- There has been plenty of advice on how to recognise weaknesses in systems onshore and onboard and also on how to react.
- There will doubtless be much more advice to come as the cyber criminals always manage to be one jump ahead of their victims.
- The bigger problem is that there is only a requirement for shipping companies to protect their systems.
- But as more and more digitalisation of port and regulatory bodies takes place one has to wonder what protection is built into the maritime single windows.
- It also includes the various vessel traffic management systems that are in operation around the globe.
The recent news report published in Ship Insight written by Malcolm Latarche reveals about what is in store for shipping sector in 2021.
Cruising to make a comeback
The bad press that cruise ships received in 2020 may cause some ports and countries to reconsider whether actively inviting them to call needs reconsidering.
But many of these places rely on tourism for survival and with appropriate precautions in place will surely look to bring back lost traffic.
The pandemic may also have put off some potential clients but cruise afficionados are a hardy bunch and will doubtless be itching to escape the months of lockdowns and restrictions as soon as they can.
EEXI and CII keeps efficiency on top of the agenda
Throughout 2020, decarbonisation has remained at the top of the agenda and is being pushed hard from every quarter.
However, the question of how committed nation states are to the climate agenda has been raised recently with UN Secretary-General António expressing disappointment at the virtual summit organised by the UK in mid-December that G-20 countries are “spending 50% more in their stimulus and rescue packages on sectors linked to fossil fuel production and consumption than on low carbon energy”.
IMO’s role in EEXI and CII
Within the shipping industry, we are expecting that 2021 will see the IMO putting flesh on the bones of the EEXI and CII initiatives adopted at MEPC 75 in late November.
This appears to be the opportunity for the IMO to give more recognition to energy saving measures of all kinds but especially for those such as coatings, battery systems and wind assistance which are now mostly excluded because their impact is so variable.
Brexit promises resurgence of UK as a maritime leader
On the political front, the UK’s final cutting of the EU apron strings on 31 December 2020 will have repercussions.
At the end of 2020, there were reports that the UK was planning to become the new Singapore as far as shipping was concerned.
These reports were not confirmed by the UK government – engaged as it was in delicate negotiations with the EU it could hardly be expected that the government would make comment on such rumours.
Fuel mix to increase
Ammonia is now being prepared for commercialisation with leading engine makers MAN Energy Solutions and Wärtsilä actively preparing for a 2024/25 debut.
It is very possible that this may be brought forward by a year or two with the first orders for ammonia-fuelled or ammonia ready ships coming in 2021.
Announcement of a retrofit project is also a possibility in 2021.
As with ammonia so with hydrogen although it would appear from events in 2020 that Belgium’s BeHydro is the current leader as the two majors concentrate on ammonia.
New technologies to build on 2020 boost
Usually major news on technology issues comes around the times of the major shipping exhibitions.
Last year almost all were cancelled and even those postponed shows rescheduled for 2021 have been abandoned.
This year the first show to really test the waters looks to be Nor-Shipping. Its mid-summer setting and the vaccine may prove its salvation and the first return to normality.
There have been no hints of cancellation as yet but who knows what this pandemic has yet to throw at the world.
Remote order signings
Remote order signings, ship surveys and repair assistance along with virtual exhibitions will be the order of the day for early 2021 and no doubt developments in this area through 2020 have provided a spur to one aspect of digitalisation in shipping.
But shipping has always been an industry in which personal relationships and contact have been the order of the day and even if future generations will happily embrace a remote contact culture.
Those that are today’s decision makers are champing at the bit for a return to a more conventional atmosphere.
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Source : Ship Insight
