Closing the Digital Gap at Sea: An Exclusive Interview with Vlassis Papapanagis, Chief Commercial Officer at Tototheo Global

Mobile visibility for shipowners 📡

Tototheo Global’s Chief Commercial Officer Vlassis Papapanagis says the biggest digitalisation challenge isn’t buying tech; it’s knowing which tools truly fit maritime realities. 

“There is a lot of technology being heavily promoted to customers today,” he said. “But we have seen that some customers feel there’s a lack of understanding or alignment between their real operational needs and what vendors are trying to sell.”

For Tototheo, experience and training remain key to bridging that divide. “Training the end user is the most important step in closing the adoption gap,” Papapanagis added. The company, marking its 40th year, continues to position itself as both supplier and consultant, helping shipowners use innovation that actually works at sea.

The bottom line: Experience and human understanding are still the strongest anchors of digital transformation….read more

Europe’s Security Future Takes Shape in Hamburg

Building resilience through innovation 🛡️

At the Global Security and Innovation Summit (GSIS) in Hamburg, leaders agreed that Europe’s strength depends on uniting technology and policy.

“Europe’s security does not depend solely on military strength, but on the ability to secure technological sovereignty and economic independence,” said Dr. Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of IISS. The event spotlighted maritime innovation and startups shaping security capabilities. As GSIS Executive Chair Dimitrios Argirakos noted, “We have laid a strong foundation. Now it’s about expanding the network and bringing in new perspectives.”

The bottom line: Europe is moving from strategy to action with technology as its new defense line….read more

Samsung Heavy Turns to Smart Robots for Shipbuilding

Automation gets a human partner ⚙️

Samsung Heavy Industries is joining forces with Rainbow Robotics to develop AI-powered welding and inspection robots for shipyards. The mobile bots are designed to handle complex, risky tasks from curved welds to confined spaces.

“We are confident that cooperation with Rainbow Robotics will elevate our automation technology and construction competitiveness to the next level,” said Kim Jin-mo, head of the Future Business Development Office at SHI. The collaboration aims to redefine how robots and skilled workers share the shipyard floor.

The bottom line: Robots are joining the shipyard crew, and they’re learning to think and move like human welders….read more

HD Hyundai Charts Global Course for Greener Shipbuilding

Sustainability meets smart tech ⚓

At APEC 2025 Korea, HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Kisun urged global partners to join in building a sustainable and tech-driven shipbuilding future. “The rapid advancement of AI technology has had a tremendous impact on the sustainability of our ships and the digital manufacturing cycle,” he said. The company’s Future Tech Forum gathered global leaders from Siemens, Anduril, and Huntington Ingalls to discuss how AI, digital twins, and robotics can make shipbuilding greener and smarter.

The bottom line: HD Hyundai is steering global shipbuilding toward a cleaner, more connected era, powered by collaboration….read more

Electric Ships Power the Push for Greener Seas

Cleaner oceans, charged future 🔋

A new Fact.MR report projects the electric ship market will more than double to USD 22 billion by 2035, driven by IMO emission goals and advancing battery technology. Europe leads the charge with strong support from Norway and Denmark, while Asia’s major builders like Hyundai, Samsung, and Mitsubishi are expanding electrification projects. Companies including ABB, Siemens, and Kongsberg are developing modular propulsion systems to meet rising demand.

The bottom line: Electric propulsion is no longer an experiment; it’s becoming the industry standard for cleaner seas….read more