The 2024 SMART4SEA Forum successfully concluded on Tuesday 13th of February 2024 at the Bookcastle of the National Library of Greece of Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), Athens, focusing on key trends that shape the future of the maritime industry, highlighting the need to focus on reliable data and bridging the competence gap due to the new technologies and green shipping developments.
The event was organized by SAFETY4SEA having as lead sponsors the following organizations: MacGregor and SQEMARINE. Other sponsors were: ARCADIA SHIPMANAGEMENT CO. LTD, Capital-Executive Ship Management Corp., Capital Gas Ship Management Corp., Capital Shipmanagement, Columbia Ship Management, Dohle Seafront, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), EURONAV, Latsco Marine Management Inc., NorthStandard, RISK4SEA, SEAFiT and V.Group. Supporters were the following organization: AMMITEC and CIRM.
Opening the event, Apo Belokas, Managing Editor, SAFETY4SEA, welcomed the distinguished delegates and thanked all sponsors and speakers for their support. He referred to the SAFETY4SEA Petition, in which SAFETY4SEA has been asked by several stakeholders and participants to test the waters, moving forward seeking ways to effect change in way of making internet connectivity of adequate quality and bandwidth, a prerequisite mandatory provision for seafarers onboard ships.
Panel #1 Navigating the future: Smart Shipping Perspectives
In the first panel, moderated by Apo Belokas, the following experts participated in a discussion around the next technological trends that will impact the maritime industry: John Southam, Loss Prevention Senior Executive – Greece, NorthStandard; Marvin Bielek, Project Manager and Instructional Designer, MINTRA; Pankaj Sharma, Managing Director, OneLink and; Elena Matzaridou, AMMITEC Member.
In particular, John Southam delved into the future initiatives and changes anticipated for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). He focused on upcoming developments, particularly the integration of S-100 data and automatic digital delivery services. As the industry moves towards greater automation and digitalization, understanding the practical implications of these changes becomes crucial for ensuring seamless navigation, improved safety, and enhanced operational efficiency on board, he highlighted.
Moving on, Marvin Bielek highlighted that the maritime industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards sustainability. In that regard, it is vital to address the competence gap and empower seafarers through immersive training solutions. A critical aspect of this evolution involves understanding the GHG regulation timeline leading up to 2030 and promoting the uptake of alternative fuels in the world fleet by gross tonnage. He also referred to some examples, such as underwater inspections, which highlight the importance of leveraging data-driven decision-making.
In the panel discussion, Pankaj Sharma and Elena Matzaridou provided their insights about the adoption of Artificial Intelligence by the maritime stakeholders, highlighting that reliable data will make the difference. They also mentioned the challenges and opportunities that Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites bring to connectivity onboard and emphasized on the leadership required to set the example in the adoption of every new technology. Overall, all speakers stressed that although the market may appear hesitant in the beginning to adopt new tools and technologies, the green regulatory requirements are becoming the changing factors towards.
Focus Presentation
Dimitris Psarros, Business Development Manager, RISK4SEA, highlighted the importance of big data in PSC Automation. Using automation will only bring benefits, for example it can effectively streamline operations and minimize operational expenditures (OPEX). He stressed that automation not only improves efficiency but also addresses the challenging realities faced by PSC and it can work seamlessly with calls import and bring radical innovation.
Panel #2 Powering progress: Energy Efficiency Practices
The second panel, moderated by Apo Belokas focused on implementing condition-based monitoring (CBM) technologies in shipping. By embracing predictive and proactive approaches enabled by CBM, the maritime industry can enhance operational reliability, reduce downtime, and optimise maintenance costs. The following experts joined the discussion: Konstantina Manifava, PMS & Performance Engineer, Latsco Marine Management Inc., and; Mike Konstantinidis, Managing Director, Vessel Optimisation Product Innovation, Zeronorth.
Specifically, Konstantina Manifava shed light on the convergence of planned maintenance system (PMS) and condition-based monitoring (CBM) notations but also intricately explored the nuanced similarities and deviations between these essential systems. Through her insightful presentation, she skillfully outlined a clear pathway towards CBM accreditation, providing a roadmap for seamlessly integrating these methodologies.
Following with an insightful presentation, Mike Konstantinidis, Managing Director, Vessel Optimisation Product Innovation, ZeroNorth, examined how high-frequency sensor data transforms the maritime business. He said that this method optimizes vessel performance by giving real-time operational information. Fuel usage drops significantly when high-frequency sensor data is used, improving cost efficiency and sustainability. He highlighted that early detection using high-frequency sensors prevents engine damage and enables proactive maintenance, depending on the condition of the equipment.
Panel #3 On course for innovation: Smart Shipping Challenges
In the third panel, moderated by Apo Belokas, the following experts participated: Nick Andriopoulos, AMMITEC Member & IT Manager of Heidmar; Christian Treu, SVP, Danelec Connect & IoT Business, Danelec; Thodoris Galanis, Head of Group IT, Latsco Marine Management Inc and; Stefanos Christakis, IT Innovation Manager, EURONAV. The discussion focused on the challenges encountered in the pursuit of innovation within the realm of smart shipping.
In his presentation, Nick Andriopoulos, AMMITEC Member & IT Manager of Heidmar, AMMITEC highlighted that as AI integration into maritime operations advances to enhance efficiency and productivity, the paramount concern becomes bolstering cybersecurity measures to counter associated risks. He explained what overdependence on AI will entail for the industry, mentioning the so-called ‘AI hypnosis’ and the associated risks and concerns.
The remaining speakers of the panel – Christian Treu, Thodoris Galanis and Stefanos Christakis– joined the discussion around AI, highlighting that it is important to consider human factors and built trust into the systems. As new systems and technologies become increasingly integrated, the maritime sector faces the imperative of adapting to these changes, all panelists concluded. They also highlighted the need for collaboration, data transparency and standardization as well as focusing on optimization for flexibility amid technological advancements.
EXPLORE MORE ABOUT THE 2024 SMART4SEA FORUM HERE
