Boosting digital collaboration for resilience and sustainability in shipping (RISE)

5 Dec 2023 09:00h - 10:00h UTC

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Table of contents

Disclaimer: This is not an official record of the UNCTAD eWeek session. The DiploAI system automatically generates these resources from the audiovisual recording. Resources are presented in their original format, as provided by the AI (e.g. including any spelling mistakes). The accuracy of these resources cannot be guaranteed. The official record of the session can be found on the UNCTAD website.

Full session report

Margi Van Gogh

The analysis explores a range of topics relating to data insights, innovation, supply chains, digital platforms, and data sharing. It highlights the positive impact that data insights can have on achieving economic, societal, and environmental benefits. The analysis underscores the crucial role of individuals with a sense of purpose in their work in unlocking the full potential of value creation. Furthermore, the analysis discusses the significant advancements in safety within the aviation sector, which can be attributed to data insights obtained through the sharing of information among multiple entities.

The importance of co-opetition, which involves collaboration between businesses while maintaining a competitive mindset, is emphasised as essential for driving innovation. The analysis argues that once an innovation is discovered and can be scaled, the private sector can rely on accessing global markets through available capital. This highlights the need for a shift in mindset beyond pure competition to foster successful innovation.

Challenges faced by supply chains are also addressed, illustrating their wide-ranging impacts. These challenges include natural disasters, labour shortages, inflation, geopolitical tensions, and global conflicts. The analysis emphasises that supply chains encounter numerous obstacles, resulting in significant consequences that extend beyond individual sectors.

Moreover, the analysis stresses the importance of digital platforms in supply chain management. It points out the achievements of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the aviation industry, which have led to it being acknowledged as the safest form of transport globally. This safety record is directly attributed to data insights obtained through data aggregation and sharing among multiple entities. Thus, the analysis highlights the critical role digital platforms play in ensuring the efficient and safe operation of supply chains.

The analysis also discusses the issue of data sharing, emphasising the requirement for a neutral and credible entity to oversee the process. It suggests that companies would be more willing to contribute data if the process is managed by an unbiased party, preferably a reputable non-governmental organization (NGO) or a United Nations (UN) organization. The establishment of trust and credibility is deemed crucial for successful data sharing, considering concerns over the misuse or unintended use of data. Having a neutral entity, ideally one with global recognition, could help build trust among companies and encourage extensive data sharing for economic, societal, and environmental benefits.

In conclusion, the analysis underscores the positive impact of data insights on achieving economic, societal, and environmental benefits. It highlights the significance of co-opetition in driving innovation, examines the challenges faced by supply chains and their wide-ranging impacts, stresses the importance of digital platforms in supply chain management, and advocates for a neutral and credible entity to oversee data sharing. The analysis concludes that trust and credibility are essential for successful data sharing and that their establishment is key to unlocking the full potential of data-driven advancements in various sectors.

Andre Simha

André Simha, a prominent figure in the maritime industry, emphasises the importance of collaboration when it comes to achieving digital transformation. Simha argues that a collective approach is necessary, considering the interconnected nature of the industry. He believes that digital transformation is not solely about technology, but about transforming the industry as a whole, placing people at its core.

Simha also advocates for the adoption of industry standards to ensure effective digital transformation. He highlights the significance of collaboration and adoption in making these standards the norm. Simha cites the efforts of the Digital Container Shipping Association in pushing the industry forward through the creation of strong, open-source standards.

Furthermore, Simha stresses the criticality of data sharing in digital transformation within the maritime industry. He notes that though two platforms, Intra and TradeLens, have been developed for data sharing over the past two decades, they have not progressed as expected. Simha argues that addressing key issues, such as decarbonisation and sustainability, necessitates extensive data sharing.

Additionally, Simha underscores the importance of trust and the need for a neutral, non-profit, and legally compliant platform to facilitate efficient data sharing. He acknowledges trust as a significant concern in data sharing and highlights the sometimes vague nature of legally compliant platforms. Simha suggests the establishment of a transparent and neutral platform that adheres to legal requirements.

Moreover, Simha highlights change management and stakeholder engagement as crucial factors in driving digital transformation. He stresses the need for key stakeholders to understand the value and necessity of data sharing in order to facilitate meaningful change. Simha warns that without embracing change, conversations about digital transformation in the next 20 years may require face masks due to the detrimental effects of air pollution.

In summary, Simha’s viewpoints emphasize the importance of collaboration, industry standards, data sharing, trust, and stakeholder engagement in achieving digital transformation in the maritime industry. He asserts that this transformation goes beyond technology and demands a holistic change that involves the cooperation of individuals across the industry.

Wolfgang Lehmacher

After analysing the given arguments, it becomes apparent that digitalisation and collaboration are closely intertwined and crucial for economic fitness. The argument posits that digitalisation cannot exist without close collaboration, while large-scale collaboration cannot exist without broader digitalisation. This symbiotic relationship between digitalisation and collaboration is referred to as digital symbiosis. In today’s digital age, businesses must coevolve their collaboration through cooperative digitalisation in order to thrive.

