Satellite communications specialist, IEC Telecom today announced its participation at the upcoming Saudi Maritime Congress (SMC) to be held on September 28^th to 29^th at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With 30+ countries participating, the two-day event offers a platform for regional and international decision-makers to discuss the latest trends in maritime investments, offshore developments, smart technologies, sustainability regulations, and more. As part of its speaking engagements at SMC, IEC Telecom will focus on the soaring demand for digital solutions across the maritime sector in the region and the importance of elevating operational efficiency via network management systems and IoT-based solutions.

Saudi Arabia’s maritime sector has doubled in the past decade with 53,000 ships operating in it, registered in 150 countries and carrying 11 billion tonnes of cargo annually. Ranked 20^th globally in the maritime transport industry and scoring the highest regional progress in the Maritime Connectivity Index in 2021, the country forms the perfect backdrop for the leading B2B event for maritime and logistics sectors in the Middle East.

Nabil Ben Soussia, Group CCO, IEC Telecom Group commented, “We have seen a major shift in demand for satcom solutions and digitalisation in the region’s maritime industry. A decade ago, our business was geared towards the provision of voice services. Today, it is about data. From 2012 to now, the average service package has increased six-fold from 350 MB to 2+ GB. “Earlier there was a significant technological divide between onshore and offshore operations, whereas today specialised applications that are powered by satcom bring a wide range of services, such as remote maintenance, telemedicine, and live video-based training, to where the crew spends most of their time – onboard vessels at sea. These remote services optimise operational efficiency by 30%, a cumulative result of enhanced logistics, decreased fuel consumption, and improved crew welfare.”

Between January 2020 and March 2021, the average daily data consumption per vessel in the global commercial shipping sector has nearly tripled. Moreover, the global maritime digital products and services market is reportedly worth $159 billion, which is 18% ahead of pre-pandemic estimates. In 2022, this market turnover is predicted to be three years ahead of pre-pandemic forecasts. Reflecting this positive outlook, Saudi Vision 2030 has set a target to make the country a global logistics hub. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily, in the range of $8 billion, in its seaports to modernise infrastructure.

“With this rapidly evolving digital landscape, connectivity isn’t only about doing more. It is about utilising digital products for smarter workflow, seamless communications, and sustainable environment-friendly processes. IoT-based solutions enable real-time decision-making to optimise routes, vessel functions, and maintenance schedules, and reduce operating costs,” Ben Soussia added.

A recent analysis by Accenture showed that a digitally reinvented shipbuilder can reduce operating costs by up to 20% in five years while increasing revenue by up to 15%. To reap the benefits of digitalisation, vessels need to stay connected at all times, despite all challenges including harsh weather conditions at sea. Smart network management systems like OneGate by IEC Telecom offer a solution with state-of-the-art technology that operates in a multi-network mode, securing automated VSAT/MSS/GSM failover. Management can be performed from onshore via a cloud-based control panel, and the captain can also keep an eye on vessel operations via an easy-to-use local dashboard.

In addition, OneGate assures continuity of service by enabling advanced cyber security. The terminal segregates crew and corporate networks, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination. The vessel’s critical applications hosted on the corporate network also remain fully operational even if the seafarer’s link is down.

“Smart glasses are the new big thing in the techno-world. Hands-free solutions are being quickly adopted across many industries, and the maritime sector is no exception. For instance, our latest wearable solution, OneAssist empowers crew members to stay connected with the onshore team via video streaming, enabling troubleshooting, consulting, and e-learning in real time. This means that a wide range of functions, previously delivered exclusively onshore, can now be accessed from the vessel at any time of the journey,” Ben Soussia commented.

