The World Bank joined with the International Association of
Ports and Harbors (IAPH) calling for efforts to accelerate the digitalization
of the global maritime industry. Hosting a webinar to launch their new report
on digitalization, the organizations expressed their belief that digitalizing
the sector would bring wide-ranging economic benefits and contribute to a
stronger, more sustainable recovery.
The joint report by the World Bank and IAPH was designed to
assist ports and maritime transport community to accelerate digitalization. In
addition to the long-term economic benefits, they pointed to the ability to
minimize ship-shore human interaction which they highlighted as critical due to
the current COVID-19 risks.
“In many of our client countries, inefficiencies in the
maritime sector result in delays and higher logistics costs, with an adverse
impact on the entire economy. Digitization gives us a unique chance to address
this issue,” said Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure.
“Beyond immediate benefits to the maritime sector, digitalization will help
countries participate more fully in the global economy, and will lead to better
development outcomes.”
The report, entitled
“Accelerating Digitalization: Critical Actions to Strengthen the Resilience of
the Maritime Supply Chain,” analyzes numerous technologies applied already by
some from the world’s leading port and maritime communities, including big data,
the internet of things (IoT), fifth-generation technology (5G), blockchain
solutions, wearable devices, unmanned aircraft systems, and other smart
technology-based methods to improve performance and economic competitiveness.
The World Bank and IAPH concluded that that better digital
collaboration between private and public entities across the maritime supply
chain will result in significant efficiency gains, safer and more resilient
supply chains, and lower emissions. Their report describes how the collaborative
use of digital technology can help streamline all aspects of maritime
transport, from cross-border processes and documentation to communications
between ship and shore, with a special focus on ports.
IAPH Managing Director of Policy and Strategy, Dr. Patrick
Verhoeven, commented: “the report’s short and medium-term measures to
accelerate digitalization have the proven potential to improve supply chain
resilience and efficiency whilst addressing potential risks related to
cybersecurity. However, necessary policy reform is also vital. Digitalization
is not just a matter of technology but, more importantly, of change management,
data collaboration, and political commitment.”
A recent IAPH survey reveals that only a third of over 100
responding ports comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO)
mandatory requirement for all its member countries to exchange key data
electronically. The main barriers identified to digitalize cited by the ports
was not the technology, but the legal framework in their countries or regions
and persuading the multiple private-public stakeholders to collaborate.
By joining with the World Bank to highlight the benefits of
digitization, the IAPH hopes to encourage better collaboration and accelerate
the adoption of digitalization across the maritime sector.