Topic
digitalization
Supply Chain SmartSea CEO: Fleets must become connected operational networks, not isolated ships
Shipping digitalisation is being held back by data silos rather than a lack of sensors, according to SmartSea CEO Kris Vedat. He estimates that the industry operationalises less than 20% of available vessel data, and argues fleets should be managed as connected operational networks supported by open interoperability standards.
Supply Chain Maritime’s durability is its digitalization trap, ABS Wavesight CEO warns shippers
ABS Wavesight CEO Steve Bomgardner argues that maritime’s centuries-old conservatism is now the industry’s biggest obstacle to digital transformation. He warns that shipping evaluates software on a hardware lifecycle, underestimates AI’s value, and lets return uncertainty block modest SaaS investments.
Logistics Cetus Maritime's Tabitha Logan: Shipping must move beyond AI buzzwords at Splash Singapore
Cetus Maritime's Tabitha Logan will tell Splash Singapore that shipping must move beyond AI hype toward practical execution and human trust. She argues AI should reduce crew burden, not add screens, and calls for universal data standards and watertight cyber security.
Logistics Shipbrokers lose bulk cargo business to containers amid opaque quoting, charterer warns
An open letter published by Splash247 claims shipbrokers' closed networks and generic per-ton quotes push charterers to move bulk cargo by container. The author demands digital KYC forms, a response-time commitment, and dismissal of LinkedIn-focused staff.
Logistics AXSMarine CEO: AI Anchored to Trusted Shipping Data, Not Blockchain, Will Change Decisions
AXSMarine CEO Jacques Goudchaux says AI anchored to trustworthy maritime data will change shipping decision-making, while blockchain has been the industry's most overhyped technology. Following Signal Ocean's January acquisition of AXSMarine, he sees the biggest returns coming from port intelligence, voyage optimisation and better data quality — not from collecting more data.
Regulations & Compliance DGFT Dispenses with Physical Challans for Voluntary Duty Payments Effective 1 August 2026
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has removed the physical challan requirement for voluntary duty payments under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes. The change, announced by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, applies to payments made on or after 1 August 2026 and will rely on authenticated digital records.
Logistics Shipmanagement Industry Stagnant at 20% Outsourcing, Former Columbia Group CEO argues for Reinvention
Mark O'Neil, former president and CEO of Columbia Group, writes in Splash247 that outsourced shipmanagement still accounts for only about 20% of the global fleet, with 80% of operators preferring in-house models. He argues that the industry must move beyond traditional third-party approaches to embrace closer second-party partnerships and technology to become more compelling for the majority of maritime operators.
Logistics AI-Powered Operations Centers Set to Transform Shipmanagement, Doubling Fleet Share
Mitsui OSK Lines and IBM, along with NYK and Microsoft, are pioneering AI-powered 24-hour operations centres that could double the industry's share of the world fleet. Current third-party management covers only 15% of IMO-registered vessels, but scalable AI models aim to raise that to 30-50% within five years.
Logistics AI is ending shipping's copy-paste era, reshaping maritime software landscape
Maritime software has forced commercial teams to act as clerks, manually copying data between disconnected systems. AI is changing this by enabling faster integration and intelligent data sorting. The article details consolidation among data providers like Kpler and Veson, and the emerging battle over the user surface where decisions are made.