Autonomous ships, smart on-board systems: At the Maritime Future Summit on 5 September, industry leaders will discuss the future of shipping. For the first time, SMM hosts a conference dedicated to digital shipping.
Cyber Ships: What may sound like a word from a science fiction novel to some, is a hot topic in the maritime business world today. Low-crew and no-crew concepts are buzzwords in the shipping sector, and some initial trials with unmanned ships are already being undertaken.
Maritime Future Summit
'Visionary ideas drive the evolution of humanity, and the maritime industry is no exception. With its Maritime Future Summit, SMM provides a platform for the industry’s movers and shakers to think the unthinkable,' says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.
The Maritime Future Summit will celebrate its debut on 5 September, one day ahead of the SMM opening day. Under the chairmanship of Professor Volker Bertram of World Maritime University, two expert panels will discuss the topics "Building Ships for The Future” and “Digitalisation and Automation”.
Shipbuilding: What the Ships of the Future Will Look Like
Achieving the greatest possible efficiency is a key objective for designers of tomorrow’s ships. Paolo Tonon, CEO of Maersk Maritime Technology (MMT), will explain the “Maersk Vision”. MMT might be called the “Workshop for the Future”. More than 140 engineers are working on improving the fleet in service and developing innovative solutions for tomorrow’s ships.
Dennis Morais, Chief Engineer at SSI, will demonstrate how the design and building of ships can be optimised using computer technology. The Canadian company SSI is well known for its software application ShipConstructor. Mr. Morais’ presentation at the Maritime Future Summit is titled “Vision 2030”, reflecting the commitment of SSI to inspiring the maritime sector with the dynamic impetus of the innovation-driven computer industry.
High-technology will also be the focus of the lecture presented by Mary Etienne, Business Development Director at the computer company Dell. The expert will explore what future-proof technologies such as the Internet of Things can do for the maritime industry.
Digitalisation and Automation Drive Innovation
Experts agree: Smart Shipping and Big Data are the most important building blocks for tomorrow's shipping world. From ship design to routing and trim, through to maintenance and management, the future success of shipping companies will depend on a perfect network infrastructure connecting their fleets with their land-based operations.
Matthias Schulze, Chief Executive of the maritime business unit of Siemens, will explain how advanced propulsion technology can boost the efficiency of ships sustainably, and what systems are most likely to be successful in the future. Willie Wagen, Director – Market Innovation at Wärtsilä, believes the industry has reached a historic turning point. He will describe his company's conceptual strategy for supporting the shipping sector’s transition into a new era.
In his closing address, Carsten Wiebers, Global Head of Maritime Industries at KfW IPEX Bank, will investigate to what extent new technologies are fit for practice. “Where would I place my bets?” – Hearing a banker's answer to this question should be especially intriguing since ultimately, visions need financing to become reality.
Digitalisation at SMM
The topic of digitalisation will be the leitmotif of this year's SMM where leading classification societies and software vendors will present solutions custom-tailored to optimise ship operation. Increasing efficiency and improving the environmental footpring of shipping will be the themes for the exhibits in Hall A5, which will be entirely dedicated to innovative Green Propulsion technologies.
