Marine Industries Global Market Analysis - Marine Institute

MARINE INDUSTRIES GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS
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22 Marine IT
Definition – IT hardware and software in all aspects of marine activities. (Excludes systems not
designed for specialised marine applications – e.g. typical office software.)
1999–03 2004 2005–09
Irish Market €M 43 18 78
UK Market €M 648 217 917
Europe Market €M 3,794 1,382 5,872
World Market €M 9,780 3,570 16,012
22.1 INTRODUCTION
There are more than 500 suppliers of ‘marine computing’ worldwide (these are
mainly SMEs, also there are many marine leisure sector players).
Marine IT is a subject that is difficult to assign precise boundaries to. IT hardware &
software applies to, and is embedded in, all aspects of marine activity so is difficult to
value.The major sectors are those associated with critical ship operations (e.g.
integrated bridge), equipment support (e.g. engine management) and marine
operations (e.g. cargo handling).
In addition there are many shore-based applications ranging from fleet management
software to vessel traffic systems, and design software for various marine systems
ranging from ships’ hulls to dynamic risers for floating production systems.
Figure 22.1: Marine IT – Major Sectors
Source: Douglas–Westwood
In total, marine IT covers a very wide range of subject areas and systems including:
Critical IT – Navigation, Charting, Engine Management, Systems Management,
Positioning, Communication, Loading/stability,Weather Forecasting and Ocean
Modeling, Data Management.
Non-critical IT – ISM Code Reporting, Accident & Injury Reporting, Cargo
Transactions, Fuel Reporting, Bunkering Ops, Cargo Status Reporting, Crew &
Payroll, Daily Log, Engineers Log, Invoices, Manifesting, Supplies, Equipment
Performance Log, Equipment Procurement, Internet, Classification Reporting,
Maintenance Management, Purchasing Management, Mail,Work Systems.
Other IT – Design, Build, Procurement.
Office-based software – VTMS, Brokering, Engineering Procurement, Crew
management, Positioning/tracking, Accounting, Data Management, Fleet
Management,Vessel Scheduling, Planning & Reservation.
A significant barrier to development of marine IT has been the relatively high costs
of high data rate satellite communications compared with onshore hard-wire or
mobiles. Substantial improvements have been made but until broadband is successfully
launched by Inmarsat in 2005/06, a bottleneck will remain. It is possible that the
provision of internet services for the airline industry may speed up the process and
reduce costs. Boeing are entering the maritime satellite communications market,
challenging the historic dominance of Inmarsat.