
Daily exchanging business-critical information between ship and shore is impossible without a reliable internet connection. As file sizes and data volumes increase, onboard connectivity struggles to keep up with demand. Larger fleets operating in different trading areas, with varying technical setups and many stakeholders, add to the complexity. ICT solutions specifically made to overcome these operational challenges become increasingly important.
Read more: ICT solutions bring ship and shore closer
A complete digital platform optimises, secures and simplifies your digital operations, helping you make data-driven decisions to cut costs and maximise profit.
