Global maritime shipping industry needs better data sharing

A new study, “Competitive Gain in the Ocean Supply Chain: Innovation That’s Driving Maritime Operational Transformation,” says that importers, exporters, container carriers, terminal operators, vessel owners and other stakeholders suffer from poor visibility and predictability around shipments and are losing money due to a lack of partner synchronization and insufficient data insight. The study is based on a global survey of more than 200 executives and professionals from terminal operators, carriers, logistics providers, vessel owners, port authorities, shippers, consignees and other members of the global ocean supply chain. The maritime industry and broader ocean supply chain are suffering from major and costly inefficiencies due to ineffective data sharing and poor cross-industry collaboration, according to the new report and industry survey released by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network in coordination with Navis and XVELA, both part of Cargotec. However, there is recognition, particularly among industry leaders interviewed, that digitization is imminent. “Everyone benefits from collaboration and data sharing,” says Andreas Mrozek, senior manager of Global Marine Operations for the Hamburg Sud Group, one of the world’s largest container shipping lines. “It starts with the customers and moves to the carriers, then the terminal operators, vendors, freight systems, truck companies, and keeps going down the line. There will be no losers, only winners when the industry comes to terms with the need for collaboration.” Ninety percent of survey participants said real-time data access and information sharing was important to increasing the efficiency and performance of the shipping industry. Some 82 percent said the industry needs to improve supply chain visibility.