The winners of 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Awards announced

As it is already known, smart shipping practices can lead to significant improvements in efficiency, safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance within the shipping industry. With the advent of digitalization, the industry is constantly embracing smart technologies, automation and data analytics.  In an increasingly competitive and environmentally conscious global market, all these ‘smart technologies’ are essential for the industry’s long-term growth and resilience.

The awards were presented at a prestigious ceremony which successfully concluded on November the 9th, on the sidelines of EUROPORT, the leading international exhibition taking place in Rotterdam, November 7-10, 2023. To remind, yesterday, the winners of the 2023 GREEN4SEA – EUROPORT Awards were announced, acknowledging significant efforts on Clean Shipping, Energy Transition, Technology, Initiative and Ship Design.

The winners of the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Awards are:

METIS received the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Smart Shipping Award for its METIS SHaPoLi solution that helps operators to meet the ship’s required EEXI while ensuring that 100% of a vessel’s engine power is available if needed. Other short-listed nominees were: Danelec Marine, Datum Electronics Ltd, Kongsberg Maritime, VAF Instruments B.V.

The ShaPoLi solution seamlessly integrates with the METIS platform. This integration provides METIS customers with a unified platform for real-time vessel monitoring, performance optimization, and regulatory compliance management. In essence, METIS enhances its offering as a single, comprehensive platform that covers all aspects of vessel management. METIS ShaPoLi solution is hardware-agnostic, which means it can seamlessly integrate with any Shaft Power Meter that a customer may already possess or wish to install. This feature offers maximum flexibility and ensures interoperability protecting all existing or future investments.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Andreas Symeonidis – Marketing & Partner Relations Manager, METIS, said: ‘’In an industry where change is the only constant, METIS has always been at the forefront of innovation to empower shipping companies on their way towards digital transformation.”

Smart Shipping is not just a buzzword; it’s a revolution that is reshaping the way we navigate, operate, and manage our vessels. It’s about harnessing the power of data, automation, advanced analytics and connectivity to make our maritime operations safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.

CYDOME received the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Cyber Security Award for offering a wide range of advanced cybersecurity solutions designed to fend off maritime cybercrime onboard and offshore. Other short-listed nominees were: Bureau Veritas, CyberOwl, Marlink, Varuna Marine Services B.V.

CYDOME provides cyber security coverage for protecting IT & Operational Assets while assuring their readiness for regulatory inspections. The company provides a complete, real-time map of assets connected to clients’ network and conducts automated, built-in cybersecurity checkups, validating compliance with maritime regulations. CYDOME’s research team consists of maritime and elite cyber professionals dedicated to search unknown potential backdoors of maritime cyber threats. CYDOME’s research and development is focused on mitigating all cyber risks and include a wide spectrum of cyber security coverage for protecting all such critical assets: IT, OT, and IoT. In 2022, CYDOME achieved RINA’s (Royal Institution of Naval Architects) Cybersecurity Class Certification. CYDOME is also a Certification Body for the “Maritime Cyber Baseline,” to enable a path to compliance with IMO Maritime Cyber Risk Management guidelines.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Avital Sincai, COO and co-Founder, CYDOME, said:

Cybersecurity is not just about protecting against threats but also about creating a resilient framework that can adapt to the ever-changing threat vectors along with the new and evolving regulatory landscape of cybersecurity at sea. This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team.

”I am immensely proud of their passion, expertise, and commitment to protecting the maritime industry. I also would like to thank our partners and customers who entrusted us with protecting their business.’’

Radio Holland Group B.V. received the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT E-Navigation Award for its Radio Holland E-Navigation solution that features a voyage planner application, digital library for technical alerts and electronic logbook. Other short-listed nominees were: Alphatron Marine/JRC, DTN, UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), VSTEP Simulation.

Radio Holland introduces +SUITE, a suite of e-Navigation applications which improve bridge operations, streamline the compliance process and most importantly, assist vessels in a safe voyage from berth to berth. The Radio Holland +SUITE solution is centered around a new customer portal that not only offers navigational data but also the Radio Holland Services. Through this portal, ship operators can download the latest chart data and contact the Helpdesk for technical or user support. The Radio Holland e-Navigation solution consists of three applications: a Voyage Planner (+Planner), Digital Technical Publications (+Library) and Electronic Logbook (+Logbook). Radio Holland’s +Planner gives access to all available electronic charts and nautical publications used to plan a safe passage from berth to berth. Radio Holland’s +Library makes compliance easy by keeping the required publications always updated on board. Radio Holland’s +Logbook is accurate and complete, making it a reliable and verifiable alternative to traditional paper logbooks.

Accepting the award on behalf of the winner, Wim Nieuwveld – Business Development Director New Business, Radio Holland, said:

We empower maritime operators to streamline their operations by providing a user-friendly platform complemented by a suite of integrated applications.

