Get onboard with digitalization

(Posted on 15/10/19)

“Digitalization brings great benefits and has the potential to create greater equality in the world”, said Nabil Ben Soussia, IEC Telecom’s Vice-President Maritime. “The reality is that the train is leaving the station and individuals and organisations need to get on board quickly,” he advised.

“For the maritime sector, the march of digitalization offers the opportunity for greater efficiency, substantial cost savings, optimization of vessel processes, and vastly improved communications between ship and shore, as well as for crew members,” he enthused, highlighting the benefits of connectivity across the globe.

Measures like being able to access the vessel management system remotely enable improved vessel and performance monitoring as well as more efficient maintenance regimes – saving time, money, and helping to meet environmental and other targets.

There are challenges to be overcome when digitalizing vessel operations, he agreed, speaking at Digital Ship’s CIO forum in Singapore. A stable and reliable connection is essential, as are robust back-up systems. IEC Telecom is one of the leading providers of connectivity solutions to the maritime sector and Mr Ben Soussia is able to draw on the company’s many years of expertise when advising the shipping industry.

Highlighting the risks to vessels from cyber threats, he stressed the need for comprehensive and effective cyber security to be built into any digitalized systems, both onboard and ashore. “The more autonomous vessels are, the higher the risk is of a cyber-attack and the greater the impact of that attack could be,” he said, pointing out that the majority of cyber threats can be eliminated with the proper security processes in place.

One of the downsides to this rapid pace of development is that maritime regulation needs to move faster in order to remain relevant and not inhibit technological advancement. The rapid rise of new technologies requires a new set of global rules to manage operations and potential risks, Mr Ben Soussia warned. Shipping is a highly regulated international market but the process of introducing new regulations or amending existing ones takes many years and this speed needs to increase in order to keep up with the pace of change.

But the commitment is worth it. Smart ships, smart crew, smart operating procedures – these are the future, thanks to digitalization.

A high-performance leader with extensive experience in the MENA region, Nabil Ben Soussia joined IEC Telecom Group as Director of Technologies and Operations in 2008. In the capacity of Business Unit Director, Nabil played a key role in the opening of the Abu Dhabi office in 2011. In 2014, Nabil initiated the opening of a new office in Kazakhstan, and in the same year, he became Managing Director of the Middle East division.

In 2018, Nabil moved into the role of Group Vice President and is responsible for the strategic vision and management of the maritime segment.

Latest News

NORDEN raises full-year guidance for 2025

On the back of the increased gains from sales of vessels and good operational performance, NORDEN, a... Read more

INTERCARGO welcomes ILO recognition of seafarers as key workers

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has welcomed the recent decision... Read more

MMS advises why seafarers must remain vigilant about malaria

Despite its lack of publicity, malaria remains an ongoing epidemic and a perilous threat to seafarers... Read more

Veson: Bulker S&P activity falls sharply in Q1 2025

Due to market uncertainty, overall sale and purchase levels for Bulkers have fallen year on year, with... Read more

Britannia Group announces CEO succession plan

The Britannia Group, a leading P&I insurer, has announced that its Chief Executive, Andrew Cutler... Read more

INTERCARGO responds to IMO's decision on GHG reduction measures

At last week's landmark MEPC 83 meeting, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States... Read more

NORDEN sells two additional vessels

In line with NORDEN’s strategy to realise asset values, the global provider of ocean-based freight... Read more

ILO delivers on Seafarers Key Worker Rights and fair treatment

The fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) of the MLC concluded last week with some... Read more

Class societies collaborate to standardise emissions data fields at IMO

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has confirmed the expansion of the data reference model... Read more

SEA-CARE looks for more holistic understanding of maritime safety

The SEA-CARE working group concluded its third session in February by confirming commitments to share... Read more