While video solutions are designed to offer situational awareness for a fast response, IoT technology, an important component of digitalisation, focuses on empowering decision-makers with data-driven suggestions. From performance tracking to asset safety, IoT sensors scan all types of data relevant to ship management, enabling the crew to optimise routes and decrease fuel consumption. This eventually leads to lower emissions, paving the way for a green future. “Today, connectivity has a direct impact on decarbonisation in the industry. At IEC Telecom, we are proud that our solutions contribute to this major agenda,” Ben Soussia added.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set targets for the shipping industry to reduce its carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. As part of a partnership with Saudi Arabia, three agreements with funding of $509,000 have been allocated to reduce emissions and manage biofouling by ships. With paradigm-shifting projects such as OXAGON, the world’s largest floating sustainable industrial district, and the recent blockchain-backed structured shipping documentation technology, where Saudi Customs teamed up with TradeLens to monitor a shipment between Dammam and Rotterdam, Saudi Arabia is gearing up to be the world’s premier maritime hub.

The prospects for the growth of the Saudi maritime and logistics industry are promising over the next five years, with economic diversification, policy reforms, and foreign direct investments (FDI) that are opening up the economy to an era of digitalisation. IEC Telecom aims to be a partner in Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing its maritime trade, expanding into new economic cities, and digitalisation of vessel operations with its reliable connectivity solutions.

The prospects for growth of the Saudi logistics industry look promising over the next five years as economic diversification, policy reforms, tax regimes, and foreign direct investment (FDI) policies are shifting in favor of an open economy and encouraging private investment.

Source:  https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/19/2446777/0/en/Saudi…

The shipping industry is one of the oldest industries in the world and its vast range of shore-based and at-sea job roles offer a huge variety of career opportunities. However, a global labour shortage means that there is strong competition from other industries for new talent.

To attract that talent, we first need to understand what motivates the next generation. Deloitte’s 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey provides some interesting insights. In uncertain times, the survey puts cost of living and climate change as top current concerns overall.

Where selecting an employer is concerned, work/life balance and learning/development opportunities are the top criteria, closely followed by salary and benefits. However, diversity and inclusion, and the societal and environmental impact of organisations were also shown to be key factors when it came to retention; many respondents said they would turn down a job if it failed to align with their personal values.

Developing Future Leaders

To attract the next generation of leaders, shipping would therefore be well advised to redouble efforts to collaborate with educational institutes so that training and career development paths reflect today’s priorities.

The work WISTA does to support women in shipping is relevant here as it facilitates Continuous Professional Development and encourages training courses which help equip women and others with the skills they need to progress in their careers.

WISTA Hellas, for example, is working closely with prominent educational institutes and offers full and part-time scholarships which are available to any woman working in the maritime industry. Courses of note include the ALBA Graduate Business School’s MBA in Shipping, an MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the BCA College and the University of Piraeus’ MSC in Ship Management. We have also partnered with the ALBA Graduate Business School to provide a Leadership Programme specifically for women in maritime.

At an international level, WISTA International and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) offer five scholarships each year for the Institute’s Foundation Diploma, and last year WISTA International launched the Maritime ShEO Leadership Accelerator Programme in partnership with the IMO. The Accelerator Programme provides women with the management knowledge and skills they need to progress into leadership positions while also creating visible role models within the industry.

There are also several other initiatives designed to encourage students and young maritime professionals. For instance, in Greece, the Young Executive Shipping (YES) Forum provides a platform for open dialogue between the industry, students and young professionals to bridge the generational gap and to share knowledge and experience. Again, Isalos organises a range of industry events to promote opportunities in the maritime industry in addition to hosting an online careers platform for cadets.

Others are also responding: the Maritime Port Authority in Singapore recently appointed 18 students to be the first MaritimeSG Youth Ambassadors; and the City of Rotterdam has established a Young Maritime Board to participate in the Rotterdam Maritime Capital of Europe programme.

Addressing Recruitment Challenges

In the more immediate term, we need to look no further than recent experience to understand other, underlying issues.

The 2021 BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report predicted that by 2026, there will be a need for almost 90,000 additional STCW certified officers as demand for seafarers to operate the world’s merchant fleet continues to outstrip demand. The situation was surely exacerbated by Covid-19, which exposed or highlighted unappealing aspects of the career at sea.

