seatec - Finnish marine technology review 2/2017 | Page 18

Set the Course for Digital by: SAMI J. ANTEROINEN photo: AS TALLINK GRUPP The digitalisation of the maritime industry is in full swing. The “digital tives to implement existing digital prac- wave” concerns a range of things: data transfer, big data, deficiencies of tices – such as e-certification and national standardisation, the challenges in system integration as well as challenges single windows – gather pace and new for legislation, business and personnel. But what does all this mean from the perspective of classification societies? T application. Digitalisation can also be used to improve the efficiency of ships, unify data he International Association of Classi- trends, safety and environmental aspects exchange formats, integrate drones into fication Societies (IACS) / EU workshop of cyber systems in shipping. ship inspections and – in the long run – on Digitalisation of Maritime Transport, Both IACS and the European Com- hosted in Brussels in March, focused on mission are keen on the issue, as initia- 18 technologies become closer to everyday seatec 2/2017 launch a whole new era of autonomous ships.