Editorial of Ship&Offshore 4/2020: An opportunity in disguise

Slowly but steadily the world seems to adapt. Three months after the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic, we are starting to grasp that it will take an unpredictable length of time until the world as we know it returns. If it returns at all.

While global regulations are lifted a bit at a time, countries are opening their borders and shops resume business, the shock realisation that the impact of this crisis is gigantic is becoming evident. Although it is not yet possible to predict the consequences in detail, one thing’s for sure: the economic backlash of the outbreak will be colossal, even though some of the effects may only occur with a delay. The maritime industry, with all its segments, has been hit relatively hard. Not a surprise, given the fact that at least 90% of world trade, which has experienced a dramatic decline, is transported by sea.

And while – understandably so – not much optimism prevails these days, there may be some silver linings on the horizon. As they say, “every crisis is an opportunity in disguise”.

For the maritime industry, this may be in the form of an accelerated digitalisation. Knut Ørbeck-Nielssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, is even confident that “the pandemic has turbocharged the sector’s digitalisation journey, advancing it by half a decade”. And since the maritime business has a lot of catching up to do in this respect, especially in comparison with other industries like cars and aviation, this development is more than welcome.

Obviously, digitalisation will not fully restore the jobs and revenues that have been lost worldwide in shipyards, the supply industry and shipping companies alike. And it will neither bring us back the familiar pre-corona normality. Quite the opposite in fact.

But it opens up potential for new business models, and also continues to pave the way for a greener industry. It may even create a better “new normal”.

Whether in ports, within shipping companies, shipyards or suppliers and service organisations – innovative digital products are being developed and deployed in record time. Acceptance and demand for their use is growing at the same pace among all those involved. In many cases, the focus is on digital systems that reduce or completely replace the need for physical interaction. For example, classification societies offer remote surveys, and component manufacturers provide digital service and maintenance platforms.

Operators and ports are also getting creative when it comes to planning and controlling the transport of goods. This is not only a matter of efficiently ensuring stable supply chains or managing empty containers, but also of solidarity, for example by prioritising the transport of urgently needed medical goods. These are some examples of pragmatic solutions implemented in the short term, and new ones are added every day.

In regard to sustainable shipping and achieving climate goals, experts are certain that the advancement of digital technologies will enable the industry to lower its environmental impact by improving emission reduction and increasing fuel efficiency.

Our annual SmartShip special edition, which is enclosed with this Ship&Offshore issue, will once again provide a deeper insight into this and other topics that are currently high on the agenda for the maritime industry.

Whether all digital initiatives remain in place and how long Covid-19 continues to restrict free movement is impossible to predict. However, despite all the benefits digitalisation clearly has to offer – both for business and personal life – it cannot fully replace real personal contact in meetings and conferences or the exchange of ideas over a cold beverage at the bar.