The year ahead

2021 was a year filled with interesting activity for Stonefort Marine. Amongst other things, we collaborated with clients to: conduct alternative fuel feasibility studies, plan fleet decarbonisation, build new digital & AI products in the port services and ship space; we helped reduce operational costs through process simplification; & assisted owners to gain Majors’ vessel approvals.

As we look ahead, StoneFort is planning for a similarly varied year of requests largely influenced by external events such as: hybrid working arrangement complexities; the developed world’s move from pandemic to epidemic (and, in deliberate order, what this means for poorer nations as well as the travel industry); intensified climate change politics; increasing energy prices and inflation; & continued crypto currency & tech wars.

Macro developments dictate the shipping environment and many of our clients have been brainstorming what they should plan for in the year ahead. In no particular order, we predict headlines are likely to include: seagoing skills shortages; a related increased potential frequency of marine accidents; exponential seafarer wage inflation as resource demand outstrips supply; further consolidation of owners, managers; the transition time to alternative fuels & alignment on carbon will disappoint; and supply chain constraints as bad as ever before. AI will continue to innovate and test the way we work today, and we expect to witness further resistance to change at the interface between experienced actors and the technological innovators. A challenging outlook, it remains paramount that organisations prepare and respond robustly – activities Stonefort Marine excel in.  We look forward to working with you.