The winners of 2023 SMART4SEA Awards announced

The winners of the 2023 SMART4SEA Virtual Awards are:

NAVTOR received the 2023 SMART4SEA E-Navigation Award for its new Auto-Routeing Module in NavStation that can generate a smart route suggestion in seconds, between two positions. This quickly provides an overview of distance and duration and can be used as a foundation for further detailed route planning. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Innovez One, Sea Machines, STAG MARINE and UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

Accepting the award, Børge Hetland, Chief Commercial Officer, NAVTOR stated:

By upgrading “Auto-routing ” we managed to give the ability to operators to put two waypoints anywhere in the world, and the system will find a short and safe route. This fits perfectly with what we want to achieve, which is to make life easier, and to reduce the workload for the seafarers and also for the people at the office.

In alignment with NAVTOR’s vision to simplify workflow and make life easier for navigators, shipowners and operators, NAVTOR has developed a new Auto Routeing Module in NavStation. Built on NAVTOR’s integrated technology, the new Auto Routeing module can generate a smart route suggestion in seconds. This quickly provides an overview of distance and duration and can be used as a foundation for further detailed route planning. The Auto Routeing is an onboard solution that works offline. The principle of Auto Routeing is based on the shortest route. It can generate a completely safe and navigational route from the passage planning system that can seamlessly and securely be exported to the ECDIS. Also, the departure or arrival ports can be selected directly on the map, or looked up by searching for a port name or UN/LOCODE in the search field that contains all ports. The Auto Routeing module is fully integrated with the onboard NavStation Route Planning module. NAVTOR started to develop the Auto Routeing module in October 2021. It was released during summer 2022, and has already been well received among our customers, with good feedbacks.

KVH Industries received the 2023 SMART4SEA Connectivity Award for its TracNet™ terminals which introduce a new standard for connectivity for all types of vessels worldwide.  The TracNet H30, H60, and H90 terminals feature satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi technology under one dome, with automatic switching based on availability, cost, and quality of data connection. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Airbus Defence and Space, Marlink, PSA Marine and Telenor Satellite.

Accepting the award, Robert Balog, Chief Technology Officer, KVH Industries, stated:

Connectivity is fundamental in the maritime world and its link to leisure is obvious. Both leisure and commercial vessels must monitor the weather, transfer valuable information data and have real time access to a vast amount of information, in order to make every voyage safe and more connected.

KVH’s groundbreaking TracNet™ terminals introduce a new standard for connectivity for all types of vessels worldwide. TracNet features three terminals from 37 cm to 1 meter in size to accommodate a variety of vessel types and sizes. The TracNet H30, H60, and H90 terminals feature satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi technology under a single dome. The single dome with integrated satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi inside eliminates the need for multiple pieces of hardware, saving on cost and installation time. The antennas ensure seamless connectivity in both calm and challenging conditions, no matter how far out to sea the vessel might be. TracNet terminals are as much as 32% lighter with airtime as much as 69% more affordable than other terminals. Commercial customers can bring TracNet to their vessels with no CAPEX, no maintenance costs, and a single monthly subscription through AgilePlans, a unique KVH service. Making connectivity more accessible ensures that more vessels can take advantage of TracNet’s hybrid connectivity, ensuring safer voyages and happier crew.

Nautilus Labs received the 2023 SMART4SEA Energy Efficiency Award for its Boil-off Gas Optimization, a Voyage Optimization solution specifically created for the LNG segment that outputs recommended shaft power/shaft speed and the optimal mix of gas to reliquefy and gas to burn in the Gas Combustion Unit (GCU). Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Blue Visby, PortXchange, V.Group and ZeroNorth.

Accepting the award, Matt Heider, CEO, Nautilus Lab stated:

There are myriad opportunities to deliver efforts in order to improve collaboration, ultimately delivering CO2 reductions. This is how we can short circuit the decarbonization loop and achieve much lower emissions, much more quickly, where everyone wins.

