BLOCKCHAIN

Network communication is a key element of improving industry performance and also limiting costs, improving co-operation and reducing emissions

MAKING

CONNECTIONS

RightShip and Veson Nautical have announced a new collaboration to enable those working in commercial freight management to make timely, safe and environmentally sound decisions at the touch of a button.

The Veson IMOS Platform is used on a daily basis by thousands of end users from the world’s leading shipping and commodity trading companies and lets charterers make informed decisions about the type of vessel they would like to use for their cargo while allowing shipowners to share the capability of their fleets.

From November 2022, subscribers to the integration were able to access the following RightShip data as part of Veson’s core chartering solution, VIP Chartering, as well as its pre-trade market analysis solution, VIP Trade Hub: » Safety Score » Greenhouse gas (GHG) Rating » Inspection status of a vessel Within VIP Chartering, Veson clients subscribed to the integration can utilise the integration to create warnings and alerts for vessel ratings that do not fit the organisation’s specific requirements. Charterers either receive a warning or are unable to fix voyages that are outside of rating parameters, helping to protect them from wasted time or errors and standardising the pre-fixture process.

Within VIP Trade Hub, Veson clients can set minimum GHG Rating and Safety Score parameters to search for a specific subset of vessels in a particular geographic location. With the ability to search and sort vessels by rating information, users can filter out vessels that don’t fit their requirements and make better-informed, more environmentally conscious prefixture decisions.

Tarun Mehrotra, RightShip’s chief strategy officer, says: “This broadening and sharing of our data ecosystem marks yet another fantastic step forward for RightShip and the maritime industry as we expand our partnership network. We want to enable safer and smarter freight decisions using

technology to provide transparency in workflows when and where it’s needed.

“The collaboration with Veson means our customers are able to access insights in a timely manner, as we enable the industry to chart a course towards a zero-harm future. We’ll be more transparent with data than ever before, continuously improving the quality, as the need for accurate ESG transparency becomes ever more prevalent.”

RightShip joins several other maritime digital providers that have been selected to integrate with the Veson IMOS Platform as part of the Veson partner network.

“We are very pleased to welcome RightShip as a platform partner,” says Eric Christofferson, chief product officer at Veson. “RightShip provides a significant value add to our client community, enabling them to add vessel rating information produced by RightShip directly into their chartering decision-making process within the Veson IMOS Platform. This further delivers on our desire to allow users to reference data where and when they need it in their workflow. This collaboration is another way we are helping the industry to decarbonise efficiently and effectively.”

Josh Luby, group product manager at Veson says: “Providing freight charterers with the necessary tools and data to efficiently assess the market and take action is core to VIP Trade Hub and chartering workflows. Having the RightShip GHG Rating, Safety Score and crew welfare information available to them at the very start of this process means they can quickly act on a market opportunity with the confidence that the selected vessel will meet their organisational standards.”

JOINING THE DOTS

A new report compiled by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius makes a compelling case that shipping companies seeking to meet current and emerging challenges facing the maritime industry will benefit from a strategic approach to connectivity.

Published by Inmarsat The Network Effect: Strategising Connectivity at Sea for Maximum Impact also provides guidance on effective connectivity framework strategies.

The report details the business benefits and specific capabilities that shipping companies can access by applying an effective connectivity strategy across their business IT, crew, and operational networks. These include voyage and port-call optimisation, emissions reduction, condition monitoring and conditionbased maintenance, trade facilitation, seafarer welfare and training, remote surveys and pilotage and telemedicine services.

Matthew Kenney, director of research and consulting at Thetius, says: “Against a backdrop of evolving regulatory requirements and increasing emphasis on seafarer welfare, connectivity and data are indispensable to shipping company competitiveness. However, simply purchasing data is no longer enough. If shipowners are to reap the full rewards of operational optimisation, decarbonisation and a loyal and talented crew the right connectivity strategy is essential.”

According to the report, once a shipping company has established its objectives and identified the capabilities needed to achieve them, it will benefit most from finding the right combination of communication services to best support those capabilities. By joining the dots between business goals and connectivity options, operators gain access to a host of benefits, including: » opportunities to optimise and drive efficiency, while reducing running costs and improving profit margins » the ability to attract and retain talented crew » the capacity to future-proof operations and build in competitive advantages. Ben Palmer, president of Inmarsat Maritime, says: “Ultimately, a good connectivity strategy relies on a clear understanding of the company’s business goals, the technologies needed to attain those goals, and any additional influencing factors such as resource availability and investment requirements. In that sense, shipping is no different to any other industry: collecting, collating, analysis and harnessing the value of data relies on resilient, reliable, secure, globally available connectivity services. It is also critical to recognise that implementing a connectivity strategy is a continuous and iterative process that requires constant monitoring, frequent reassessment, and regular feedback from internal and external stakeholders.

