Connectivity is even more important to shipping outfits since the coronavirus outbreak, as many are asking their employees to work from home, according to Nautilus Labs chief executive Matt Heider.
While many shipping professionals are hoping their home office will help to contain the spread of the virus, port-side staff and seafarers still need to maintain many of their work routines to keep the global trade going.
Cloud-based software can play an important role in connecting everyone around the same real-time information, whether they’re at a home office, a company office, or on a ship’s bridge.
Matt Heider
Artificial intelligence developer Heider told TradeWinds that real-time coordination is becoming more important for different shipping teams working together amid the uncertainty.
“The question around technology in maritime is really about connecting people — quicker, more reliably, and in real time,” Heider said.
Getting connected
“Shipping was the first industry to connect the world physically, and today most owners and operators have globally distributed teams.”
With bunker and freight markets — as well as vessel operations — disrupted by the outbreak, Heider warned that shipping professionals often make inept decisions when they lack connectivity.
“Individuals are often asked to make critical decisions based on intuition, instinct and with insufficient data that’s often siloed between teams,” Heider said.
“In normal circumstances, the risk introduced by that decision-making process can compound over time, and massive global disruptions can amplify that risk.”
Nautilus operates a machine-learning platform for more than 200 ships, whose owners include Dorian LPG, Eagle Bulk Shipping and Eastern Pacific Shipping.
While aiming to lower fuel consumption and achieve better earnings potential for its users, the platform can also offer a great chance for shipping personnel to stay connected, according to the New York-based start-up.
“Cloud-based software can play an important role in connecting everyone around the same real-time information, whether they’re at a home office, a company office or on a ship’s bridge,” Heider said.
“In that context, AI presents an opportunity to make shipping companies even more interconnected and responsive to changing market and political environments, by delivering predictive recommendations for optimal outcomes.”
Over time, Heider foresees that different shipping companies may start sharing more information with each other over the platform.
“As client teams become more closely connected, we envision a future that’s focused on persistent transparency, accountability, and collaboration,” he said.
