Inmarsat highlights critical role of partnership
(Posted on 28/04/20)
Japan’s role and potential as a driver of digitalisation in shipping has been captured and analysed in a new report focused on maritime innovation
‘A quiet revolution - the maritime innovation ecosystem in Japan’, explores the commitments to Internet of Things (IoT)-based ship and crew management already made by corporate Japan, then goes on to offer unique insights into the country’s emerging start-up culture.
The report, sponsored by Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, is the first in a series of in-depth profiles into maritime technology and start-ups in specific countries. It builds on ‘Trade 2.0: How start-ups are driving the next generation of maritime trade’, a global study launched by Inmarsat in 2019 during London International Shipping Week.
Both studies are the work of renowned maritime experts Nick Chubb (MNI*) and Leonardo Zangrando (MSc, MBA). Nick Chubb is a former seafarer and Founder and Director of Thetius Maritime Innovation Intelligence. Leonardo Zangrando is a Naval Architect and Founder and Managing Director of Startup Wharf Ltd, an Independent Global Hub of Startup-driven Maritime Transformation.
“We are delighted to be the key sponsor of this latest report,” says Ronald Spithout, President of Inmarsat Maritime. “It offers a perceptive insight into the status of Japan’s growing maritime digitalisation in 2020.”
Japan’s three largest global shipping carriers – K Line, Mitsui OSK Line and NYK Line - are users of Inmarsat Fleet Xpress services, Spithout points out. All three companies are also committed to ground-breaking data sharing projects to enable optimised vessel performance, manned autonomous ships and decarbonisation.
K Line has worked with Kawasaki Heavy Industries developing a ship performance optimisation platform to manage biofouling, optimise trim, and to reduce crew workload. MOL joined the National Maritime Research Institute and Furuno Electric Co. to develop augmented reality for navigation support for 21 very large crude carriers (VLCC). While NYK has developed its onboard IoT platform with Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone and NTT Data.
“Partnerships have been the bedrock for digitalisation in Japan. As the leading provider of high-speed maritime broadband connectivity via Fleet Xpress, we work closely with the large corporate enterprises pushing the technological envelope. However, this new report highlights other important relationships that are also shaping Japan’s digital future,” says Spithout, “including those outside of conventional networks, such as the E5 Lab on autonomous vessels, the Ship Data Centre and the Maritime Innovation Japan Corporation.”
Earlier this year, Inmarsat began working with Ship Data Centre (ShipDC), set up by the classification society, ClassNK. ShipDC promotes the initiative “Internet of Ships Open Platform (IoS-OP)” to integrate operational data from multiple fleets. ONE uses the IoS-OP to share data with K Line, MOL and NYK respectively across the ONE container fleet, improving fleet performance benchmarking. Finnish data analysis specialist NAPA became the first solution provider to join the IoS-OP, offering ship and voyage optimisation services. NAPA is also a Certified Application Provider for the Fleet Xpress IoT platform for shipping Fleet Data.
Latest News
Shipping takes major sustainable plastic step with toolkit from MACS
(Posted on 16/07/26)The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) has published a series of practical guides to enable... Read more
Shanghai climbs to second as Singapore retains top spot
(Posted on 16/07/26)Shanghai has officially become the world’s second-most prominent shipping hub, according to the... Read more
OceanScore sees growing port adoption of PortView
(Posted on 16/07/26)OceanScore, the maritime data and sustainability company helping shipping and ports turn regulatory... Read more
INTERCARGO highlights progress and priorities in bulk carrier safety
(Posted on 07/07/26)Bulk carrier safety continues to show steady long-term improvement, but the nature of risk facing seafarers... Read more
Norden raises full-year guidance following strong performance in dry cargo
(Posted on 07/07/26)Following stronger than expected operational performance in dry cargo, reduced costs associated with... Read more
Algoma announces refinancing of long-term debt
(Posted on 03/07/26)Algoma Central Corporation, a leading provider of marine transportation services, has announced that... Read more
Global maritime under threat from Fortibleed incident, warns Cydome
(Posted on 03/07/26)Major maritime, ports and energy companies have been identified by Cydome’s threat-intelligence... Read more
Crewing specialist expands global recruitment network with Indonesian seafarers
(Posted on 30/06/26)As the global shipping industry faces mounting concerns over future crew availability, Danica Crewing... Read more
IMO pauses evacuation in Strait of Hormuz following attack
(Posted on 29/06/26)Following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, IMO has decided to temporarily pause its evacuation... Read more
Human cost of keeping world trade moving highlighted on Day of the Seafarer
(Posted on 25/06/26)Leading health and wellness platform OneCare Group is calling on shipping leaders to recognise the immense... Read more
