While everyone else is chasing the next big tech trend, you're busy managing vessels, crews, and the countless daily challenges associated with procurement in modern shipping. So let's cut through the noise and talk through some practical insights from a Husbandry expert. We’ve also brought you all of the maritime innovations that actually matter this week. Here's what you need to know…

This week I spoke with Janani Yagnamurthy, VP of Analytics at Marcura, about the evolving landscape of maritime husbandry operations. With over twelve years at Marcura, Janani brings deep expertise in how data and analytics and AI can transform traditionally manual processes in vessel management.

Janani and I had an insightful chat about how tech is reshaping husbandry and the headaches IT leaders face when trying to bring these essential non-commercial activities into their broader digital strategies.

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Maritime husbandry is a crucial yet often overlooked non-commercial activity, encompassing technical support, crewing, and procurement of supplies and spares; it currently stands at a digital crossroads.

While vessels themselves have undergone remarkable technological transformation, the systems supporting their care and maintenance when in port have lagged behind.

The vast complexity of organising multiple suppliers, managing crew changes, arranging repairs, and handling financial transactions across global ports is no easy feat and demands sophisticated digital coordination.

Yet many companies still rely on standalone systems and manual processes that reduce efficiency,  create bottlenecks, increase costs and introduce unnecessary risk. As vessels spend less time in port and operate on tighter schedules, the digitisation of husbandry operations has shifted from a nice-to-have to a rising requirement.

Janani began by taking things back to basics, offering practical advice on how shipping companies can set themselves up for success, ahead of spending any money. "Before investing in external husbandry services or platforms, companies should review their internal processes, strengthen cross-departmental collaboration, and establish robust financial workflows." It's a lesson many maritime IT leaders have learned the hard way. We've all seen expensive digital products gathering dust because they weren't utilised efficiently.

When technical, crewing and procurement teams operate with conflicting approval chains and misaligned priorities, even the most technologically advanced procurement platform can't fix underlying communication deficiencies.

Janani expanded, "This foundation is essential for any successful technology implementation." The maritime companies seeing genuine returns on their digital investments aren't always those with the biggest IT budgets; they're the ones who take the time to analyse and improve their own internal practices before looking externally.

Some operators have fallen into the habit of overlooking financial bottlenecks like exchange rates and cash restrictions as a constant occurrence, but that's simply not the case. While these issues can never be avoided, their effects can be mitigated. "Building comprehensive intelligence databases on ports allows for more proactive planning and cost optimisation across global operations."

For maritime IT leaders, constructing systems that track and analyse these financial variables across global ports creates immediate value. These digitised operations also enable tracking of previously invisible KPIs, from average crew change arrangement times to vendor response metrics. Thus, creating accountability while simultaneously supporting ESG initiatives by optimising logistics and reducing paper waste.

When planning tools integrate currency fluctuation data, crew transport costs and regional payment options, digital systems transform from simple logbooks into strategic advisors. Selecting the right ports for these everyday yet crucial activities delivers substantial savings across a fleet.

Janani also stressed the importance of building strong relationships with a network of Port Agents to combine local, human-in-the-loop expertise with digital intelligence. "The most effective maritime systems complement rather than replace the expertise of local agents who understand specific port operations in a way that no global database can fully capture."

Switching back to the supplier perspective, Janani finished by touching on one of the longstanding challenges that vendors are battling: the difficulties in building a platform with seamless integration capabilities. "The industry needs integrated husbandry platforms that connect with voyage optimisation systems to synchronise arrival times, crew changes, and maintenance schedules."

With ESG becoming a key performance metric, these integrated platforms don't just drive operational efficiency—they also create the foundation for eco-friendly husbandry operations, turning sustainability from mere compliance into a competitive differentiator.

As vessels continue to spend less time in port, the pressure on husbandry operations will only intensify. The maritime companies that thrive won't just be digitising old processes, they'll be fundamentally rethinking them, with IT leaders and operational teams working together to create truly integrated solutions.

That concludes our weekly tech roundup! Navigate back here next Thursday for another carefully curated selection of maritime innovation news. Until then, keep your digital transformation flowing and your data streaming! Your innovation insider, Ailsa