The briefing on transformative technology

The news, views and numbers you need to know this month

News in numbers

1 in 2

The number of players who are ‘very prepared’ for compliance with new emissions regulations and already taking action

20%

The percentage of industry respondents who think that blockchain will be the most significant driver of change over the next five years

63%

The percentage of the industry who said complying with emissions regulations was a high priority for their business (rising to 90% among ship owners)

$1tn

According to the World Economic Forum, improving communications and border administration using blockchain could generate an additional $1tn in global trade

24

The number of European Union Member States who have joined the EU Blockchain partnership to support the establishment of blockchain standards and solutions in shipping

14%

Only 14% deemed blockchain a high priority concern for their company, and therefore only 8% are ‘very prepared’, with the remainder yet to make a decision or still considering their options

In quotes

Alexander Buchmann, managing director of Hanseaticsoft, on the impact of cloud technology:

Cloud technology is the big game changer of the 21st century. It is supporting the digital transformation of the shipping industry, streamlining business and management processes and leading to greater efficiencies and increased profitability

Eugene Wong, chairman of CrimsonLogic, on the use of blockchain in Asian trade:

We believe that our blockchain technology [the GeTS Open Trade Blockchain platform] can help create greater trust amongst cross-border traders in ASEAN and along China’s Belt Road Inititative and Southern Transport Corridor. Trade volume between ASEAN and China would become the single largest transaction between two regions and we hope to facilitate this

Bridget van Kralingen, senior vice president of industry platforms at IBM, on transformative technologies:

This new supply chain solution [blockchain] will be a transformative technology with the potential to completely disrupt and change the way global trade is done. We’ve long understood the challenges facing the supply chain and logistics industry and quickly recognised the opportunity for blockchain to potentially provide massive savings when used broadly across the ocean shipping industry ecosystem

Electrification – maybe that’s a black swan. Maybe by 2050 we will have found a way to include decarbonized electricity within the maritime sector. That would be transformational.

Top stories

Singapore-based CrimsonLogic has launched a blockchain platform focused on cross-border trade. Dubbed GeTS Open Trade Blockchain, the platform has been established to enable different parties, including ports and shipping companies, to view and transact trade-related documents in a distributed way to improve supply chain efficiency.

Source: Coindesk

Global shipment management software solutions provider CargoSmart, together with Oracle, has launched an initiative to develop a blockchain solution for shipment documentation to improve complex supply chain processes that it claims can cut down document processing times by 65%.

Source: Seatrade Maritime

Shipbuilder Metal Shark has teamed up with ASV Global to introduce a new line of autonomous vessels called Sharktech. The ASVs will incorporate Metal Shark vessels with ASV Global’s proven autonomous capabilities, including the ASView control system. The digital system provides dynamic collision avoidance, by considering data from multiple situational awareness inputs, including radars, 360-degree daylight, thermal cameras and AIS.

Source: Shephard Media

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has announced a research partnership aimed at developing an advanced navigation support system. In collaboration with MOL Techno-Trade, National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology, and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, the group will conduct basic research on advanced navigation support systems, which are essential for the safe navigation of conventional ships, as well as future autonomous vessels.

Source: ShipInsight

Maritime software provider Hanseaticsoft has opened an office in Singapore to provide improved services to shipping companies in Asia. The opening of the office is part of the company’s plan to step up its expansion and introduce its Cloud-based ship management platform, Cloud Fleet Manager, to the region.

Source: Ship Technology