The prospect of start-up digital tech coming in overnight to ‘Uberise’ shipping has been overplayed, in the view of Lloyd’s List managing editor Richard Meade. “There are obvious examples of how Uber and Airbnb have shaken things up very rapidly, but there won’t be an overnight transfiguration of an industry which at its heart is about shifting tons of steel across the ocean,” Meade said during a recent webinar on the future of shipping. This does not mean that there will not be major disruption caused by digitisation. “The last one was containerisation which happened gradually where other competing technologies came in and failed. “Digital transition will be quicker by the very nature of what it is suggesting. It’s about connective technology. The real shift is within the management system – the way in which shipping uses the technology and interprets the data. The people we get in with their intellectual capital are the real change.” Digitisation will be one of the reasons why the next generation may remain interested in the maritime industry. “Generation Z and millennials are comfortable with disruption and automation,” said Meade. “If we get it right, it is the most fascinating industry you could hope for.” Co-presenter, Frank Coles of Transas however cautioned that digitisation was not about making an analogue process digital. “Until you do something that makes business more costeffective you are not seeing a transformation. “We need to change our attitude to the way a ship is managed, the way an office is managed and the whole operation and interaction between ship and shore.” The necessary innovation, they believe, is more likely to come from outsiders, or young digital pioneers, rather than from the long-established shipping players. “We expect to see an influx of non-shipping talent to the Top 100 over the next years. Many familiar faces will disappear as the old guard proves themselves unable to adapt and survive.” Coles says there remains a large element of ‘business as usual’ in the maritime industry, but he believes that in 2018 people will start shifting their bearings to understand what is coming. The big shock is expected to come from countries that drive efforts to combat that the industry reduces its emissions, “When you look at sulphur, most shipowners are not contemplating actions to address the sulphur cap. It is an industry that is complacent about complying with new regulations. They are continuing to do business as usual – it is regulatory driven.” “It’s about transition to a digital future driven not only by China but by technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), robotics and the like. And we’re not just looking at a transition in technology but also regulatory pressures from consumers.” In terms of skills development they believe that training for the seafarer will move to being available anytime, anywhere, anyhow. “Because the use of secure web-based tools will grow, certification will be tracked and will enable ease of use. It will be increasingly flexible and provide access to many. Simulation will grow, and there will be the ability on board ship for the mariner who comes off watch to put on a virtual reality headset and do their training for the day,” said Meade.
