Maritime Industry Briefing: Decarbonization, Port Infrastructure, and Offshore Vessel Charters

## Driving Decarbonization Through Technology Adoption According to Splash247, Ingrid Kylstad, managing director of Klaveness Digital, believes the maritime industry is making real progress on technology adoption, but warns that more work is needed. In an interview ahead of the Geneva Dry summit, Kylstad 'pulls no punches' in her assessment, noting that 'progress is real' but the industry must accelerate its efforts. 'The industry has been slow to adopt new technologies, but we're starting to see real change,' Kylstad said. 'The pandemic was a wake-up call, and now companies are more open to digitalization and data-driven solutions that can improve efficiency and sustainability.' ## Ports Unprepared for Electric Ship Influx While vessel technologies are advancing, ports may struggle to keep up. According to an article in Splash247, Michael Priv, founder of the Blue Vector Ocean Alliance, warns that 'ports are not ready for the influx of electric ships hitting the water.' 'For years, the conversation around maritime decarbonization has centered on vessels themselves,' Priv writes. 'But the supporting infrastructure at ports has been overlooked. As battery-electric and hybrid ships become more common, ports will need to rapidly upgrade their electrical grids, install charging stations, and rethink their operations to accommodate these new vessel types.' ## New Container Terminal Planned for Vietnam In other news, the Vietnamese government has approved a joint bid by APM Terminals and local infrastructure company Hateco Group to develop a new $1.7 billion container terminal near Danang, the country's third-largest city. 'This project will strengthen APM Terminals' foothold in Vietnam, one of the fastest-growing economies and container markets in Southeast Asia,' Splash247 reports. 'The new Lien Chieu Container Terminal will help meet rising demand and reduce congestion at existing ports serving the region.' ## Offshore Vessel Charters in Malaysia, Middle East, and Thailand Finally, Malaysian offshore vessel owner Keyfield International has secured charters for eight of its offshore support vessels (OSVs) across Malaysia, the Middle East, and Thailand, according to Splash247. The contracts involve seven accommodation workboats (AWBs) and one anchor-handling tug. 'This is a positive sign for the offshore support vessel market, which has faced headwinds in recent years due to the downturn in the oil and gas industry,' the report notes. 'The new charters demonstrate continued demand for OSVs to support offshore operations in key regional markets.'