The Maritime World is full of technological advancements and technology trends. Technological breakthroughs have revolutionized all corners of the transportation industry. This also includes the shipping industry.
We have come a long way from the sail-power of olden days or the clumsy tankers of yesteryear.
Learn more about recent technological advancements in the Maritime industry with this guide. The following recent technological advancements have made the marine industry what it is today.
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Port Community Systems
Port community systems are an emerging technology. These are electronic platforms that enable open communication between ports, customs officials, and vessels.
Picture a private internet chatroom. One that is only accessible by authorized individuals involved in the shipping industry.
Port community systems enable public and private entities in the maritime industry to communicate. They do this seamlessly and securely. Port community systems are available on the national and international spectrums.
Maritime Industry Green Tech
There are now light-weight experimental ships that harvest the power of the winds and global currents. These ships operate with minimal fossil fuel use.
There is also port infrastructure powered by renewable resources in places such as Canada. Green technology is changing the Maritime World in multiple ways.
Performance Monitoring Programs
GPS tracking has been around for a while. Performance monitoring programs however have not.
With programs like We4Sea performance monitoring, you can track the status and location of your ship in real-time. Specifics such as fuel consumption and emissions can be recorded and analyzed in real-time remotely.
This opens new doors for logistics and operational planning in the shipping industry. It also allows for analysts to calculate ways to increase efficiency. They can do this after each completed shipment.
Automation
Automation is changing the entire world not only the maritime industry. Equipment such as cranes and hoists at ports have already been automated. There are big plans industry-wide to start automating ships as well.
Automated container ships will save lives. They also increase the efficiency of shipping goods. Many aspects of container ships are already automated. However, they still require a skeleton crew to operate.
As ships, trucks, and other aspects of the shipping industry become automated this will decrease human error and costs. Overall this will lead to cheaper prices for the consumer. It will also lead to more streamlined budgets for shipping entities.
Blockchain
This is the same technology that is the backbone of cryptocurrency. It has also proven to be useful in the maritime shipping industry. Blockchain allows shipping agencies to produce secure ledgers.
It replaces a labor-intensive paper-heavy process that used to be the industry standard. Places such as Dubai have already implemented blockchain ledgers in many of their ports. The rest of the world is soon to follow.
The Maritime World Is Changing
As new technologies continue to emerge, one thing is for certain, the maritime industry will be in constant flux. Technological advancements improve the efficiency and safety of the shipping industry.
Only time will tell what emerging technologies change the game in the future. Do some of your own research on the next big thing. A great way to start is by checking out some of the other informative content on our website.