Hector Patel has been instrumental in driving the growth and visibility of Jeena & Company across Indian and International markets, throughout the three decades of his association with the company. As an Executive Director, Mr. Patel has been instrumental in liaisoning with international partners, creating robust client and trade partner relationships and driving the thought leadership through representation in Industry and trade platforms. A B.Com graduate by qualification, Mr. Patel showcases deep domain expertise in logistics operations, with hands-on experience of setting up the complete work-chain from operations to closing business, both at the national and international level.
The shipping and maritime industry has evolved drastically over the years with greener practices and tech-driven solutions gaining more prominence. While the industry had been slowly adapting to these changes, it is now becoming more organized and efficient. The operations in the shipping industry are now guided by the latest methods of transportation and correspondence for seamless movement of goods from one place to another. How has the maritime shipping industry changed over the years? Listed below are some technologies that have transformed the shipping industry:
- IoT (Internet of Things)
IoT helps provide better customer service with efficient tracking and transportation of goods. Maritime trading now involves GPS and cloud-based databases. The Internet of Things is increasingly being used in the industry to improve communication between ship and shore and for intelligent traffic management. IoT helps use satellite data to determine the most efficient route and ships’ ETA in real time. Thus contributing to increased efficiency and reduced carbon footprint.
- Port management
Optimization of operating procedures at the harbor with the help of technology can reduce the time the ships have to wait at the port. The reduced waiting time will guarantee less carbon emission from ships at the docks. To make the unloading of the ship faster, it is important to make use of robots and other machinery to lift heavy cargo.
- Autonomous ships
Autonomous vessels can be built without crew accommodation and safety equipment, bridge, heating, ventilation, and waste and water systems. Efficient land-based operation of multiple vessels will lower the cost of operations. Moreover, unmanned vessels will allow for lower speeds, resulting in reduced energy consumption. Decreasing speed from ten to eight knots, for example, can cut energy consumption by half.
- Use of environment-friendly material
Biocide-free paint, which keeps hulls free of marine organisms, can improve the hydrodynamics of the ship. The best paints in the world are five times as expensive as normal anti-fouling paint, but they pay back their investment in 10 months. This is because they improve fuel efficiency by 9%. However, 95% of the industry still uses biocidal paints. If the tanker and bulk cargo industry switched to biocide-free paint, it could cut fuel use by 16m tons,
- Blockchain and big data for efficient documentation
The right use of blockchain promises to increment the efficiency as well as the productivity in the
logistics, customs operations, the finance of the commerce and the payments. Cost could be reduced drastically to the companies which secure cargo of export and import. Blockchain helps Identify more precisely the timing and responsibility of insurable events and also speed up payments. Smart online contracts and digital documentation can save costs and time. Plus, paperless transactions have environmental benefits too.
Conclusion
Technology is a valuable asset for the shipping industry to improve efficiency and take a greener approach. Though the maritime industry has been slow to adopt technology, it’s now tapping into new opportunities to maximize efficiency, mitigate risks and increase supply chain resilience. Companies are moving towards a different, more sustainable supply chain model to enable faster ocean transit time by shortening the current supply chain structure. Maritime companies are moving towards circular supply chains to improve product longevity and boost recycling and repair.