Every investment in maritime technology eventually comes down to one decision. Does it help people make better operational decisions? Today’s story answers that with a practical example.

Digital tools that shorten planning time while protecting safety will separate fleets that react from fleets that stay ahead. According to industry estimates, more than 90% of the world's traded goods move by sea, making every operational improvement matter at scale.

Technology matters most when it gives people more time to think, not more systems to manage. The companies that simplify complex operations will set the pace for everyone else.

— Arnel Murga

30% of Maersk's reefer fleet is already running new connectivity hardware. The bigger story is what happens when every container speaks the same digital language. The next step reaches well beyond cargo visibility.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday maritime operations, but questions remain over governance, accountability and the frameworks needed to support safe adoption.

At the Digital Ship Summit 2026, four maritime technology leaders will debate the question:
Can shipping safely scale AI without clear standards, regulation, and oversight?

Panelists
• Paal Lohne, Grieg Star
• Christina Orfanidou, Columbia ShipManagement
• Nicholas Timpelis, Ionic
• Dimitris Pavlidis, Stealth Maritime Corporation S.A

The panel will examine the risks of AI adoption, governance of AI-driven decisions, regulatory uncertainty and what responsible implementation should look like as AI becomes embedded across maritime operations.

🎟️ Secure your delegate pass today.

Nearly 70% of maritime leaders say uncertainty is making investment decisions harder. Yet more than 90% believe they can adapt. So what separates the companies that will stay ahead? Johnny Kackur, Head of Coastal Merchant at Wärtsilä, argues the answer starts with better data.

Container schedules rarely stay fixed for long. ABS believes route-specific digital calculations can give operators more flexibility without compromising safety. The real advantage may only become clear when plans change at the last minute.

Hydrogen ambitions often hinge on infrastructure. Höegh Evi's latest testing moves floating ammonia terminals closer to commercial reality. The next phase will determine whether the technology performs beyond the pilot plant.

The first Oceanbird wing has completed sea trials aboard a commercial car carrier. The installation is finished, but the data collection is only beginning. That data could shape future retrofit decisions across the industry.

The Angelicoussis Group has doubled data consumption across more than 140 vessels after deploying Starlink through Navarino, giving ship and shore teams faster access to operational data and high-definition video. The rollout shows how shipowners are treating onboard connectivity as part of fleet management rather than a standalone communications service.