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Inmarsat report highlights
critical role of partnership in Japan’s connected
maritime innovation ecosystem
23 April 2020:
A new study, ‘A quiet
revolution – the maritime innovation ecosystem in
Japan’, explores the commitments to Internet of Things
(IoT)-based ship and crew management already made by
corporate Japan, then goes on to offer unique insights
into the country’s emerging start-up culture.
The report, sponsored by Inmarsat,
the world leader in global, mobile satellite
communications, is the first in a series of in-depth
profiles into maritime technology and start-ups in
specific countries. It builds on ‘Trade 2.0: How
start-ups are driving the next generation of maritime
trade’, a global study launched by Inmarsat in 2019
during London International Shipping Week.
Both studies are the work of
renowned maritime experts Nick Chubb (MNI*) and Leonardo
Zangrando (MSc, MBA). Nick Chubb is a
former seafarer and Founder and Director of Thetius
Maritime Innovation Intelligence.
Leonardo Zangrando is a Naval Architect and Founder and
Managing Director of Startup Wharf Ltd, an Independent
Global Hub of Startup-driven Maritime Transformation.
“We are delighted to be the key
sponsor of this latest report,” says Ronald Spithout,
President of Inmarsat Maritime. “It offers a perceptive
insight into the status of Japan’s growing maritime
digitalisation in 2020.”
‘A quiet revolution – the maritime
innovation ecosystem in Japan’ can be downloaded from
the following links English version, Japanese version.
K Line has worked with Kawasaki
Heavy Industries developing a ship performance
optimisation platform to manage biofouling, optimise
trim, and to reduce crew workload. MOL joined the
National Maritime Research Institute and Furuno Electric
Co. to develop augmented reality for navigation support
for 21 very large crude carriers (VLCC). While NYK has
developed its onboard IoT platform with Monohakobi
Technology Institute (MTI), Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone and NTT Data.
“Partnerships have been the bedrock
for digitalisation in Japan. As the
leading provider of high-speed maritime broadband
connectivity via Fleet Xpress, we work closely with the
large corporate enterprises pushing the technological
envelope. However, this new report highlights other
important relationships that are also shaping Japan’s
digital future,” says Spithout, “including those outside
of conventional networks, such as the E5 Lab on
autonomous vessels, the Ship Data Centre and the
Maritime Innovation Japan Corporation.”
Earlier this year, Inmarsat began
working with Ship Data Center (ShipDC), set up by the
classification society, ClassNK. ShipDC promotes the
initiative “Internet of Ships Open Platform (IoS-OP)” to
integrate operational data from multiple fleets. ONE
uses the IoS-OP to share data with K Line, MOL and NYK
respectively across the ONE container fleet, improving
fleet performance benchmarking. Finnish data analysis
specialist NAPA became the first solution provider to
join the IoS-OP, offering ship and voyage optimisation
services. NAPA is also a Certified Application Provider
for the Fleet Xpress IoT platform for shipping Fleet
Data.
“Now is an ideal moment for a
report exploring the way Japanese maritime stakeholders
are engaging in new partnerships, including with
start-ups outside Japan,” adds Spithout. Typical is NYK
Line’s work with Transnational Diversified Group
Maritime and start-up MarcoPay to enable electronic
seafarer salary payments direct to phones. Spithout also
cites work by start-up Sensetime with MOL on image-based
collision avoidance and the creation of Symphony
Creative Solutions by NYK Group, Weathernews, and Kozo
Keikaku Engineering to help Singaporean start-ups engage
with Japanese maritime interests.
“We have also seen the Japanese
government attempting to grow the local start-up
ecosystem through its J-Startup programmes, resulting in
rising interest from local and international venture
investors,” adds Spithout. “Japan’s maritime technology
sector is worth $8.8 billion today and is projected as
growing to $15.8billion in value by 2030**. Clearly,
with innovation remaining the priority, Fleet Xpress
connectivity, Fleet Connect and the Fleet Data IoT
platform will be key enablers for corporates, their
partners and start-ups alike.”
The 11th Annual Australasia Satellite Forum
The Fullerton (formerly Westin) Hotel, Sydney, Australia
New dates: 26 & 27 October 2020
Contact: kfrench @talksatellite.com
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