The second argument highlights the importance of capital creation or value creation for every organisation. It emphasises that organisations generate various types of capital, including economic, human, social, and symbolic capitals. However, the winners in the digital age are the organisations that create the highest level of productivity in their competitive spheres over the long run. This implies that productivity plays a significant role in determining success in the digital era.

Furthermore, collaboration and digitalisation have a profound impact on economic and societal value and success. The CDES formula, which stands for Collaboration and Digitalisation for Economic and Societal capital creation, ensures the creation of durable wealth and well-being. The argument suggests that suboptimal results may arise when the focus is placed solely on one dimension of the CDES pair, highlighting the importance of considering both collaboration and digitalisation to maximise economic and societal value.

Additionally, closer collaboration is argued to enhance visibility and situational awareness across global supply chain networks. Improved visibility and situational awareness are deemed critical for enhancing supply chain resilience and sustainability. In particular, the argument points out that decarbonisation of shipping necessitates a high level of alignment between industries, marine fuel ship building, and shipping operational value chains. Thus, closer collaboration among supply chain stakeholders is crucial to achieve these objectives.

It is worth noting that some arguments relate to proactivity, barriers to action, and the importance of direct action and learning through doing. One argument acknowledges that people often look for reasons not to take action, suggesting a negative sentiment towards proactivity. However, another argument favours direct action and learning through doing, citing an example of a company poster that reads, “simply do it.” This highlights a positive sentiment towards taking proactive steps and emphasises the value of learning by actively engaging in action.

Furthermore, the analysis reveals that large platforms and companies have the necessary influence to provide a “sandbox” environment for experimentation. This not only implies the potential for innovation and progress but also highlights the role of partnerships and collaborations, as mentioned in SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals.

In conclusion, the analysis of the given arguments underscores the interplay between digitalisation and collaboration in achieving economic fitness, capital creation, and the generation of economic and societal value. The importance of proactive actions, direct engagement, and learning through doing is also emphasised. Additionally, the arguments shed light on the significance of closer collaboration within global supply chain networks for enhancing visibility, situational awareness, resilience, and sustainability.

Teemu Manderbacka

Accurate emission calculations play a crucial role in promoting cleaner transportation and incentivising stakeholders in the shipping industry. This is because changes in conditions, such as navigating through ice, can greatly affect average consumption and actual consumption. Therefore, having precise emission calculations enables businesses and regulators to make more informed decisions regarding emission reduction.

One key aspect that contributes to accurate emission calculations is having better data. The availability of reliable and comprehensive data enables wiser decision-making when it comes to reducing emissions. By harnessing high-quality data, businesses and regulators can identify areas for improvement and implement measures that effectively align with emission reduction goals. This is especially important for the shipping industry, which is seeking to achieve the greenhouse gas goals set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Teemu Manderbacka, a prominent figure in the field, promotes digitalization and collaboration as significant enablers for managing and reducing emission production. Through the implementation of programmes, systems, and collaborations, data can be aligned and its availability can be increased. This, in turn, allows for better decision-making and more effective strategies to be devised in order to achieve the IMO greenhouse gas goals. Teemu’s positive stance highlights the potential of digitalization and collaboration to drive positive change in the industry.

Furthermore, Teemu supports the idea of establishing a trusted and independent organization responsible for collecting and sharing data. This organization would follow the same rules for everyone, ensuring fairness and transparency in the data-sharing process. Teemu emphasizes the importance of trust when it comes to data sharing and believes that establishing such an organization would facilitate a collaborative work environment.

In addition, Teemu advocates for the industry to adopt a broader perspective when considering data sharing. Instead of solely focusing on daily operations and immediate stakeholders, he urges the industry to recognize the mutual benefits of data sharing. By looking beyond competitive threats, businesses can explore opportunities for strategic partnerships and derive value from shared information. This approach encourages a more cooperative and forward-thinking mindset.

In conclusion, accurate emission calculations are essential for promoting cleaner transportation and incentivising stakeholders in the shipping industry. Improving data quality leads to more informed decision-making, enabling businesses and regulators to effectively reduce emissions. Teemu Manderbacka’s vision of digitalization and collaboration as enablers for emission reduction highlights the potential for positive change. Furthermore, his support for a trusted and independent organization for data sharing, as well as his call for a broader perspective on data sharing, emphasizes the importance of transparency, cooperation, and strategic thinking in driving sustainable practices within the industry.

Mikael Lind

Mikael Lind, an advocate of supply chain improvement and risk management, is currently in Singapore to showcase and promote the Virtual Watchtower Network (VWT-Net) initiative. The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance global supply chain visibility, particularly in relation to risk management. This is achieved through the use of digital middleware and data-driven analytics.

