Revealing the risks: digital solutions for compliant sailings

The maritime industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation driven by the need to reduce emissions and costs and, importantly, to ensure that vessel operations comply with increasingly complex international and regional requirements.

 

Challenges such as fragmented systems and underutilised data continue to hinder progress. Navigating this complex landscape requires innovative solutions and industry-wide collaboration.

 

Lloyd's Register OneOcean is at the forefront of this transformation, providing advanced digital tools to help ship owners and operators enhance compliance, efficiency, and sustainability.

 

To delve deeper into these topics, Xinde Marine News invited Sanjeev Mathur , Senior Vice President APAC of Lloyd's Register OneOcean, for an exclusive interview to discuss how the company is shaping the future of maritime digitalisation.

 

Never Standing Still

 

“Two years ago, OneOcean was acquired by Lloyd's Register (LR), becoming part of the LR family,” shares Sanjeev Mathur. OneOcean was formed through the merger of Marine Press and ChartCo, both providers of charts and publications, and grew to become a leader in maritime digital transformation. In 2023, LR also purchased a 50% stake in seafarer work and rest compliance software, ISF Watchkeeper.

 

Together these powerful tools deliver advanced solutions, helping shipowners streamline compliance and optimise operations. “We have now moved beyond charts and publications to deliver end-to-end digital solutions that transform how the maritime industry operates,” explains Mathur.

 

He also highlights LR’s recent acquisition in November last year of the leading provider of human capital management and operational software, Ocean Technologies Group (OTG).

"Now with OTG on board, combined with LR OneOcean, LR can provide a full suite of integrated digital solutions, covering training, compliance, and operational software, as well as classification and advisory services," he tells Xinde Marine News.

 

Addressing Client Challenges
 

Building on its strong foundation, LR OneOcean is tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing ship owners and operators today: navigating fragmented digital solutions and managing compliance with an ever-growing list of regulations. “With so many new regulations emerging, customers often wonder how to comply in an efficient and effective manner,” says Mathur.

 

To address these challenges, LR OneOcean offers innovative tools tailored to streamline decision-making and ensure compliance.

 

For example, Risk Manager, helps shipowners and ship managers  simulate, plan, and monitor their exposure to two recently introduced EU regulations: EU ETS, the carbon emissions trading scheme introduced in January 2024 and, more recently, FuelEU, introduced in January this year, as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity levels when trading in the EU and European Economic Area. Meanwhile, another LR OneOcean product, EnviroManager simplifies compliance with IMO’s marine pollution (MARPOL) regulations, making them accessible and manageable for crews.

 

Regs4Ships, another flagship product, consolidates more than 55,000 key documents, including IMO conventions and flag state circulars, into a single platform. “Regs4Ships is always updated and works both offline and online, ensuring accessibility,” Mathur notes.

 

All these tools are geared towards helping clients identify their exposure to regional and international regulations and legislation.  Looking to the future, the company is also testing ChatGPT, an AI-powered assistant that will integrate with Regs4Ships to provide instant, verified answers to compliance-related questions. “The key advantage of our ChatGPT is that it draws information exclusively from Regs4Ships,” explains Mathur. “This ensures accuracy and avoids the risk of pulling unnecessary or unreliable information from the internet, a problem often referred to as ‘AI hallucination.” In addition, the instant answer will include links to more information and original sources, allowing clients to verify and confirm the details if needed.

 

LR OneOcean’s solutions are not only built to address general industry needs but are also flexible enough to accommodate specific client requirements. “We offer customisation for clients with unique needs,” says Mathur. For instance, features in DocMap, LR OneOcean’s quality, health, safety and environmental (HQSE) management software can be tailored to individual users, while customisations that benefit the broader industry are integrated into the platform for the advantage of all users, he explains. Mathur also emphasised that LR OneOcean is open to integrating with existing systems via APIs, offering flexible, customised solutions that allow shipowners to continue using their current systems while gaining from LR OneOcean insights.

 

Leveraging Data to Drive Maritime Decarbonisation
 

When discussing digital transformation, data management is undoubtedly at the core. As Mathur explains, “LR recognises the importance of data, and that is why it invested in LR OneOcean and is investing increasingly in digital solutions.”

 

LR OneOcean’s suite of digital tools, such as Passage Manager, Risk Manager and Cloud Fleet Manager play a crucial role in transforming this vast data into actionable insights.

“Instead of manually tracking in Excel spreadsheets, our software automatically aggregates data and provides actionable recommendations for optimising fleet performance,” Mathur says.

 

He used weather data as an example to illustrate how LR OneOcean leverages data to enhance fleet voyage efficiency. “Our software takes real-time weather data and automatically calculates the best possible routing,” says Mathur. “It helps the master of the vessel optimise the voyage, whether they want to prioritise the fastest route or the most economical one, depending on the owner's preferences. This optimisation not only saves fuel but also contributes directly to decarbonisation goals.” He adds that LR OneOcean’s software can keep recommending adjustments to the route in response to changing weather conditions.

 

It’s worth mentioning that LR OneOcean has a dedicated 25-person maritime expert team based in India. Comprised of experienced master mariners who have sailed on various types of ships, they understand both the data and the operational challenges faced by crews. As Mathur explains, “They don’t just look at data; they also talk directly with the masters.” This team offers personalised routing recommendations, helping to optimise fuel consumption and supporting decarbonisation efforts.

 

New Acquisition

 

LR’s recent acquisition of OTG will further strengthen its position in maritime digital solutions.

 

Mathur explains the significance: "This acquisition is a strong addition to LR’s portfolio. Maritime e-Learning is a valuable component in crew training, and it enhances our ability to provide a complete range of services to our customers." With this addition, LR can now offer an integrated solution covering everything from fleet optimisation and compliance to crew training and development.

 

OTG serves over 1,400 shipowners and operators and more than one million seafarers worldwide. With this acquisition, LR’s digital solutions will now be available across a fleet of more than 30,000 vessels, up from the previous 22,000.

 

Mathur noted, "This expansion allows us to better serve our customers and help them meet regulatory challenges, improve safety, and deliver greater operational efficiency."

 

In light of the growing shortage of skilled maritime crews, the integration of Maritime e-Learning is timely. By offering real-time, customised training solutions, LR OneOcean will be well-positioned to improve crew competence, safety, and regulatory compliance across the industry.

 

Nick Brown, CEO of LR, commented in a statement, “This acquisition positions us to lead maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation, offering our clients a one-stop solution to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.”

 

Cooperation with China

 

Mathur also noted that LR OneOcean is adapting its solutions for the Chinese market. He explained that the company has a dedicated team in China that regularly engages with Chinese shipowners and crew to understand their needs, especially in relation to compliance solutions.

 

Mathur emphasises that LR OneOcean brings an international perspective to China. Ensuring its solutions meet global standards helps Chinese shipowners remain competitive in a global market.

 

Regarding collaboration, LR OneOcean is already working with a major Chinese shipping company.  Mathur acknowledges that, as a foreign company working in the Chinese market for the past few years, building trust has been crucial and headway is being made, with LR OneOcean is gaining recognition in China.

 

With its focus on cultural adaptation and high standards, LR OneOcean is well-positioned to expand its footprint both in China and globally, leading the way in maritime digitalisation and driving innovation for a safer, more sustainable future.

by Xinde Marine News Pang Kai

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