Smart Maritime Network Dubai Conference

Digitalisation is changing what it means to be a maritime agency or port service provider. Port calls are more complex, stakeholders are more numerous and expectations on visibility and reliability are rising.

This session looks at the next generation of maritime agency and port service models, where agents, terminals, ports and ship operators are digitally connected so that everyone can plan and execute port calls more efficiently together.

We will explore how data flows between stakeholders, how digital first agencies and platforms are emerging, and what this means in practice for shipping lines, operators and ports in the region.

Guiding points:
• Pain points today
- Where port calls and services still break down
- Fragmented communication, manual status updates and lack of a single view for all stakeholders

• What a more intelligent agency looks like in practice
- Examples of digital port service platforms and agency tools already in use
- How they connect port community systems, terminals, pilots, towage, bunker, customs and shipping lines
- Where data comes from, who sees what and how decisions are made faster

• Impact on owners and operators
- How better port call orchestration changes voyage planning, schedules, bunker strategy and onboard workload
- How port call and agency data feeds into fleet operations centres and optimisation tools

• Business models and roles
- Who plays the “orchestrator” role today in key ports, and how this might evolve
- How ports, agencies, shipping lines and neutral platforms work together
- Commercial and governance questions around data, responsibilities and SLAs

• Moving from reactive to proactive
- Steps that panellists have taken to move from manual, reactive processes to more predictive, insight driven ways of working
- Lessons learned from pilots and rollouts in the Gulf and wider region

Moderated by:
Sharang Gupta, Partner, PwC Middle East

Panellists include:
Abdel Raouf, Partner, PwC Middle East
Anna Holm Gjeraker, Head of Strategy & Operations, CEATAEC/Wilhelmsen Group
Capt. Porus Pervez Dalal, General Manager – Fleet Personnel, GFS Ship Management
Rafael Vicens, Regional Head – IMEA, Maersk Project Logistics

Owners and operators in the Middle East are moving from strategy to delivery on decarbonisation. This session focuses on what is happening at fleet level today and what is planned for the next five years.

Speakers will share concrete examples of LNG and alternative fuel projects retrofit and newbuild decisions, use of digital twins and voyage optimisation, and how regulations like CII and EU ETS are shaping commercial choices in the region.

Guiding points:
• Real projects and decisions, not just targets - Examples of newbuilds, retrofits, fuel choices and operational changes already in motion
• LNG and beyond - How LNG is used today and how owners are evaluating methanol, ammonia, biofuels and hybrid solutions
• Digital twins and data driven performance - How digital twins, IoT data and analytics are used to monitor hull, engine and voyage performance for specific vessels or classes
• Voyage and fleet optimisation - Using routing, speed management, weather and port call optimisation to cut fuel and emissions while keeping schedules and contracts on track
• Regulation and commercial impact - How CII, EU ETS and other rules are influencing chartering, deployment and contract structures for Gulf based fleets
• Working with ports and partners - The role of ports, terminals, fuel suppliers and technology partners in helping owners meet decarbonisation goals

Moderated by: Maria Fernanda Poveda Franco, Group Communications Director, GAC

Panellists include:
Capt Abhay Nimbalkar, CEO, Greenfield Marine Technologies
Burcu Buyuksoy, Group Legal and Compliance Counsel, Cockett Marine
Marty Cochrane, CEO, CEATAEC/Wilhelmsen Group
Nikeel Idnani, Honorary Secretary, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) UAE Branch
Sasi Prabhakaran, Director Maritime Assets, AD Ports Group
Spyridon Lalaounis, Director, New Builds, Bahri