The future of seafaring in an age of safer, smarter, greener shipping

During the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum, Gerardo Borromeo, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PTC Holdings Corporation, delivered the opening keynote address, highlighting current industry trends such as the advancement of digitalization and decarbonization as maritime operations enter a new era.

At the first Manila Forum by SAFETY4SEA in November 2019, I discussed the future of shipping. A technological tsunami has swept over that topic in the previous five years, accelerating us from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to the Fifth and beyond. We’ve seen how advancements in technology have reshaped our lives, impacting how we create, exchange, and distribute value. Technologies like artificial intelligence, genome editing, augmented reality, robotics, and 3D printing have not only transformed industries but also institutions, driving systemic change across society. It’s crucial for us to understand the profound impact this era of disruption will have on seafaring.

Seafaring: An ancient art facing modern challenges

Seafaring, the ancient art of traversing the vast expanse of the seas, has always been linked to human progress and exploration. From early voyages of discovery to modern global trade networks, the maritime domain has connected distant shores, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures. Today, amidst technological innovation and environmental consciousness, we must recognize that seafaring will not be immune to change.

We already see advances in digitalization, automation, and connectivity. The global effort to address climate change is driving an energy transition in shipping, mandating green fuels to meet the commitment of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This adds complexity to the future of shipping and seafaring.

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The future of work at sea

Seafaring is now at the forefront of technological innovation. Every aspect of work on ships, life on board, and future ship development will be profoundly impacted. The rate of change may outpace our ability to manage it unless we change our approach.

We need to create pathways over the next 26 years to 2050, continuously reskilling and upskilling Filipino maritime professionals to ensure they are not left behind. From navigation and logistics to safety and maintenance, global maritime professionals will need to adapt to new roles and responsibilities, requiring concerted efforts to bridge potential skills gaps and keep our workforce competitive, even in the face of automation.

Attracting future generations to seafaring

Another challenge is attracting the best and brightest of the next generation to consider a career in the shipping industry, starting with a career at sea. Individuals must be educated in science, technology, engineering, and math to build the competencies needed to compete effectively in a world driven by the Fifth Industrial Revolution.

Understanding future generations and their interests is crucial. We know Gen Z, Millennials, and younger generations in general have different perspectives on life, and we must connect their aspirations with our industry’s needs.

Leveraging social media platforms to generate conversations about the unique aspects of the shipping industry can help raise awareness of what a career in shipping means and the importance of becoming a global maritime professional. It’s the over 110 million Filipinos, with 1.5 million more added each year, who are the target.

We need to raise awareness among the public and government about the strategic importance of the shipping industry for job generation, value creation, and maintaining global and local supply chains essential for economic growth.

Creating a Strategic Supply Chain for Maritime Professionals

To sustain our position as the seafaring capital of the world, we need to go beyond recruiting and deployment. The day we have no more qualified Filipino maritime professionals to deploy is the day we lose our place in the global seascape.

We must create an integrated, strategic supply chain system that produces maritime professionals of the future, effectively managing their careers from end to end. Thus, developing three extensive areas of competency is crucial:

1. Talent Acquisition: Not just a recruitment transaction but extending a pipeline to the youngest potentials.
2. Talent Development: A lifetime of learning and the development of skills to ensure that no one gets left behind.
3. Talent Deployment: Defining a progressive career path to a future that will be part of.

Ensuring quality and safety in seamanship

At the core of a strategic supply chain is producing quality seamanship and true leadership qualities in every current and future Filipino global maritime professional. The concepts of “together in safety” and collaboration are crucial. While safety-related accidents have significantly decreased, they have not disappeared. We should strive for zero accidents, as even one life lost is one too many.

Decarbonization and the green transition

Decarbonization is another critical issue, requiring us to adapt to green fuels and improve our knowledge of science and skills to work in more hazardous environments. We must transform our existing pool of maritime professionals and prepare new ones with the requisite skills to remain employable over the next 20 years.

While we await global decisions on green fuels, immediate interventions like promoting enhanced navigation and vessel handling techniques can improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10%. Eliminating waste and driving productivity through merging the physical and digital worlds are also essential.

Embracing the future of seafaring

The questions I posed in 2019 remain relevant: Are we in the Philippines ready for this future? Are we, as individuals, companies, and institutions, ready for change?

We must drive an overall progressive transition towards a sustainable future. We can either disrupt what we do today or be disrupted and find ourselves out of this industry in the future.

The train to the future has left the station and is speeding ahead. If we don’t get on it now, we risk missing the entire opportunity.

To maintain our status as the seafaring capital and Filipinos as the seafarers of choice, we must foresee the future and prepare the talent needed for 2030, 2040, and 2050. We have been in this industry for over 50 years; what will we do for the next 50 years to allow future Filipinos to enjoy the same benefits?

We need to be ready to innovate, evolve, and transcend our mindsets continuously. This will define the future of shipping and seafaring in the Philippines, ensuring that Filipino global maritime professionals can sail on every vessel in every sea, moving the world forward.

source :safety4sea