Nautilus’s Boil-off Gas Optimization produces: a) dynamic shaft speed or shaft power recommendation updated daily, paired with b) a recommendation on the volume of gas to reliquefy, and c) a recommendation of the volume of gas to burn in the Gas Combustion Unit (GCU). The operating recommendations are updated and refreshed with the most up-to-date data and information that is available. The Boil-off Gas Optimization predicts liquid/vapor phase composition that changes over time as a function of temperature. The solution predicts vapor header pressure as a function of cargo temperature. The Boil-off Gas Optimization also predicts temperature as a function of the cargo tanks’ net outflow profile as well as the maximum reliquefaction rate at any given time of the voyage. Nautilus Labs empowers its LNG clients with accurate and automated commercial performance analytics rooted in a robust data platform. Nautilus’s solution combines artificial intelligence with reported and commercial data unique to the LNG market to uncover opportunities while reducing emissions and guaranteeing regulatory compliance. By using standard industry chemical relationships, vessel-specific empirical data, and machine learning, Nautilus Labs develops hyper-accurate condition models for operational efficiency.

CyberOwl received the 2023 SMART4SEA Cyber Security Award for its Medulla, a maritime cyber risk monitoring solution that helps fleet operators know what they have onboard, keep it secure and prove they have secured it. Shipping operators gain insight and instructions on next steps in plain English, without the need for skilled in-house cybersecurity experts. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Astaara, CYDOME, DSLAB Company and Marlink.

Accepting the award, Daniel, Ng, CEO, CyberOwl, stated:

Our goal at CyberOwl is simple; through Medulla we would like to help the shipping operators with three things: Understand what they have onboard; Secure it; Prove that they have taken the right steps to secure it. We believe that we must do it in a way that is easy to understand and use, especially as shipping is going through major changes.

As the supply chain accelerates digitalisation and connectivity, good cyber hygiene is becoming critical. In this context, CyberOwl’s flagship proposition is Medulla, a maritime cyber risk monitoring solution. Medulla helps fleet operators know what they have onboard, keep it secure and prove they have secured it. Shipping operators gain insight and instructions on next steps in “plain English”, without the need for skilled in-house cybersecurity experts. Medulla offers meaningful visualisations of the cyber risks of onboard systems across the whole fleet, in real-time. The solution simplifies, standardises and automates reporting for cybersecurity audits, in line with IMO 2021. Medulla also escalates early warning of cyber-attacks of onboard IT, IoT and OT systems and prioritizes this for remediation, based on asset criticality. CyberOwl’s experts further support operators with Managed Services and Cybersecurity Advisory Services, to secure their operational assets regardless of the maturity or expertise.

Seably AB received the 2023 SMART4SEA Training Award for providing a DNV approved digital training platform for the maritime industry that seeks to drive innovation through a unique and rapidly expanding marketplace with crew performance at its heart. The company also offers the Seably app making learning experiences widely accessible to seafarers. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Mintra, NAPA, NSB Academy and OneLearn Global.

Accepting the award, Jessica Süßmilch, Head of Content, Seably AB stated:

The last few years, the maritime training environment has been improved dramatically. Much progress has been made using technology to offer better learning experiences, including online courses and digital learning. These advancements have allowed individual content providers to share their expertise and give a better learning experience.

During 2022, Seably partnered with DNV to create and implement the DNV SeaSkill™ standard ST-0595 certification. The certification is a significant breakthrough, available for all platform providers in the industry and sets the benchmark for standardization in digital maritime training. Seably is currently the only digital learning platform to hold this certification. The certification defines strict criteria for digital training platforms to ensure the quality of training organisations, their products and the security of the information they hold. It also covers the provision of training simulators, assessments, and the certification of learners on behalf of the training organisations, as well as content development and learning consultancy. As well as standard courses for essential maritime certifications, Seably has made a concentrated effort to increase the wellbeing and diversity course offering on the platform in 2022. Courses now cover anything from learning how to access the latest technology, to sustainability or DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), which includes vital wellbeing skills such as cultural awareness, conflict handling or anger management. The company also offers the Seably app making learning experiences widely accessible to seafarers. This makes the seafarers’ role safer, more productive and increases their wellbeing with a solutions-based approach.

Seafair received the 2023 SMART4SEA Technology Award for providing a crewing platform that introduces newer technologies and powerful AI & data processing to provide the maritime industry with a seamless digital manning service and robust crew management software, enabling crewing departments to become operationally efficient. Other short-listed nominees for this category were: Alpha Ori Technologies, Consilium Safety Group, Oceanic and Sperry Marine.

