Today, there are 528 startups in the maritime and port sector industry worldwide. They are based in 45 countries on five continents, according to a study carried out by Wilson Sons, Brazil’s maritime and port logistics operator.
According to the study “Overview of Maritime and Port Startups,” 214 of the shiptechs (more than 40% of the total) develop solutions using Big Data & Analytics. Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, involving 85 startups, ranks second among the top technologies, ahead of Internet of Things (IoT), Sensors & Monitoring.
The economic relevance of the sector, combined with its well-known operating challenges in the management, coordination and safety of shipping and berthing operations, has been drawing the attention of startups and entrepreneurs around the world. This is shown by the proliferation of technological shipping solutions in recent years
…said the company’s CEO Fernando Salek.
As for the startups, most companies mapped out by the study offer fleet management and monitoring solutions. Regarding technologies, in the Tech Clusters ranking, Big Data stands out, with 214 startups (more than 40% of the shiptechs). It is applied in predictive maintenance, route optimization, document management, automation of operations and shipbuilding.
Wilson Sons is also a minority investor in three other startups that provide relevant digital transformation technologies and solutions in our industry. The Israeli DockTech (which scans the seabed of ports to make shipping and dredging more efficient), the Brazilian Argonáutica (with the dynamic draft tool that optimises ship loading and berthing at terminals) and the British AlDrivers (conversion of vehicles and conventional machinery, such as trucks, into autonomous equipment).
Innovation and technology play an important role in the sustainability of ports, including in tugboat manoeuvres. Our new investments in more sustainable tugboats go in that direction. Wilson Sons is currently building six tugboats, two of which were delivered in 2022 (“WS Centaurus” and “WS Orion”), and four others will be delivered between 2023 and 2024.
..said Eduardo Valença, adding that the company also considers new fuels and energy sources for tugboats and port equipment.
