Digital solutions for a sustainable future: Supporting the planet’s decarbonisation journey with technology

In the pursuit of maritime decarbonisation and ultimately a sustainable future for our planet, the shipping industry will have to embrace change to exploit the full potential of digital technologies, says Despina Panayiotou-Theodosiou, Tototheo Maritime Co-CEO, who is also Chair of the Cyprus Electricity Authority and VP to the Board of Directors of the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company.

The International Maritime Organization’s target of halving total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by 2050 compared with 2008 levels will ultimately require the use of alternative, emissions-free power sources. Yet digital solutions based on the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning, for example, will also play a significant role in the industry’s decarbonisation efforts.

By providing easy access to transparent, reliable data, digital solutions support accurate decision-making to help shipping companies improve vessel and fleet performance and minimise fuel consumption and GHG emissions. Recent developments in satellite connectivity have also brought faster processing speeds, making data analysis more efficient and thereby ensuring actionable insights are more accessible than ever before. While vessel and fleet optimisation tools can make a substantial contribution towards sustainability goals, to fully leverage their potential, the industry must adopt them on a broader scale. Due to the cost of digital solutions and the bandwidth needed to support them, smaller companies are generally more hesitant to embrace digitalisation. Yet environmental regulations apply regardless of a company’s size or finances, and a time will come when all ship owners need to deploy efficiency-driving software.

Digital due diligence

Fortunately, with more technology providers now entering the maritime market, digital tools are becoming more affordable. To maximise their chances of success in a fast-changing industry, owners of all sizes should perform their ‘digital due diligence’. This involves gaining a clear understanding of requirements and objectives and identifying the solutions most likely to yield the desired outcome.

If cost is the most immediate obstacle to maritime digitalisation, culture and attitudes present a more complex barrier. As an industry that dates back thousands of years, shipping is rooted in tradition and is generally more resistant to change than younger sectors. For many vessel owners, the fleet-wide roll-out of novel technology is a daunting prospect. Nevertheless, the industry is coming to acknowledge that while the initial outlay and learning curve may be steep, digital tools will improve the efficiency of onboard processes and vessel operations to save money and time in the long term. Any early concerns that advanced technology would make ship operations needlessly complicated and eventually replace seafarers are easing.

Digital ships in the real world

Digitalisation is effecting change across the industry but, amid the constant reminders of its efficiency benefits for ship owners, we must not lose sight of the ultimate goal of decarbonisation: the protection of our planet and its inhabitants.

In fact, with a unique connection to the world’s largest ecosystem – the ocean – ships are also telling us more than ever about the health of our planet. Research vessels are designed for this purpose, but even commercial vessels – if equipped with the right monitoring tools – can serve as floating reporting platforms, offering unparalleled insight into the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and the impact of sustainability measures. And it is clear that we must do more than simply improve efficiency to protect our planet. While efficiency-enhancing software can significantly reduce fuel consumption, unless and until that fuel is from a clean, renewable source, emissions from ships will remain a pressing concern.

Power to change

Green power sources including batteries and shore connection are already gaining traction in short-distance and inland shipping. While these technologies can eliminate direct vessel emissions, their use will have a negative environmental impact as long as the electricity they deliver to the vessel’s onboard systems comes from fossil fuels. The transition to renewable sources for electricity production is accelerating, but since electrical grids are not universally compatible with renewables, a gradual, balanced approach that considers the best interests of both the environment and society is essential. Once more, the initial hurdle to implementing new fuels is cost, meaning that a shift in mindset is required here too. This applies not only to shipping companies, which must be willing to embrace change, but also to energy majors, which need to place their faith in the energy transition and increase their investment in alternatives to fossil fuels. The good news is that digital technologies also offer a key to ensuring effective deployment of the alternative power sources shipping needs to unlock its low carbon future. While the journey to maritime decarbonisation will be long and filled with obstacles, optimising fleet performance can help us navigate the voyage. In doing so, digital solutions and the performance enhancements they enable will ensure that our destination – a sustainable future for shipping as well as the planet and its population – remains in clear view.