On Digital Ship, this year focused on connectivity as critical infrastructure. The expansion of satellite internet, particularly Starlink’s growing footprint in merchant shipping, has reshaped expectations around crew welfare, vessel operations, and cost structures. Unlimited data plans and free hardware have begun to work at sea, improving access to reliable communications for crews and shore teams alike.

Yet greater connectivity has brought new exposure. When Starlink outages highlighted the fragility of single-provider reliance, redundancy at sea has become essential. At the same time, cyber incidents, including attacks that disrupted Iran’s tanker fleet, reinforced that a connected ship is also a vulnerable one. Digital resilience, cybersecurity governance, and leadership accountability are now inseparable from connectivity strategies.

That leadership question was brought into sharp focus through our conversation with Bjørn Højgaard, CEO of Anglo-Eastern Ship Management. His reflections on leading in a connected maritime world showed that technology alone is not transformation; people, culture, and responsibility remain decisive.

On Vessel Performance Info, the year unfolded against a more uncertain regulatory and environmental backdrop. Delays at the IMO raised uncomfortable questions about the credibility of shipping’s 2030 climate ambitions, even as industry initiatives continued to advance. From Bureau Veritas’ launch of OptiCarbon to collaborations between GCMD and INTERCARGO, momentum is increasingly being driven by coalitions, data, and practical tools rather than policy alone.

We also explored the implications of the High Seas Treaty and, with Laurence Odfjell of Odfjell, the growing role of design thinking in decarbonisation, highlighting a shift towards shared accountability and a “common bottom line” that aligns commercial performance with environmental outcomes.

As the year draws to a close, one theme cuts across both platforms: progress in shipping is no longer defined by technology or regulation alone, but by how responsibly they are applied. Connectivity without resilience, ambition without accountability, and data without leadership all carry consequences.

At the same time, this year has shown an industry navigating complexity with increasing maturity. Connectivity, climate ambition, and operational performance are no longer separate conversations, but part of a shared strategic landscape.

We would like to thank our readers, contributors and partners for being part of our journey across Digital Ship and Vessel Performance Info. Your engagement, insight, and critical perspectives continue to shape the conversations that matter for maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation. We wish you a restful holiday season and a successful start to the New Year, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue in the months ahead.