Digitalization News

Marine engineering firm Birdon operates across Australia and the United States, delivering complex programs on a global scale. With distributed teams, tight production schedules, and increasing demands for accuracy and efficiency, the company needed more than generic software: they needed shipbuilding technology built for real-world workflows.By partnering with SSI and standardizing on ShipConstructor, Birdon has been able to:• Tailor software to its unique build processes and…

Ocean engineering researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a smart system to combat collisions between ships and stationary structures such as offshore platforms. By combining raw radar imaging data with advanced machine learning, the researchers have created SMART-SEA, a system that gives seafarers real-time guidance on how and when to maneuver their vessel.SMART-SEA can detect stationary objects in all weather conditions, and seafarers can choose how to receive the data — either visually…

StormGeo, a weather intelligence and decision-support solutions company part of Alfa Laval, has announced a strengthened strategic focus on its energy analytics and is welcoming industry expert Espen Zachariassen as SVP Energy Analytics in January 2026.The move represents a long-term commitment to expanding StormGeo’s relevance in the energy market, with a particular focus on European growth.The strengthened focus builds on StormGeo’s existing energy market forecasting capabilities (formerly known as StormGeo Nena)…

Marlink, a leader in managed services for business-critical ICT solutions, has upgraded connectivity and cyber security solutions onboard 22 vessels operated by Tankerska Plovidba and Atlantska Plovidba.As a pillar in Marlink’s possibility portfolio, the Sealink NextGen hybrid network solution will support the company’s transition to fully digitalized shipping operations, enhancing safety and efficiency while enabling high quality crew communications. Tankerska Plovidba will also…

Bunker Suite reports the successful completion of the first Electronic Bunker Delivery Note (E-BDN) trial onboard the Lady Clara in mid-October in Rotterdam.Developed entirely by Bunker Suite, the E-BDN platform replaces traditional paper-based workflows with a secure, fully digital process designed to streamline operations, enhance automation, and strengthen data integrity. The system ensures that all information is processed consistently and transparently, minimizing human error and mitigating the risk of fraud."Our E-BDN solution brings automation and security to the forefront…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and class society RINA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a technology demonstration center and to collaborate on maritime innovation, digitalization, decarbonization, and talent development.The technology demonstration center will be part of RINA’s Open Innovation Hub in Singapore and serve as a collaborative platform to co-create and trial innovative solutions for maritime digitalization and decarbonization.

Digital Dry-Docking: Tidewater Sees 60% Time Savings Using UniSea’s Maindeck AppTidewater is redefining how vessel dry-dockings are managed, estimating up to a 60% reduction in project time after deploying UniSea’s Maindeck digital platform during the recent yard stay of the Highland Prestige at Dales Marine Services in Aberdeen.According to Chris Tundogan, Assistant Operations Superintendent at Tidewater, the Maindeck app has “revolutionized” the way dry-docking projects are planned and executed…

The maritime industry has long wrestled with the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled seafarers. But according to Eric Griffin, VP of Offshore Energy & Fishing, Maritime, at Inmarsat, one factor now sits firmly at the center of the conversation: seamless connectivity.On October 22, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will host a webinar entilted Crewed Up or Crew Cut? Rethinking retention and recruitment at sea. Click here to register and to learn from vessel owners their own experience in utilizing connectivity for seafarer recruitment and retention.“Traditionally…

Where does true value lie in maritime digitalization? How are shipowners leveraging improvements in data quality and how can a single source of truth support and inform decision-making? To kick-off London International Shipping Week, ABS Wavesight assembled a panel of industry leaders to seek out the answers, with CEO Staci Satterwhite asking the questions.The panel - made up of Robert Gaina, SVP, Commercial at Ardmore Shipping, Niraj Nanda, Chief Commercial Officer at Anglo-Eastern and Robert Desai, Chief Executive Officer at V.

Wallem Group has launched a suite of support and consultancy services to protect IT systems onboard its clients’ vessels from disruption.Its new Vessel IT Security and Management Services (VITS) have been developed with a ship's entire digital ecosystem in mind – from its business networks to the Internet of Things (IoT) systems on which operations and humans rely. It includes six management and security services to help keep vessel IT systems up and running, and minimise cyber threats.Wallem VITS offer continuous Servicedesk Support to customers from experts in vessel IT.

ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, has been chosen by Navios Maritime Partners L.P. to provide a single integrated platform to support compliance with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) requirements.As of January 1, 2025, companies with ships calling on EU ports must collect and report key fuel-related data in preparation for EU submission deadlines. The ABS Wavesight platform offers a seamless experience that…

On June 12, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Kadmos Holding GmbH (Kadmos), a global end-to-end maritime salary payments platform provider headquartered in Germany.Founded in 2021 and based in Berlin and London, Kadmos provides salary payment solutions to shipowners, ship-management companies, and their global workforce of seafarers.In 2019, NYK established MarCoPay Inc. in Manila, Philippines, as a financial services platform. MarCoPay…

Accelleron has simplified emissions reporting for users of its digital solutions after collaborating with ClassNK to establish a direct connection between Tekomar XPERT marine’s emissions module and the ClassNK MRV portal.Under European and IMO regulations, emissions reports need to be verified by an accredited entity before being submitted to the relevant authority. Tekomar XPERT’s emission module automates the collation of ship emissions data into the format required for various regulations—including the EU Monitoring…

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to mark bilateral cooperation and digital innovation in maritime technologies between German and Latvian public and private sector partners to address challenges in port infrastructure management in the Baltic Sea.The signatories include LMT, the Freeport of Riga, the Port of Hamburg, the Electronic Communications Office of Latvia, the Fleet of Hamburg, and LVR Flote.The objectives of the memorandum are twofold: to identify the key challenges in the port and maritime sector…

GTCR, a private equity firm,  announced that it has entered into a partnership with maritime industry leader Manish Singh to form Maris Investments, LLC (Maris). Maris will seek to acquire companies in the maritime technology sector to build a market-leading platform addressing critical workflows and enabling digital transformation in the industry.The formation of Maris is supported by GTCR’s Leaders Strategy approach, which involves partnering with exceptional management leaders in its core domains to identify…

An Enhanced Maritime Partnership Agreement has been signed by during French President Macron’s visit to Singapore last week.The agreement covers collaboration in maritime decarbonization, digitalization, cybersecurity, innovation and training, and builds on an earlier partnership established in 2021.The countries will work with industry partners to conduct various pilot projects including the development of a bio-methane supply chain and certification framework to ensure compatibility…

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has renewed its cooperation with Ava Ocean in a deal that will see the Norwegian company implement Inmarsat’s latest fully managed bonded connectivity service, NexusWave, on board its new non-invasive scallop harvesting vessel later this year.Specializing in sustainable scallop harvesting in the Barents Sea, Ava Ocean—formerly known as Tau Tech—already relies on Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress to meet the connectivity needs of its existing ship. Adopting…

NAVTOR is continuing to build momentum for its "Digital Logbook revolution" as Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has awarded full flag state approval for the innovative solution. Japan joins other leading shipping nations such as Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Malta, Cyprus and Singapore, amongst others, in endorsing the IMO compliant offering for registered vessels.Instead of crewmembers having to handwrite submissions into standalone…

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to upgrade their fleet from Fleet Xpress (FX) service to NexusWave, to meet evolving operational and crew connectivity needs.The fleet-wide transition to NexusWave will allow MOL to benefit from Inmarsat’s fully managed bonded connectivity service and accelerate the digitalization strategy of the leading Japanese shipping company.Local Inmarsat partner JSAT MOBILE Communications will be responsible for implementing and supporting the upgrades on board…

GTT and its Smart Shipping arm, Ascenz Marorka, announced that China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has selected Ascenz Marorka’s digital solutions for a series of eight 175,000 m³ LNG carriers, currently under construction at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC) in China.In addition to being fitted with GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system, the eight vessels will also feature Ascenz Marorka’s solutions, which include:a comprehensive range of on-board systems;a real-time vessel performance monitoring platform and associated services…

XMAR, a digital bunker platform, has entered a strategic partnership with BluePass, the UAE's leading maritime digital initiative supported by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI). This collaboration represents a step forward in transforming how stakeholders connect, transact, and manage fuel procurement across the Gulf region and beyond.This partnership positions XMAR as the technical engine behind the newly launched bunkering service from BluePass. Under this agreement…

Marlink, a leader in managed services for business-critical IT solutions, has released External Attack Surface Management (EASM) to help protect customers from cyber threats before they strike.Following the successful launch of Marlink Cyber, this innovative solution identifies weaknesses in external digital infrastructure and supports protection measures across all market verticals served by Marlink.The growth in digitalization across maritime, energy, yachting and enterprise sectors means companies are often unaware of how exposed their digital assets can be.

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has signed an agreement with Sallaum Lines, a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) cargo shipping company, to upgrade to Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave fully managed bonded connectivity service.As Sallaum Lines expands its global presence, NexusWave will provide secure, ultra-fast connectivity with unlimited data, complemented by Inmarsat’s Care Premium program for 24/7 support and maintenance.Reflecting a proactive digitalization strategy, Sallaum Lines…