“As this report makes clear, this is both necessary and highly valuable to modern shipping operations both in terms of driving competitive advantage and addressing decarbonisation goals.”

UNSUNG HEROES

Global renewable green hydrogen pioneer Lhyfe has launched a new online platform to help accelerate deployment of the gas across industry and transport.

Lhyfe Heroes aims to match potential consumers looking to implement hydrogen solutions, or already in the process of switching, with suppliers.

The free portal is named in honour of trailblazing hydrogen vehicle and equipment manufacturers and CO2slashing local authorities, logistics and transport companies.

Automotive giant Stellantis is among the major firms to have joined the project, with Lhyfe listing more than 100 hydrogen solutions available on the market.

PRF, the Portuguese developer of hydrogen refuelling stations, and motorsport company and retrofit specialist GCK have also signed-up.

The launch comes after Lhyfe began its first UK operation in North East England to identify opportunities to deploy production facilities to support the country’s net zero ambitions.

Lhyfe hopes to enable the creation of a complete ecosystem that connects existing hydrogen producers, fuel station developers, fuel distributors, and vehicle manufacturers with end users.

By bringing these players together on a single platform, the France-based multinational is offering hydrogen developers a clearer vision and helping them deploy solutions faster.

Lhfye Heroes has a threestep approach: » Assess how hydrogen can reduce the CO2 emissions of business or operations. By entering a few project details into the Lhyfe Heroes simulator, its calculation system gives an indication of key metrics, including the amount of CO2 avoided and quantity of hydrogen required a year. It can also demonstrate the refuelling time and range of vehicles. » Identify the solutions available on the market to realise a project.

Based on this simulation, the platform offers a selection of

products and solutions that are already on the market and match identified needs. It covers eight types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, cars and refuse collectors, fuel stations, hydrogen generators and producers of green and renewable hydrogen. » Connect with manufacturers of hydrogen vehicles, fuel station developers, hydrogen generator suppliers and hydrogen producers. The Lhyfe Heroes platform is free for all users. Suppliers can become partners in order to edit their profile content and add products.

In return, they will receive requests from potential customers and have access to the platform’s indicators.

Peter Kuhn, in charge of hydrogen development at Stellantis, says: “Lhyfe Heroes is an extremely welcome initiative – as manufacturers and producers, we all face the same obstacles concerning the complexity of moving forward in a sector very much under construction.

“We are delighted to be part of this opportunity to simplify access to the hydrogen market.”

Matthieu Guesné, CEO and founder of Lhyfe, adds: “At Lhyfe, we have an obsession with moving fast because energy transition needs to happen now. We have designed Lhyfe Heroes to save time for the entire value chain.

“We call upon all players in the hydrogen chain to come and list themselves to speed up hydrogen transition and reduce our carbon emissions as quickly as possible.”

CANE SUPPLY CHAIN

Sugar cane farming group Canegrowers and KPMG Origins have been working together on a pilot project which aims to track cane supplies from the production stage right through to the end user.

The sugar produced from cane grown by Australian Smartcane BMP accredited growers, will be traceable through the supply chain to the end user in South Korea.

The proof-of-concept trial is the culmination of years of work by Canegrowers and KPMG Origins, working with a range of supply-chain partners to create a platform that would use blockchain technology to trace sugar from production to end user.

The KPMG Origins blockchain technology was tested in Tully and Mackay to show traceability of Smartcane BMP accredited sugarcane from farm to mill.

The export pilot will test traceability from the bulk sugar terminal to the customer and will involve a 25,000-tonne shipment of sugar sold by Queensland Sugar Limited, through trader Czarnikow, and delivered to the buyer in South Korea.

PORT AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS FOR BULK CARGOES – Short Course

28-31 MARCH 2023

Subjects covered include:

» Ship unloading technologies » Conveying technologies » Storage and discharge technologies » Loading and unloading control » Rail and road out loading equipment and control » Explosion and fire risks and management » Mobile plant and safety » Developments in automation and autonomous vehicles » Dust control and environmental protection » Controlling cargo damage » Wear protection and maintenance » Cargo characterisation for handleability and other issues

For anyone concerned about or responsible for the safe handling For anyone concerned about or on-line delivery - call to arrange an in-company course and storage of bulk materials in responsible for the safe handling ports and on the sea and storage of bulk materials in Course Leader: Mike Bradley, ports and on the sea Professor of Bulk and Particulate Course Leader: Mike Bradley, Technologies and Director of Professor of Bulk and Particulate The Wolfson Centre, University of Technologies and GreenwichDirector of The Wolfson Centre, University of Greenwich