It is also possible to search directly in the database and use the information found in preparation for work to be done or for training of junior mechanical personnel. In order to have an efficient integration of documentation from several suppliers, standards for exchange of these data are essential.
Several shipping companies are requiring these kinds of solutions as part of the newbuilding contract, resulting in better and more easily accessible documentation. Other benefits include improved quality of documentation and reduced work for the supplier through automated updating of their product databases as well as cost savings through improved exchange of the data.
Future developt in ICT and shipmanagement
The fully integrated navigation and automation systems and the linking to administrative systems as tested onboard the two Hoegh ships, seems to have been widely accepted as a systems to be more frequently used onboard newbuildings. The system is working satisfactorily and we have achieved the funtionality we were aiming at. But there is still much to be further developed. The reliability is still to low, and the system is still not stable enough. In the further development the following items will be important:
・ make the systems reliable and robust
・ make the system easy to use and maintain
・ reduce the complexity and number of new functions in the starting phase
・ develop systems in such a way so that crew members do not have to be data experts
・ make it possible to do remote diagnosis and trouble shooting from the equipment manufacturer and software updates at the system management level.
・ use standards and reference models if available
Modern ICT opens a wide range of opportunities for further developments in ship management. We think that we in a not too distant future will have to consider ship management in a fully new context. All parties involved, ships officers, shipowners office, classification societies and the equipment suppliers will be fully integrated in shipmanagement.
We will have to find the optimum combination of technology and know how onboard and among the parties involved. The new technology element (ICT) represents an opportunity: By using the technology in an efficient way, lack of competence and experience among one of the parties involved, can be addressed by use of the resources from one of the other parties for instance the classification society or the equipment suppliers.
Structural Changes
The shipping industry was traditionally characterised by national operators reliant on national factors of production (Norwegian capital and companies, Norwegian seafarers, Norwegian built ships etc.) operating in a (liberal) international market. Liberal market access, has made it possible for shipping companies to take advantage of global factors of production (capital, labour, technology and supporting services). Over the last three decades the share of the world fleet in open and international registries has grown from 1/3 to 2/3, making the shipping industry a global industry in an international market.
Over the last 20 years some 70% of the volume of sea born trade has been made up by the five major bulk commodities (grain, iron ore, oil, oil products and coal). The energy products (oil, oil products and coal) alone account for close to 50%. Over the last decades there has been a clear trend of high value manufactured goods increasing its share of world trade. In value terms manufactured goods accounted for some 55% of world trade i 1980 but 75% in 1995.
This may be attributable to the fact that globalised companies tend to allocate their production to low cost areas and adapt final products to different markets. This generates an increased demand for transport services of high value cargoes, including both semi-manufactured and final goods.
Whereas shipping is the most competitive transport mode for low value bulk commodities, it meets fierce competition fromair and road/rail in the most dynamic segment of world trade: low volume/high value goods.
One of the most conspicuous effects of globalisation is industry consolidation:
Allocation of production to low cost areas and access to markets world wide requires economy of scale. This generates bigger companies making the customers of shipping fewer and bigger. Consolidated customers have higher demands regarding logistics.
In order to be able to fulfil these demands, and to a lager extent to match the market power of the customers, also shipping companies have embarked upon a process of consolidation. This will enable them to harvest economy of scale benefits on the income and cost side.
Most segments of the shipping industry is however still fragmented compared to many other global industries and the process of consolidation is likely to continue.
Environmental awareness
The increased environmental awareness will make environmental performance an important competitive factor in the shipping market. The general public and customers of shipping companies have become more concerned. An increasing number of end consumers do not only want the final product to be clean, but also the entire production process.
Environmental concerns may lead to fundamental changes in the world economy and thus in shipping. The tank and coal/dry bulk segment could face dramatic changes if policy measures addressing global warming are introduced.
