Marco Ryan News

When talk turns to the digital revolution sweeping through the maritime industry, one need look no further than Wärtsilä, which has evolved from a shipbuilding company to an engine manufacturer, and is now embarked on a historic digital transformation led by Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer & EVP. We met with Ryan recently in Hamburg, Germany, to discuss the path and pace forward.To start, please lay out the scope of your responsibilities.At a high-level my job is to architect and deliver the transformation (of Wärtsilä) to a smart technology company.

Wärtsilä has opened its purpose-built Acceleration Center in Singapore to promote innovation and collaboration with industry, academia and local partners to strengthen and develop Singapore’s maritime ecosystem. The opening follows an agreement signed between Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Wärtsilä in April 2018 to collaborate in areas of intelligent vessels, connected smart port operations, cyber-physical security, and digital acceleration with start-ups.

Last week in Hamburg, Germany, SMM 2018 was held, the single biggest and arguably best exhibition on the maritime calendar globally. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News/MarineLink.com had a crew of seven on scene in Hamburg covering multiple, simultaneous conferences and meetings, a full schedule of social events and, of course, the signature four-day exhibition which saw nearly 2,300 exhibitors and more than 50,000 visitors.The Maritime Reporter & Engineering booth in hall A1.410 was also home to the Maritime Reporter TV 'studio'…

Wärtsilä has unveiled a global initiative that aims to transform the world’s marine and energy industry into a more efficient, ecologically sound and digitally connected ecosystem. The initiative, which Wärtsilä calls “An Oceanic Awakening”, was announced at the SMM maritime trade fair in Hamburg.Wärtsilä said its drive to activate a fully-integrated smart ecosystem aims to address major maritime inefficiencies that impose a significant negative impact on profitability and sustainability…

Wärtsilä is partnering with the cyber security company Templar Executives to establish a cyber academy in Singapore. The academy will offer courses designed to support and enhance the collective cyber maturity of the wider shipping community, notably operators and owners.“We believe this is a first for the maritime industry; a center of excellence including a cyber academy, combining threat intelligence and cyber education designed to support collaboration for our customers and the wider maritime community…

Wärtsilä has partnered with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to promote maritime innovation and R&D. The partnership covers four different streams: digital acceleration, cyber-physical security, intelligent vessel and port operations. Wärtsilä and MPA have also agreed to support and leverage start-ups and small and medium enterprises in Singapore in these four streams.“This partnership with MPA is a great example of how combining digitalization ecosystems thinking, and collaboration will benefit the maritime industry and drive tangible value at pace.

As one of the most important megatrends this decade, digitalization is already moving beyond the concept of connectivity and data gathering towards a greater and more integrated future where the entire industry coexists as one digital ecosystem. As this vision becomes a reality, we will see a new era of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and AI-led practices. Disruptive technologies and ground-breaking projects have begun to transform the maritime landscape, and the opportunities that emerge from this transition will avail the innovators and organizations that are already embracing the digital frontier. “Digitization and cloud computing are enablers for an industry that needs to remain relevant, cost-effective and drive value to all of its customers. We are an industry in change.

The challenges and opportunities posed by alternative fuels, safety management and social media dominated Interferry’s 42nd annual conference in Split, Croatia, where a record 370 delegates shared insights on ship technologies, safety issues including cyber security and the customer experience. Attendance at last week’s conference represented 210 ferry operators and suppliers from 27 countries. Mediterranean ferry operators voiced their concerns on meeting the 0.5 percent sulphur emissions cap due in 2020. Minoan Lines managing director Antonios Maniadakis complained that using low sulphur fuel would increase costs by €2 million per year.

Wärtsilä has set out to accelerate new business ideas using a collection of “Digital Acceleration Centers” (DAC) scattered around the globe. The first DAC in Helsinki has been running in beta for several months and was officially launched today, and will be followed by the second to open in Singapore in December, as well as one in Central Europe and one in North America anticipated during 2018. Additional “pop-up” DACs will be tested with customers at other locations. Wärtsilä said opening the DACs is part of its digital transformation, which aims to help the company shift toward a data-driven, insights led, smart technology. Wärtsilä's Chief Digital Officer, Marco Ryan, explained, “The Digital Acceleration Center is all about getting business outcomes at pace.

Maersk is set to unveil the thinking behind its recent tie-ups with IBM and China’s Alibaba when the firm’s Chief Digital Officer, Ibrahim Gokcen, takes the stage at this year’s Nor-Shipping. The maritime event week, taking place across a series of venues in Oslo and Lillestrøm from May 30 to June 2, has confirmed Gokcen as the latest high-level speaker for a program of discussion that will analyze, and help plot, the future course of the maritime industry. Gokcen’s appearance at Nor-Shipping comes at a time when Maersk…