”We reduce their administrative burdens and, most importantly, ensure that their voyages are conducted with the utmost regard for economics, safety, and compliance, tailored to the unique needs of specific maritime segments. Thank you for this honor, and we look forward to the exciting journey ahead.’’, Wim Nieuwveld added

ORCA AI received the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Technology Award for the Orca AI’s SeaPod which is a fully automated navigational assistant that improves situational awareness, minimizes workload and fatigue and reduces human error with automation. Other short-listed nominees were: BASSnet, CLIIN Robotics, PinPoint Tracking ApS, Vera Navis Ship Design.

Orca AI’s SeaPod leverages advanced computer vision and deep learning algorithms to detect, track, and classify targets that may pose a risk to the vessel or violates the company’s SMS. The system prioritizes the risk and presents the needed information through a clear user interface with CPA, TCPA, SOG, and speed parameters. Orca AI’s SeaPod provides machine vision and AI-based detection of every maritime target, even small ones, and at any distance, including non-AIS targets. This advanced visual detection from Orca AI offers real-time automatic risk prioritization capabilities. Orca AI’s SeaPod improves situational awareness, minimizes workload and fatigue and reduces human error with automation. Orca AI was granted the world’s first ABS PDA for AI-based navigation safety platform.

Representatives from Orca AI, which is a company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, were not able to attend the event due to the recent conflict. In a video received, Yarden Gross, Co-Founder and CEO, ORCA AI, accepted the award and talked about their technology: ‘’We firmly believe Orca AI’s SeaPod represents a genuine game-changer for the maritime industry, especially in terms of safety and operational efficiency, which is paramount in our field.” 

Our voyage to this accomplishment would not have been possible without the unwavering cooperation and support from our clients, partners, and the wider maritime community. We understand that shipping is a collaborative effort and we will continue to collaborate with our peers to address the pressing challenges of the shipping industry.

Kongsberg Maritime received the 2023 SMART4SEA – EUROPORT Autonomous Shipping Award for involving in a number of major development projects within autonomous shipping while holding several contracts for delivery of complete autonomous ship solutions. Kongsberg Maritime has been also a lead partner in the EU’s AUTOSHIP project involving two ground-breaking demonstrations. Other short-listed nominees were: H2O Drones BV, Netherlands Maritime Technology, Sea Machines Robotics, Seadronix.

Autonomous vessels are about to become a reality. KONGSBERG has become a world leader in this development. The company draws on more than 20 years of experience of providing autonomous underwater vehicles. In May 2017, Yara and KONGSBERG told the world about Yara Birkeland – the world’s first self-driving freighter. Kongsberg Maritime offers a wide portfolio of products and systems that provide control systems for autonomous ships. KONGSBERG was the first to develop a working Dynamic Positioning system and has been the pioneer ever since. Another area of autonomy that KONGSBERG has spearheaded is Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV).

Sebastian Jobs, Senior Vice President Sales, Europe & Middle East and Vithusan Nadarajah, Sales Manager – Benelux accepted the award at the ceremony and highlighted that:

Full autonomy in commercial operation is developing with our pioneering customers, with the continued learning and experience, these new technologies will make shipping safer, more efficient and create new and exciting possibilities for maritime operations.

Pål Andrè Eriksen, Senior Vice President at Kongsberg Maritime, further commented: “We have become a world leader in the development of autonomous vessels, through our role as a partner and technology leader in a range of autonomy pioneer projects,”

Our technology has been successfully demonstrated in a range of scenarios, across numerous vessel types including tugboats, coastal cargo, electrically powered barges and ferries. We have been able to demonstrate just how these exciting technologies can safely operate in real world conditions, at sea, and not just in computer simulations.

After a successful partnership in 2019, SAFETY4SEA & Europort once again this year  joined forces to present a total of 15 Awards at special events during the exhibition days.

The winners were those who attracted the most votes by the end of a voting period which was held online during a three-month period. The process included a combination of open nomination and voting which provided a unique opportunity for all nominees to get acknowledged for the hard and good work they put into their projects and initiatives, worth to be awarded.

SAFETY4SEA is Fostering Sustainable Shipping for more than 14 years, hosting the leading safety4sea.com, (200k visitors monthly) producing monthly magazines & tailored publications (100k p.a. circ. onboard & ashore) & Industry Surveys along with e-mail, video & social media, delivering SAFETY4SEA, GREEN4SEA, SMART4SEA, CAREER4SEA & Crew Welfare Week Forums & Awards globally.

Europort, organized in the world port city of Rotterdam, is the international maritime meeting place for innovative technology and complex shipbuilding. Europort has a strong focus on ‘high-tech’ ships such as dredging vessels, naval vessels, workboats, inland navigation vessels, offshore support vessels and super yachts. With 25,000 professional visitors and over 1,00 exhibiting companies Europort belongs to the world’s largest maritime meeting & knowledge sharing B2B platforms. In the past decades, Europort has grown into one of the world’s largest maritime B2B knowledge and meeting places. In 2023, Europort will celebrate its 41st edition.

Find photos from the awards ceremony at Flickr

Explore more about the nomination & voting procedure and the winners of 2023 SAFETY4SEA – EUROPORT Awards at https://europort.safety4sea.com/