For decades I have been speaking in lectures and writing in textbooks about the digitalization of shipping as if it were a future possibility. Now the situation has changed, the digitalization of shipping is today. Digitization is everywhere in shipping and its use and applications are increasing all the time.
In a way, we have been lucky in the field of shipping, lagging behind the digitization of the rest of society. Even a decade ago, ships were without constant internet connection for a large part of their time at sea. Expensive satellite connections were reserved only for the most important data exchange.
At the turn of the last decade, the situation in shipping changed radically. Satellite connections became cheaper and ships are able to stay connected to shore all the time. At the same time, due to the Covid-19 pandemia, several organizations, including shipping companies, switched to continuous remote work and internal systems can be used regardless of location.
Shipping, like many other industries, made a giant leap towards digitalization. And since the development of digitization had previously been minimal, the change and the benefit it brought was thus greater than in other industries. Many systems that were used, for example, in the remote control of power plants or traffic management, were also introduced to shipping.
Shipping
So what are these applications of maritime digitalization today? Let’s start with the most interesting one of all. That is, autonomous ships. Yes, there are already several autonomous ships on the world’s seas, but they all still drive in such a way that the crew is there to ensure the passage. After a few years, they could be trusted so much that the ship is only monitored from a distance.
A particularly significant digitization of shipping is the smart fairways, which, for example, allow buoys to adapt to the weather conditions. Accurate digital sea charts and situational information about the fairways are also being developed for remote piloting – then the pilot can give guidance on the ship’s route without getting on board.
One of the biggest problems in the sea in recent decades has been the ever-increasing documentation. The crew must keep records of waste, cargo, fuel, etc. All of that is very important for monitoring, but it takes more and more time from the crew. Transferring this follow-up work to electronic and automatic, for example with the help of an electronic log book, has been a great step forward that saves working hours.
Another perhaps the most significant impact of digitization on shipping has been the automatic adjustment of the ship’s machines and other systems, taking into account loading, winds, waves, desired speed and many others. These have a significant impact on fuel consumption and thus on greenhouse gas emissions.
In digitization, the passenger should not be forgotten either. Operating systems for purchasing tickets for passengers or, for example, ordering an electronic water taxi are already commonplace in several European cities.
Ports
Ports are practically huge information centers. In ports, there are usually dozens of operators, all of whom exchange information related to cargo. In addition to the actual port company, there are shipping companies, stevedores, various authorities, transport companies, fleet maintenance, suppliers of fuel and other supplies, and so on. In order for the port to function, everyone is in contact with other operators. Information about the cargo, the ship, the handling and transportation of the cargo passes between operators, many times, when refinements and corrections are made.
Thirty years ago, Finland was a pioneer when one system was introduced in Finland: PortNet – for the exchange of information between shipping companies and authorities. The system was quite revolutionary: instead of each shipping company contacting all the required authorities separately, the information could be entered into one information system at once. The rest of Europe followed suit, so that only a few years ago the same system became mandatory throughout Europe.
During the decades, the development of the PortNet system in Finland was only minimal, so now the whole system is being given a new lease of life. The new system is called NEMO, and in addition to the official connections, it will also cover the exchange of information operating in the port between private operators.
Development does not always require advanced technology
For me, the biggest learning experience about the digitalization of shipping and port operations happened already two decades ago. It had been decided to move Helsinki’s Sompasaari port to Vuosaari, but the Vuosaari project was delayed. All calculations showed that Sompasaari’s capacity was full and it would not be possible to transport more cargo through it. Still, the port’s cargo volumes increased by a few percent from year to year.
How was this possible? When there was no space, the goal was to get the cargo out of the port as quickly as possible. Bulk cargo moved to large units, trucks and trailers. The big benefit was that the drivers were informed by text message when their trailer had been taken out of the ship and was ready to be picked up. The driver arrived exactly at the right time at the harbor gate, picked up the trailer from the agreed place and drove out. At best, this happened in seven minutes without waiting. Now, 20 years later, the same efficiency is still not possible in the port of Vuosaari – with modern equipment.
A corresponding example of the development of operating methods is the so-called Virtual Arrival system introduced last year by the bulk carrier, where the ship can reserve an unloading place in the port in advance. In this way, it does not have to drive in a hurry to the port, “red”, to wait for a free berth, but it is able to slow down, save fuel and arrive at the port at exactly the right time. Technically, this system also only requires a phone call, but it took years to agree on the matter between the shipping company and the port.
The examples above show how digitalization has already made its way into shipping. However, all of these are only used in some shipping companies and ports. Their proliferation and further development will make maritime shipping considerably more efficient in the coming decades, saving costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. These cost savings can then be directed to new technology, and even enable completely greenhouse gas-free shipping in the future.
This blog is based on presentation in Finntraffic Digikuuri seminar 7th September 2023 and has been published in Finntraffic web site 3rd October 2023 in Finnish
Photo: Kalle Kuokkanen / Finntraffic
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