For example, work/life balance, crew connectivity, security on-board and differing legal systems around the world are just some of the challenges faced by seafarers which can have a negative impact on job satisfaction or crew retention.

As an industry, we need to find solutions to provide seafarers with greater support such as implementing work patterns that increase shore leave; investing in policies and processes which promote greater diversity and inclusion by creating the right environment onboard for everyone; ensuring existing crew receive training and can upskill as new technologies are introduced; and ensuring a safe and secure working environment for all.

Digitalisation and New Technologies

Finally, the introduction of new technologies should also create new roles which are more in tune with the skill sets of the younger generation, making the industry a more attractive option, particularly when digital solutions are being used to address issues such as decarbonisation.

The demand for digital skills within the global workforce will only continue to increase and we can see this being translated in school curriculums where there is a greater focus on STEM subjects and the introduction of computer coding at primary levels of education.

Digitalisation also provides a level playing field: going forward, my prediction is that more women will be recruited into maritime technology roles, where both men and women are equally qualified to embark on such a career.

We have an ambitious and tech-savvy cohort of young professionals with a desire to make a difference within our reach. But as an industry we must act; together we have a responsibility to raise awareness of the array of opportunities on offer within shipping and to actively engage with the next generation to secure a sustainable future for the industry.

Source: Elpi Petraki, President WISTA Hellas

A fresh sequence of strikes have ben announced for the UK port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest for container traffic

Fresh strikes have been announced from September 27th to October 5th after 82% of surveyed members of the Unite union, which represents 1,900 blue-collar workers at the port, rejected a 7% pay offer.

The union has asked for a pay rise to match the UK’s inflation rate, which is predicted to hit 13% later this year.

Felixstowe handles near to 50% of the UK’s containers and the recent eight-day strike in late August, caused significant disruption.

“We are very disappointed that Unite has announced this further strike action at this time. The collective bargaining process has been exhausted and there is no prospect of agreement being reached with the union,” the Port of Felixstowe said.

The planned Felixstowe strike will coincide with a two-week walkout by Liverpool port workers which is set to start on September 19th.

Source: https://insurancemarinenews.com/insurance-marine-news/date-set-for-new-strike-at-felixstowe/

Around 1,500 military and civilian personnel from NATO and partner countries are gathering in Portugal this month for two maritime exercises aimed at testing the interoperability of new maritime unmanned systems. Both exercises are being held in areas around the Troia Peninsula.

The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled a plan to accelerate development of next-generation floating offshore wind farms by slashing the cost of the technology by 70% and setting a goal for it to power 5 million U.S. homes by 2035.

The announcement was the latest in the White House’s push to bolster the nation’s fledgling offshore wind industry as part of its climate-change agenda.

Wind turbines that float on the ocean’s surface are an emerging technology necessary for projects off the coasts of California, Oregon and Maine, where the depth of the water precludes the use of standard, fixed equipment.

Floating offshore wind technology is in early stages of development in Europe, where there are a few small projects.

Thursday’s announcement of efforts to support the technology’s advancement will position the United States “to lead the world on floating offshore wind and bring offshore wind jobs to more parts of our country, including the West Coast,” the White House national climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, said on a call with reporters.

By 2035, the United States aims to have 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind capacity along its coastlines, officials said. The goal is aligned with the administration’s other target for permitting 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

As a first step, the Interior Department will hold a lease auction for areas off the coast of California later this year.

In addition, the Department of Energy will commit nearly $50 million to fund research, development and demonstration projects for floating offshore wind. The Energy Department wants to bring the cost down by 70% to $45 per megawatt-hour by 2035.

The effort is included in the department’s “Energy Earthshots” initiatives, which are meant to spur innovation in emerging clean technologies like hydrogen, energy storage and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-sets-target-floating-offshore-wind-499497