The leading international maritime trade fair, SMM, is opening doors from 2 to 5 February – 2021 for the first time entirely digital
Due to the current situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the conference programme will for the first time be an[ds_preview] online event, transmitted digitally – again with HANSA INTERNATIONAL MARITIME JOURNAL as an official media partner. And it’s free of charge – »this is how the leading international maritime trade fair demonstrates its commitment to the maritime sector in these challenging times,« the organizers said upfront the event.
During four days, »SMM Digital« will deliver a programme streamed on two channels featuring high-ranking international speakers. All conferences will be streamed live to participants’ computer screens.
Furthermore, a number of discussion panels and interviews have been pre-recorded in the dedicated SMM studio at the Hamburg exhibition complex, all in strict compliance with all current safety and hygiene regulations. This recorded content will be broadcast on the second »Open Stream«. The conferences will be moderated by the digitalisation expert Carmen Hentschel and the American journalist David Patrician.
»In challenging times such as these,industry event should not be a luxury experience for the industry.«
Claus Ulrich Selbach, Business Unit Director – Maritime and Technology Fairs & Exhibitions, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH
The entire programme will be free of charge for all participants. »We have made this decision to make all the expert knowledge available to a wider industry audience this year – from industry insiders and SMM enthusiasts through to interested first-time participants. In challenging times such as these, an industry event should not be a luxury experience for the industry,« said Claus Ulrich Selbach, Business Unit Director – Maritime and Technology Fairs & Exhibitions at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.
Digitalisation is the maritime game changer. This is why the digital transformation will be in focus at SMM.
Complex contractual relationships, the enormous dimensions of ships, longhaul routes, and exceptional logistical challenges are all aspects of the modern shipping industry, and digital technologies are opening up many new opportunities to drive automation, agility and profitability. This applies to the entire life-cycle of a vessel, from the planning stages to operation, and through to recycling. SMM intends to be the platform, where maritime companies see how they can position themselves advantageously in this environment.
Conference programme
The conference programme of SMM 2021 will cover the leading topics of the maritime sector.
The programme will start off with the Maritime Future Summit, again, co-hosted by »HANSA International Maritime Journal«. The focal topics include artificial intelligence, digitalisation and big data. (2 February, 10:30 AM to 2:45 PM). For more information on the Maritime Future Summit, please see our dedicated preview on the following pages.
From autonomous shipping to Big Data, and through to blockchain, the top-flight MFS will take place under the heading »Aye, aye A.I.«.
»If we can better analyse, share and utilise the ever-growing catalogue of data captured in the industry we create a win-win. We can optimise performance to reduce fuel consumption – still the lion’s share of OPEX for owners – and help reduce emissions in line with IMO ambitions and society’s needs. That is a real opportunity,« said Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
Following the Maritime Future Summit, the Offshore Dialogue will explore how the power of the wind and the oceans can be converted to energy for mankind. Furthermore, it will highlight technologies for ocean monitoring and eco-friendly dismantling of offshore equipment (2 February, 3:00 PM to 6:05 PM).
Economic aspects will be the centre of attention at the Tradewinds Digital Forum: The situation in the containership market and the importance of sustainability criteria for future ship financing will be discussed (2 February, 1:00 PM to 3:55 PM).
At the gmec – global maritime environmental congress – industry experts will exchange views about the role of shipping in dealing with the climate crisis. The guest appearances of representatives of Fridays For Future and NABU, the German nature conservation society, are expected with great anticipation (3 February, 9:30 AM to 3:40 PM).
To complete the programme, MS&D, the international conference on maritime security and defence, will feature experts investigating current and future threats at sea, including cybercrime (4 February, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM & 5 February, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM).
