Shipping operators and freight forwarders should expect no single game-changing technology breakthrough in the next 12 months, according to Ina Reksten, head of Norwegian vessel optimisation specialist Manta Marine Technologies. Instead, she argues that the industry's biggest gains will come from making better use of tools that already exist, according to an interview with Splash247.
Practical Efficiency Over Future Breakthroughs
Reksten, whose company specialises in vessel optimisation, told Maritime CEO: "The underlying logic is the same: Act on what is available now and prepare for what is coming." She expects progress to come through consolidation rather than a single innovation. "More M&A activity could accelerate shared infrastructure and standards, particularly around vessel data, digital twins, and emissions monitoring under CII and EU ETS pressure," she said.
Realistic AI Expectations
While artificial intelligence attracts huge attention, Reksten cautioned against exaggerated expectations. "As someone put it well: AI does not make us smarter, but if used right, it can make us more productive," she said. For Manta Marine, AI is increasingly embedded in product development, particularly around voyage optimisation and predictive maintenance. However, she stressed that human expertise remains central: "AI can process large volumes of data quickly, but without experienced human judgement to contextualise those outputs, automated results can lead to poor decisions."
Cultural and Structural Barriers
Reksten identified cultural challenges as a key barrier. The traditional boundaries between maritime expertise and digital skills are disappearing. "A naval architect who can also interpret performance data is more valuable than either skill in isolation," she said. That shift is reshaping recruitment strategies and workforce development. Yet shipping has not embraced technology in the same way as other industries. "Unlike sectors where technology adoption was existential, shipping has not consistently faced such pressure. Investment tends to follow clear ROI rather than strategic transformation," she noted.
The industry's fragmented structure creates misaligned incentives. As an example, Reksten pointed to Manta Marine's FuelOpt optimisation platform, which "delivers fuel savings directly to the party that bears the bunker cost, typically the charterer under a time charter, while also supporting owners in maintaining vessel performance and CII ratings." That alignment of interests, she argued, explains why the system has now been adopted on more than 550 vessels.
Pathway to Decarbonisation
Reksten sees a phased pathway rather than a single solution. In the short term, she believes the industry already possesses many tools required for meaningful emissions reductions through digital systems to optimise voyage plans and data analysis.
| Key Insight | Description |
|---|---|
| M&A activity | Could accelerate shared infrastructure and data standards |
| AI integration | Makes humans more productive, not smarter; requires human judgement |
| FuelOpt platform | Adopted on >550 vessels, aligns charterer and owner interests |
| Workforce need | Professionals who bridge maritime expertise and digital skills |
Watch List
Operators should monitor several factors that could change the efficiency landscape:
- Merger and acquisition activity among maritime technology providers, which could drive standardisation of vessel data and digital twins.
- Regulatory pressure from CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) and EU ETS (Emissions Trading System), which may accelerate adoption of existing efficiency tools.
- AI integration in voyage optimisation and predictive maintenance, but with realistic expectations about human oversight.
- Workforce development as shipping companies seek talent that combines naval architecture with data analytics skills.
The immediate imperative for freight forwarders and vessel operators is to assess currently available digital tools—such as voyage optimisation platforms—that can deliver fuel savings and emissions reductions without waiting for future breakthroughs. As Reksten emphasised, the industry's biggest gains will come from better deployment of what already exists.
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