Automation key to tackling maritime skills crisis

The issue will be addressed on day one of the biannual Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats Middle East (SOMWME) 2017 exhibition and conference, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 25 - 27 September 2017, where speakers at the 'Manning Update' will assess the role of automation in tackling the ongoing challenge.

"The number of skilled personnel across multiple functions has been in decline for a number of years. In 2010, The Manpower Report by BIMCO/ISF calculated the global supply of officers stood at 624,000, compared to a demand for 637,000, concluding the figures were 'near-ideal'.

"However, by 2016, the shortfall stood at 16,500 officers and is predicted to rise to 147,000 worldwide by 2025. In the United States, figures published in 2016 by the U.S. Maritime Administration placed the country's shortfall at 70,000 mariners by 2022," said Emma Howell, Group Marketing Manager, Seatrade portfolio, UBM EMEA.

Moderated by Captain Michael P. Elwert, Group Chief Executive Officer, Elektrans Group, the panel will feature William Tobin, Underwriting Syndicate Manager -- Offshore, The Shipowners Club and Captain John Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer, The Nautical Institute, as well as Revd Dr Paul Burt, Regional Director, Gulf & South Asia, Mission to Seafarers.

Captain Lloyd commented: "The increasing sophistication of technology is opening the door to serious discussions about the remote control of ships, perhaps one day leading to completely autonomous vessels. While moving in this direction gives wonderful opportunities to improve reliability, one of the key challenges will be to balance the cost of reliability against performance and financial viability through savings. That is really a matter for the technologists and the economists to address."

Automation in shipping is not a new concept; many responsibilities, checks and safety functions are now carried out autonomously. But in the age of driverless vehicles and remote controlled drones, the first unmanned, autonomous ship, could be on the horizon. 

It would not be the first time, complicated skill sets are delegated to artificial intelligence -- aviation has undergone a similar transformation, with the role of the pilot evolving with each new generation of aircraft. However, innovations in shipping can be leveraged to address a gap, rather than requiring existing specialists to up-skill.

Lloyd continued: "On the operational side it is important we create a regulatory framework which gives an opportunity for these vessels to be developed and then to identify the skills required to operate them safely and efficiently.

"It is likely these skills will draw heavily on maritime knowledge and experience if we are to develop effective solutions.  As the professional body for those in control of ships, The Nautical Institute is already actively engaged in these discussions and looks forward to the next generation of ships and operations supported by world-leading technology and innovation."

Part of SOMWME's Power 60s series the Manning Update will be followed by a session on finance and law, moderated by Eithne Treanor, founder and MD of E Treanor Media and featuring Bora Bariman, Head of Energy & Marine, Corporate & Institutional Banking Group, National Bank of Fujairah; David Manuel, Senior Marine Specialist - Petrodata, IHS Markit; Knut Mathiassen, Managing Partner, NorthCape DMCC; and Tien Tai, Partner, Holman Fenwick Willan.

Elsewhere in the conference programme, discussion will turn to green and efficient vessels for the future.

Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats is the largest workboat and offshore marine event outside of the USA, attracting more than 200 offshore marine and workboat companies.

For more information and event updates, contact Emma Howell, Group Marketing Manager, Seatrade Portfolio: Tel: +44 1206 545121; or log on to www.seatradeoffshoremarine.com.

About UBM's maritime portfolio -- connecting customers globally

UBM is one of the world's leading B2B events organisers providing vibrant and dynamic events enriched with digital and print media. Its events allow its customers to make connections and do business efficiently and effectively.

UBM has three principle businesses: UBM Americas, UBM Asia and UBM EMEA who together provide high quality Events and OMS activities through regional focus, closely collaborating when brands extend globally. UBM is the largest "pure-play" exhibitions organiser in the world, No.1 International Exhibitions organiser in China, India and Malaysia (Asia) and No.1 Exhibitions organiser in the US.

Included within the UBM maritime portfolio is: Sea Asia; Seatrade Maritime Middle East; Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East; Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa and Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia; Marintec South America; Offshore Marintec Russia; Marintec Indonesia; Marintec China, Sea Japan and Expomaritt.

Seatrade, an integral portfolio within UBM provides a range of global exhibitions, conference, events, awards, news websites and publications that covers every aspect of the cruise and maritime industries.

Founded in 1970, Seatrade connects people and creates opportunities for companies to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote brands and expand markets.

The Seatrade portfolio is headquartered in Colchester, UK, and globally represented across 23 countries from the UAE and Asia to South America and across Europe. From Singapore, both the Sea Asia and Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia are managed under the umbrella of UBM Asia, the largest trade show organiser in the region, and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia.

Seatrade Maritime Review and Seatrade Maritime News are the official titles in print and online for all the UBM maritime portfolio, as well as associated events: Posidonia and gmec.

To find out more about the Seatrade portfolio, visit http://www.seatrade-global.com/seatrade-global-information/about-seatrade.html and for UBM EMEA please visit, http://ubmemea.com/.

For UBM Asia, visit www.ubmasia.com

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SOURCE Seatrade Communications

Related Links

http://www.seatradeoffshoremarine.com