Fathom Maritime Intelligence hosted the global Smart Operations event series in Singapore on May 12, 2016.
In this week’s spotlight feature we present a selection of key topics that were addressed and issues that were discussed by speakers and delegates alike.
Last week, Part One of Smart Operations Singapore: The Debrief was published – to read that article click here
A 1940’s Training Mentality For 21st Century Ships?
“In order to make the most of technology, we need to change the way we train our crews.” This was the over-riding message that Bob Maxwell, Managing Director of Bernhard Schulte Ship Management delivered during his speech.
During his address, Maxwell stated that the industry’s mind-set towards training needs to change in order to prepare seafarers for 21st century shipping.
He reflected upon how the current status quo is to apply a 1940’s mentality to seafarer training, despite the huge advances in vessels and technology.
A top-down approached with management committed to the training and processes is the most important aspect that will support the advancing use of technology and digital aspects onboard ships, he stated.
Maxwell made the strong point that the seafarers of today are sailing on technologically advanced vessels and need to be trained accordingly. He voiced that we need to match our people to the demands of modern shipping and not vice versa.
He stressed that seafarers must not be loaded with tasks they are not good at but rather be trained in what they are good at. However, this statement came with a caveat of how this ship managers does not make the reflection on what he feels are the excellent skills of the modern seafarer but instead a call to stop demanding they be a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’.
An example he quoted was: “let’s not ask them to overhaul a generator, the statistics show they are likely to blow up. Instead get the machinery working properly and conditioned correctly by experts in this field.”
Touching upon autonomous vessels, Maxwell voiced that he believed the industry will get to the stage of autonomous vessels in some form, however he confirmed that it will go through many intermediate stages before this happens.
For Maxwell, optimising crew and technology interaction will be vital to moving successfully through these stages towards the autonomous vessel of the future.
Smart Shipping To Drive Industry Alliances
Rolls Royce’s VP of Innovation, Engineering and Technology Oskar Levander has spoken of how the drive for smarter shipping operations will result in further alliances being formed in the industry.
“Advances towards smarter shipping operations must be supported by integrating the people in onshore offices and the ship together.” This is a common statement made at these kinds of conferences and seminars, however this statement was only a starting base for Levander’s message.
He soon after made the point that if a shipping company is going to optimise and manage its fleet from a shore based office, the reality is that heavy investment is required
Therefore, such heavy investment would only enable those companies with larger fleets to invest and move towards smarter, shore-based operations – therefore, for smaller companies to reap the benefits of integrated, shore-based operations the market will see more consolidation. Or as Levander put it “new allied players and digital alliance”.
In other words, what Levander is predicting is that there will be digital disruption in the form of companies pulling together in the journey towards smart operations.
Levander also touched upon the fact that ships and technologies may have to become more standardised in the industry in the quest for smarter operations. Drawing upon the aviation industry as example when making his case, he spoke of how two major players have taken the aviation monopoly, asking “when will we see this for shipping?”
The Beating Heart of the Maritime Data Revolution
Inmarsat Maritime’s Vertical Market Development Manager, Ron Vollenga spoke of how Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress solution sits at the heart of the maritime data revolution.
Vollenga described how Inmarsat is enabling smarter shipping and supporting efforts by providing seamless connectivity alongside a new ecosystem of business applications.
According to the sat coms giant, the Fleet Xpress service delivers a “paradigm moment” for shipping to reap rewards from mobile connectivity, app-based processes and enhanced security that emulate land-based achievements.
Recently Inmarsat Maritime’s President, Ronald Spithout proclaimed that their new Fleet Xpress service is a game-changer for the shipping industry.
Upon making his declaration, Spithout voiced that: “Maritime is the last great industry to adopt applications to become safer, greener and more efficient. Fleet Xpress is the game-changer.”
Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service was officially launched on March 31, 2016.
You can view the event presentations here (available from week commencing May 16, 2016)
Ship Efficiency Review News
To contact the reporter responsible for this article, please email editor@fathom-mi.com
