Simply put, there is no change without risk. Below we highlight five key drivers of transformation in the maritime shipping sector as well as the accompanying risks and challenges:

Next-generation smart ships offer increased efficiency and tech to improve connectivity, decision-making and safety. Bureau Veritas, a leader in marine inspection, testing and certification, defines smart ships as involving the digitalization of the

• ship’s systems
• ship’s onboard processes and operations
• ship’s management and operation processes from shore

Technical features of smart ships can include the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, sensor networks, predictive analytics, alerting systems and more.

Enhanced ship-to-shore coordination is at the heart of this transformation of the vessel. Across the sector, collaboration among charterers, ship owners and managers, shipyards, technology providers and classification societies is needed to drive this transition. The IMO Resolution MSC.428 (98) for cyber risk management and the DNV's Smart vessel class notation, among others, are designed to mitigate risks and manage threats arising from the increasing reliance of technology.

Digitalization brings opportunities for improved efficiencies and profitability. Secure operational technology (OT) helps manage, monitor, control and automate physical assets, such as sensors, switches, safety and navigation systems and vessels. However, digitalization also makes vessels vulnerable to cyber threats, so ship owners and managers must prioritize security. IT breaches, ransomware demands, phishing attacks, hacks and fraud remain ongoing risk concerns.

Cyber threats pose significant challenges to maritime operations across the sector. According to DNV’s Maritime Cyber Priority 2023 report, a cyber-secure supply chain requires measures to audit vendors’ cybersecurity requirements during procurement, installation and operation of equipment, systems, and software.

Regulations, guidance and best practices are helping to mitigate cyber risks, including: the IMO’s Resolutions for cyber security (MSC.428(98)) and the Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management (MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3); the 2024 International Association of Classification Societies’ (IACS) Unified Requirements (UR) on cyber security target new build vessels and offshore installations; and the EU Directive on Network and Information Systems (NIS2) of 2024 strengthens cyber security within the region.

Hazards at sea have long posed challenges to maritime health & safety in the form of fires, accidents, equipment failures, incidents arising from the transport of dangerous goods, drowning and infectious diseases, among others. Today, in addition to stringent health and safety drills, audits and compliance practices, training as well as reliable real-time communications across the emergency response network are imperative to defend crew safety onboard a vessel and port-based workers.

For the 2024 World Maritime Day, the theme of ‘Navigating the future: safety first!’ attests to the renewed importance of health and safety to create a more sustainable future. Protecting the marine environment while embracing the fast pace of technological change and innovation presents significant opportunities and risks. Sustainability, digitalization and decarbonization all play a role in this more holistic approach to risk, emergency preparedness, critical event management and resiliency.

Situational Awareness (SA) is an integral concern of the maritime industry to ensure safety and prevent accidents. It's about understanding what's happening in the environment and how it might affect the present and future of maritime shipping.

When an unforeseen critical event occurs, the crew’s response time and ability to make the right decision can spell the difference between risk mitigation and disaster: between life and death. Increasingly, concerns about incidents with the potential to escalate means thinking about local and dispersed impacts to resolve the situation.

Operational resilience is needed to gain instant insight and act effectively to resolve any situation while organizational resilience focuses on the ability to adapt and thrive in the face of uncertainty.

The maritime shipping sector is living through unprecedented times for risk, crises and transition. Managing the risks associated with change and transformation is a key challenge. To do so, the maritime industry needs:

• Secure Digitalization: Implementing secure, real-time incident management solutions can improve efficiency, enhance situational awareness and facilitate collaboration.
• More Effective Collaboration: Fostering collaboration among stakeholders can help address complex challenges and improve response times.
• Strengthened Resilience: Building resilience through effective planning and preparation–with products that are easy to use and deploy–can help mitigate risks and ensure continuity of operations.

RAYVN can help. This easy-to-use critical event management solution offers tools to enhance situational awareness, facilitate collaboration, improve incident management through secure, real-time collaboration and gain new efficiencies in reporting and sharing best practices across the maritime shipping sector.