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Interview 14 January 2021

“Bolder Use of the Opportunities Offered by Digitization”

Lutz Kretschmann heads the Marine Operations Management team at the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services (CML) in Hamburg. In his opinion, the maritime industry is too hesitant in their approach to future-oriented technologies, like data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. A new white paper “Ship Operation 4.0”, published by CML, hopes to facilitate the embrace of digital ship’s operations by shipping companies, dockyards, and suppliers.

You co-authored the “Ship Operation 4.0” white paper, which has attracted a great deal of current interest in the maritime sector. What were your reasons for writing this?

Lutz Kretschmann: The core question for us was how the maritime industry can use the new opportunities contained in Industry 4.0 for ship operations. This specifically centers around the data from the operating phase of a ship. We published the white paper to describe how ship operations can be run more efficiently based on this data. We sketched out five areas, which in our opinion offer the best opportunities for various parties in the maritime sector to actively engage with the topic, “Ship Operation 4.0”: these include navigation and ship’s command, systems operation on board, new concepts in maintenance, administration and management processes, and comprehensive ship and fleet management.

What role does the Fraunhofer CML play in digitalization in this sector?

Kretschmann: We provide research services, which support the enterprises in the maritime economy in developing and using new solutions, for example, in applying key technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. In short, we point out the opportunities offered by digitalization and contribute to their implementation.

You emphasize that data only have value if suitable information can be gained from them. Would you please explain this statement.

Kretschmann: Data, in and of itself, does not make us smarter. We have to be able to derive information from the data, which then serves as a basis for intelligent decisions. In virtually all data-based issues, the ability to find solutions functions better if there are more available data. Evaluating data from 100 ships brings greater insights than the same exercise with only ten ships. We currently have numerous methods and algorithms which are capable of identifying patterns in data – and this simply functions better if there are more and different examples.

Which data-based topics promise the greatest level of savings in ship operations?

Kretschmann: That is difficult to reduce to individual aspects. In the white paper, we highlight potentials for improving certain operating conditions – up to complete fleet optimization. However, this is not merely just a question of fuel consumption, but also making overall operations more economical and also safer.

What does the situation look like for older ships? Can the current fleet be fitted for digitalization?

Kretschmann: There are some projects, in which sensors are retrofitted in order to modernize ships or equip them for digital operations. However, in the case of ships that are already 20 or 25 years old, the primary concerns are for tangible solutions to operate the ships more efficiently using their available technologies. I’m thinking here, for example, about detecting changes of state, like in condition monitoring. This can facilitate improved scheduling and management of technician assignments – up to appropriate stocking of replacement parts.