MAGAZYN GDAŃ SKI
MFS SMM © HMC Nicolas Maack
From ship design to ship management , and from the bridge to the engine room and the cargo hold , digitalisation has entered all aspects of ship operation . Identifying smart ways of combining digital technologies is one of the topics of this year ’ s Maritime Future Summit on 5 September 2022 . Panel experts will discuss the latest digital trends , while SMM exhibitors will showcase related innovations in the halls .
Hamburg , 31 March 2022 – The course has been charted : “ Increased automation in shipping has the potential to enhance safety , to improve environmental performance , and to ensure more efficient and sustainable shipping ,” says Kitack Lim , the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization IMO . And indeed , the digital toolbox is full of technologies : Weather monitoring allows crews to optimise their routes and minimise fuel consumption ; digital twins provide an efficient way to detect the root causes of ship performance issues ; and remote surveys enable safe inspections without having to be physically present – a great advantage especially during the Covid 19 pandemic .
Finding ways to combine all these digital tools effectively is the topic of the Maritime Future Summit . Featuring top-ranking experts , the conference will take place on 5 September , one day before the launch of the leading international maritime trade fair . “ Connected Technologies On The Rise ” is this year ’ s motto for the meeting of the international digital experts . “ Forming smart alliances and developing multidisciplinary solutions is the order of the day ,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach , Business Unit Director – Maritime and Technology Fairs & Exhibitions at Hamburg Messe und Congress ( HMC ). “ At the Maritime Future Summit , the maritime industry will enter the next stage of the digital transformation .”
Smart hulls
The shape of a ship ’ s hull decides about its stability , cargo capacity and fuel consumption . No wonder hull condition is a key area for monitoring technology . The French company notilo plus combines subsea robots with Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) to perform hull inspections . “ Our autonomous underwater drone Seasam not only allows you to inspect the hulls of boats , but it can also , thanks to artificial intelligence and image analysis tools , do predictive maintenance to prepare for the next drought ,” says notilo plus Vice President Solène Guéré who will present the system at the Maritime Future Summit .
The leading ship classification society DNV pursues a similar approach for ship hull inspections . In his speech , Pierre Sames , Senior Vice President Group Research & Development , will explain what technologies DNV relies on .
Hull monitoring frequently reveals an annoying form of ballast : In extreme cases , plankton , algae and muscles growing on the bow and propeller can increase a ship ’ s fuel consumption by more 2 than 50 per cent . Hasytec has developed an effective method to avoid biofouling . The company , nominated for the German Environmental Award 2022 , will highlight its innovative ultrasonic anti-fouling technology at SMM .
Towards a transparent future
Saving fuel to minimise costs and emissions is one of the top goals for the fleet control centres of ship operators . At the Maritime Future Summit , Sean Fernback , CEO of the leading ship engine manufacturer Wärtsilä Voyage , will discuss how the digital transformation can unlock the full potential of shipping . “ The maritime world is entering the digital era where mutualising our investments into common platforms and standards is a prerequisite to successful innovations for a more sustainable and efficient maritime industry .”
For Patrick Müller from Siemens Energy Marine , data transparency is key to achieving this goal . In his presentation he will advocate an open digital ecosystem . “ It is important to have a holistic view on all your assets , available in real time , from machinery to navigation , combined with environmental conditions ,” says Müller .
Digital security
More transparency and data traffic increase efficiency – but also risks . Data networks are favourite targets of cyber criminals . Not long ago Hapag-Lloyd fell victim to a cyber attack . Donya-Florence Amer will describe how her shipping company defends itself against these kinds of attacks and charts its future digital course . The IT specialist has been Chief Information Officer at Germany ’ s biggest container liner operator since the beginning of the year .
For autonomous shipping in particular , an effective cyber security management system is of utmost importance . The on-board sensors must be able to function error-free to avoid collisions on the water . The team of the CAPTN project focuses on sensor fusion and deep learning . Initiated by Kiel University in 2018 , they develop low-emission , autonomous ferries for the Firth of Kiel . The team will present t he current status of the project at SMM . “ Digital transformation , climate change and the maritime energy transition – what better headlines fit our initiative , which , with its collaborative projects and numerous partners from the maritime industry and excellent research institutions , focuses on precisely these topics ,” says Dr . Wiebke Müller-Lupp , General Manager of Wissenschaftszentrum Kiel GmbH and the coordinator of CAPTN .
Numerous high-tech innovations will be featured at the Maritime Future Summit and can be viewed by visitors at the stands of SMM exhibitors on the days after the conference .
The entire programme for the Maritime Future Summit can be found on the SMM homepage . The conference will once again be sponsored by HANSA – International Maritime Journal . 3
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