New research from Lloyd’s Register (LR) and OneOcean has outlined the growing importance of collecting, structuring and applying operational data to remain competitive in an increasingly regulated and digitally-connected maritime environment, with data quality becoming a key issue in ensuring that value can be created from the information being generated.
The report, Mastering maritime data for competitive advantage, was launched today at the Smart Maritime Network conference in Athens. It argues that while the maritime sector is generating more operational information than ever before, much of it remains fragmented, poorly structured or underused. This results in inadequate data quality levels and a lack of data standardisation, which significantly impacts maritime digital transformation.
As regulatory pressure intensifies through frameworks such as the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and FuelEU Maritime, reliable operational data is becoming central to both compliance and commercial decision-making.
The report suggests that the industry has further progress to make before digital tools deliver their full potential. According to LR’s latest Digital Maturity Index (DMI), data standardisation stood at 2.45 out of 4, while shipping’s overall digital maturity currently sits at 2.1 out of 4, highlighting uneven progress across the sector.
For many shipowners and operators, the challenge lies in ensuring data reaches adequate quality levels so it can be trusted and used effectively across ship and shore operations. The research indicates that weaknesses frequently emerge at the earliest stages, where operational information is still often entered manually or stored in isolated systems. This can lead to issues that later complicate emissions reporting, performance analysis or commercial decision-making.
The report argues that improving data governance, standardisation and system integration will be essential to unlock the value of information already being produced across fleets. Improved vessel connectivity and cloud-based platforms are also reshaping how data moves between ship and shore.
However, the report cautions that advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics depend heavily on the quality of the underlying data. Without consistent governance and verification processes, automated systems risk amplifying inaccuracies rather than delivering operational insight.
“The industry is transitioning toward a data-driven operational landscape in which regulators, charterers, and cargo owners increasingly demand greater transparency,” said Pranav Kumar, Global Advisory Lead – Operational Excellence at LR Advisory.
“With reliable and qualified data underpinning key areas, from emissions reporting to voyage optimisation, effective data management is crucial to shipping operations. The companies that manage their data well will be better positioned to respond to regulatory change and commercial pressures.”
The research concludes that the next stage of maritime digitalisation will depend on stronger collaboration across the wider maritime ecosystem, including shipowners, technology providers, classification societies, ports and regulators.
The full report can be downloaded here.
