As a student of the future, I find myself in uncharted territory. The future appears to be uncertain and yet constantly changing. This unpredictability of the future is fascinating. The future is incredibly dynamic and constantly evolving, as every new discovery, invention, development or change happening around us impacts the trajectory of our future. On this basis, the future is changing in real time, which makes it a really challenging subject to study. The future therefor

In recent months there has been significant discussion on the subject of net-zero emissions and what our journey there may look like. When it comes to the IMO 2020 emission regulation, not only do we have solutions for compliance in place, but in most cases we already have the technology available to meet the IMO 2030 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. Considering this, many in the industry are asking whether the IMO 2050 target of 50% reduction in GHG emissions

We are all familiar with phones & the connectivity it has given us. The analogue rotary phones were cabled, but the modern cell phones are wireless & allows us to do more, in fact much more than what the landline allowed. It took over 130 years to get about 1.25 billion landline phones installed. However, by the end of 2019 in just about 12 years from its inception, it is estimated that there will be 5 billion smart phone subscriptions. It demonstrates the ‘power to scale’ wi

Recession in shipping is blamed partly on oversupply of vessels. When you look at number and tonnage of existing ships and the new-build orders, one finds Greek owners are front runners in both areas. But then one wonders why they want to add to the glut with new-builds when they already own so much floating tonnage. The Greeks have historically been adept at riding the shipping market cycles. Their traditional business sweet spot has arguably not been maritime transportation

In a previous blog, I had discussed the evolution of data and communication in the marine industry and how predictive analytics is the next big thing. By presenting possible near-future scenarios like upcoming bad weather, a sudden decrease in engine efficiency, or a more fuel-efficient route, predictive analytics means your key personnel can make more informed decisions to improve safety and efficiency. However, the best information is of little use if it is not viewed by th

Information is vital for business. Relevant information received at the right time has always given a competitive advantage. It is interesting to see how information in the shipping industry has evolved over time – the most vital pieces of information have not significantly changed for centuries. This information includes: How much cargo can the ship carry? When will the ship arrive at the port? How much time is required to load the cargo? When will the ship depart from the p

LNG ships are specialized modes of transportation of natural gas as cargo, which by its very delicate nature of being carried in cryogenic liquid form, dictates efficient and safe cargo management on-board. LNG cargo, due to its volatility and special nature, is affected greatly by temperature and movement, causing continuous boil-off. This means the boil-off needs to be continuously dealt with on-board. Traditionally it has been burnt off in the main boiler used for propulsi

The UN in 2015 with an aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all, unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) also known as ‘Global Goals’. Under the SDG, Goal 14 states: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”. The goal has a specific target to be achieved over 15 years, wherein everyone needs to do their part, i.e., governments, private sector, civil society and ordinary people. With over 3 billion peop

Affordable Care Act (ACA) was brought in to increase overall healthcare and expand medical coverage for all. Under the act signed on 23rd March 2010, hospitals and primary healthcare centres would transform financially, technologically, and clinically to drive better health outcomes, lower costs, and improve their methods of distribution and accessibility. When you look at relative parallels in the shipping industry, you will realise you don’t need to look far. We sat down a

The European Commission’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) rules to collect emissions data officially entered into force on July 1, 2015. MRV Regulation 2015/757 is a first step towards cutting CO2 emissions from maritime transport and requires operators of ships exceeding 5,000 gross tons to monitor and report their carbon emissions on all voyages to, from and between E.U. ports from 2018. What happens to compliance and technology in the face of increasing emissi