During his visit, Lind has engaged in discussions with the management of PSA in Singapore, exploring potential collaborations for the improvement of supply chains. Sweden and Singapore are actively exploring ways to work together on this front.

One of the key factors highlighted by Lind is the power of client engagement in bringing about change in the multimodal transport industry. Lind firmly believes that by actively involving clients in the decision-making process, significant improvements can be made in this industry.

In terms of the impact of adopting VWT-Net, Lind points out that it can greatly contribute to effectively managing disruptions and maintaining a balance between cost, reliability, and sustainability. By promoting better risk management practices across the industry, VWT-Net addresses the issue of containers or cargo missing their connections, leading to more efficient and reliable supply chains.

Furthermore, Lind emphasises the importance of empowering the self-organized ecosystem of multimodal transports. Currently, actors within this ecosystem are reluctant to share data. However, Lind suggests that a minimalist approach to digital data sharing can be beneficial, enabling the ecosystem to thrive and operate optimally.

Sharing data between watchtowers is another area of focus for Lind, as it can provide valuable insights for efficient operation and decision-making within the transport sector. By establishing a distributed environment for watchtowers to share data, more comprehensive and accurate insights can be obtained to guide operations.

In conclusion, Mikael Lind’s visit to Singapore highlights the importance of collaboration, client engagement, and the adoption of innovative solutions like VWT-Net for the improvement of supply chains and risk management in the transport industry. By embracing these principles, the industry can achieve enhanced visibility, better deal with disruptions, and achieve a balance between cost, reliability, and sustainability.

Jan Hoffmann

During the discussion, the speakers emphasized the significance of collaboration and digitalization in the shipping industry to enhance resilience, sustainability, and overall efficiency. They acknowledged that these two factors are interdependent, recognizing that progress in the field of resilience and sustainability can only be achieved through effective collaboration supported by digitalization.

The speakers commended the efforts of individuals, particularly Wolfgang and Michael, who organized sessions and actively promoted collaboration. They believed in the power of collaboration and its potential to drive positive change in the industry. Jan Hoffmann, in particular, highlighted the importance of collaboration and advocated for it.

The integration of digital and communication technologies on ships and ashore was discussed as a key factor blurring the boundaries between work environments. These technologies allow captains, officers, and staff on board to stay informed about activities occurring ashore, such as tracking the ship’s engine condition, cargo status, and speed. This integration is seen as vital for improving communication and enhancing operational efficiency.

Dialogues were also deemed crucial for addressing challenges and finding solutions related to digitalization in the shipping industry. The rapid advancements in digital and communication technologies are transforming the way the industry operates, and ongoing dialogues are essential to ensure that these changes are effectively harnessed for positive outcomes.

The estimation and measurement of emissions were highlighted as critical elements of climate action. The speakers emphasized the need for accurate data in this process, moving away from average-based estimates towards more precise measurements. Collaboration with organizations like ANGTAT, in conjunction with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was seen as fundamental to effectively address emissions and make informed decisions.

The importance of data sharing and collaboration was further exemplified by successful models observed in other industries. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) demonstrated how shared data can enable real-time response to disruptions, build trust among industry stakeholders, and generate both economic and societal benefits. The positive externalities associated with shared data, such as reduced risk and improved safety, were also highlighted.

However, the discussion also identified challenges related to competition and concerns about anti-competition laws and the protection of private commercial knowledge, which may hinder data sharing initiatives. The speakers stressed the need to address these challenges to foster successful collaboration and achieve the desired outcomes.

Another key point raised was the importance of having a trusted and neutral entity to manage data sharing. Establishing such an entity was seen as crucial for ensuring trust between data owners and custodians. Additionally, trust was highlighted as a critical element in the overall process of data sharing.

In conclusion, the speakers expressed strong support for collaboration, digitalization, and shared data in the shipping industry. They recognized the interconnected nature of these factors and praised individuals who have actively promoted collaboration. The integration of digital and communication technologies was emphasized as crucial for improved efficiency and effective communication. Dialogues were considered essential for addressing challenges and finding solutions. The accurate measurement and management of emissions were highlighted as central to climate action. The discussion also identified successful data sharing models in other industries and the challenges that need to be overcome. Overall, the speakers emphasized the need for collaboration, digitalization, and shared data to drive positive change and promote sustainability in the shipping industry.

AS

Andre Simha

Speech speed

156 words per minute

Speech length

1108 words

Speech time

427 secs

JH

Jan Hoffmann

Speech speed

153 words per minute

Speech length

3249 words

Speech time

1276 secs

MV

Margi Van Gogh

Speech speed

162 words per minute

Speech length

1591 words

Speech time

588 secs

ML

Mikael Lind

Speech speed

138 words per minute

Speech length

771 words

Speech time

336 secs

TM

Teemu Manderbacka

Speech speed

115 words per minute

Speech length

801 words

Speech time

420 secs

WL

Wolfgang Lehmacher

Speech speed

130 words per minute

Speech length

1168 words

Speech time

540 secs