Accepting the award, Agapitos Diakogiannis, Co-founder & CEO, Seafair stated:

Here at Seafair we are on a mission to provide a radically better crewing experience to both our clients, shipping companies and seafarers. We do that by offering products that focus on manning services and crew software. The latter helps companies digitize processes that were previously done over e-mail and phone

Over the course of the last few months, Seafair has been able to develop and enhance its crewing platform with new modules, and features. The platform enables crewing departments to become operationally efficient by using technology to help facilitate all aspects of the crewing vertical. It consolidates all seafarer data in one place and allows companies to fill vacancies with AI-matched seafarer profiles by using an AI algorithm that tracks and analyzes over 25 billion data points. The platform enables crewing departments to seamlessly coordinate with various stakeholders through the use of API connectivity and integration. It offers an automated alerts and notifications module and an intricate reporting tools system that empowers companies to create benchmarks and provide transparency in crew operations. Seafair has also built a platform to enable seafarers to monitor their professional growth within the industry, which empowers them to stay updated with their trainings and keeps them in contact with crew managers directly. Still in its growth stage, Seafair is backed by global venture capital funds and a high-caliber global team who have backgrounds and experiences from companies like BCG, Google, Maersk, Revolut, and various tech startups. The company operates globally, with offices in the United States, Greece, Ukraine, and the Philippines.

Ami Daniel, co-Founder and CEO of Windward, received the 2023 SMART4SEA Personality Award, sponsored by MacGregor, for his overall contribution to harnessing innovation and driving transformative change. Being an inspiring manager, an ex-naval officer and member of the Forbes Technology Council, Mr. Daniel has established a leading predictive intelligence company that seeks to digitalize the global maritime industry.

Accepting the award, Ami Daniel stated:

We are all dependent upon the ocean, and especially in this time of climate change we all must work together to make it count. As a person who sailed in the ocean and dedicated most of my adult life in the ocean, I truly believe that it is about time to take it up a notch.

Ami Daniel is the co-Founder and CEO of Windward. He founded Windward with the mission of bringing Predictive Intelligence and big data analytics to the maritime ecosystem. Ami Daniel is an inspiring manager, an ex naval officer and member of the Forbes Technology Council. He developed his passion for the sea during his seven-year veteran in the Israeli Navy. In the last two decades, Ami has harnessed innovation and a relentless focus on driving transformative change to build successful organizations in both the non-profit and private sectors. He holds a BA in Law & Business from Tel Aviv University. Ami has won numerous accolades over the course of his career, including the Ilan Ramon Award for Excellence and the Israeli President’s Award for Social Good. In 2015, Daniel was chosen as one of the ’40 Most Promising Businesspeople under 40′ by Globes Magazine. In 2013, he was named a Tel Aviv leader by Leaders Magazine.

Robert Kenworthy, Founder and CEO, GTMaritime, received the 2023 SMART4SEA Leadership Award, sponsored by MacGregor, for playing a pivotal role in the development of maritime data communications. Having established GTMaritime in 1998, he has overseen the company’s growth into one of the leading providers of secure maritime communications software, with its solutions now installed on over 13,500 vessels and serving some of the largest shipowners worldwide.

Accepting the award, Robert Kenworthy stated:

I see this award as acknowledgment not of my individual achievements but of those of the entire GT Maritime team. Any good leader should establish values and inspire staff members to apply them in every aspect of their jobs, feeling pride in doing so. Being safe and trusting each other also leads to loyalty, which we consider crucial for our success.

Robert Kenworthy is founder and CEO of GTMaritime, the leading satellite e-mail provider for the maritime market. Robert Kenworthy has 30 years of satellite communications experience and first-hand experience of being at sea and understanding the issues of our Captains. Throughout his career, Robert has taken several risks, recognising signs of failure. In 1975, Robert joined the Merchant Navy as a Deck Cadet at British & Commonwealth (B&C), sailing on general cargo ships, refrigerated fruit ships and bulk carriers all over the world. In 1979, he was qualified as a 2nd Mate but since the B&C did not embrace the new concept, he made a huge career change. As such, in 1983 Robert joined the Telephone Rentals PLC selling telephone systems and telecommunications equipment in the UK. One year later, he became one of the founding members of Dial-A-Phone PLC that grew to be one of the largest independent telecommunications companies in the UK by 1989. In 1994, he joined Marinet Systems Ltd. This was his first venture into Satellite Communications. Having established GTMaritime in 1998, Robert has overseen the company’s growth into one of the leading providers of secure maritime communications software.

Explore more about the 2023 smart4ea awards here