Fortnightly maritime news for the industry and PortXL community

Maritime tech 2021: Optimisation still leads the agenda

Operational optimisation is likely to be the key maritime tech trend of 2021. Experts tapped by Splash suggest 2021 will be a year where big tech breakthroughs are unlikely, more a continuation of the digitalisation drive seen last year.

Focus on our people in 2021

2020 threw more challenges at us in our professional and personal lives than we could ever have imagined and no doubt there are more to come in 2021. With vaccines for Covid-19 in production, we have to hope that we are on the (albeit it bumpy) road to recovery.

The IMO 2021 Cyber Guidelines and the Need to Secure Seaports

Now that the IMO’s vessel guidelines are in the implementation phase, Member States and maritime industry leaders should again prioritize cybersecurity and collaborate at the IMO to develop uniform cybersecurity standards for port facilities.

Zinc-ion batteries: ‘Up to 50% cheaper than lithium-ion, with no raw-materials concerns’

Start-up Salient Energy says its groundbreaking energy-storage technology will be at least 30% less expensive — as well as safer and longer-lasting — than standard lithium batteries.

How to speed up weather routing

We are living in a 4-D world: Decarbonisation, decoupling and disruption of the supply chain have already drastically changed the traditional shipping business environment. The industry is coming together for the digitisation effort as a cost reduction measure. We also need to improve safety aspects as the increased storm activities and a shortage of experienced seagoing crew as well shore side management talent have resulted in many recent incidents.

‘New industrial adventure’: shipping giant Knutsen ups sails for offshore wind market

Norwegian shipping giant Knutsen has launched into the international renewable energy market through the formation with compatriot utility Haugaland Kraft/SKL of offshore wind developer Deep Wind Offshore (DWO), in the latest signal of the industrial transition gathering pace in the Nordic country’s maritime sectors.

Maersk unveils sustainable intermodal solution

A.P. Moeller-Maersk (Maersk) has extended its sustainability support of German rail customers with a new CapO2 free intermodal transports solution, which is now available on 85% of its German inland rail services. This local and cost neutral solution reduces CO₂ emissions to zero and saves around 9.100 tons of CO₂ annually compared to conventional trains and approx. 40.000 tons compared to road transport, the carrier said.