Isle of Man Maritime Conference: A Recap

Friday 19th July marked a significant milestone for the Isle of Man maritime industry with the very first Isle of Man Maritime Conference.

This event brought together experts and enthusiasts from all over the world to discuss the pressing issues and future directions of the maritime industry. The conference was both enlightening and inspiring with talks on a range of topics including ESG, digital in maritime, artificial intelligence and more - all of which gave attendees the opportunity to explore challenges and opportunities in the sector. Below is a breakdown of five key takeaways from each session. 

Introduction to the Isle of Man's maritime history 

Located in the centre of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man's maritime history is both deep and storied. This session was delivered in opening remarks from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer who covered the Island’s historical and contemporary contributions to maritime and underlined its pivotal role in the sector. 

Notable highlights included: 

1. Sir William Hillary and the RNLI

The Isle of Man has a deep-rooted maritime heritage, exemplified by Sir William Hillary who founded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the Isle of Man. The RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary this year and was formed to save lives at sea not only for the Isle of Man but the entirety of the British coastline - highlighting the island's pivotal role in maritime safety and wellbeing. Hillary was also instrumental in the construction of the Tower of Refuge and Douglas Breakwater to provide shelter in Douglas harbour, both of which still stand today as part of his legacy.

2. Enduring Maritime Legacy 

The island's contribution to maritime history is not limited to safety. In addition to Sir William Hillary, our heritage also includes Manxman Captain John Quilliam who was First Lieutenant aboard the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Isle of Man's contribution stretches back even further, underscoring our strategic maritime importance in British naval history.

3. Geographic Significance 

A reason for this strategic importance is because geographically, the Isle of Man sits at the heart of the British Isles, making it a central location for maritime routes and shipping operations. This unique position has been crucial in shaping our maritime identity and continues to make the island an important player in global maritime logistics. Not to mention the great views of the sea that you can see from almost anywhere on the island.

4. Sustainable Initiatives

Today, the Isle of Man is home to various sustainability projects aimed at preserving marine environments. Initiatives and technologies like Eyesea which monitors marine health and encourages targeted recycling, Marine Kleen which focuses on cleaning ocean waste, and Beach Buddies which is a volunteer-driven organisation that collects litter from beaches – all of which drive sustainability, helping us maintain some of the cleanest beaches in the world and protect the oceans for future generations.

5. Isle of Man's Maritime DNA

As you can see, maritime has long been embedded in our island's culture and economy. The local economy has thrived on maritime trade, fishing, and now sustainable marine technologies. The message is clear: maritime is in our DNA, and as the island continues to innovate, it's a tradition that deserves both celebration and robust support.

State of UK Maritime 

Chris Shirling Rooke MBE, CEO of Maritime UK, delivered a session on the state of maritime in the UK, providing a comprehensive overview of the industry’s current landscape and future priorities. Chris delved into the industry’s scale, the significance on the global stage, and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing its impact and recognition.

1. Maritime is an Economic Powerhouse

The UK maritime industry is larger than aviation and rail combined, with an estimated 25% of energy and 50-75% of food arriving by sea. Yet it doesn't receive the same attention or government focus. Maritime UK's efforts to bring awareness to this disparity highlight the need for greater recognition of the sector's contribution to the economy and its essential role in global trade.

2. Driving Political Engagement

While the election loomed earlier this year, Maritime UK actively engaged MPs, sending letters to all 650 MP candidates to build support with the aim to increase their caucus of MPs across the UK. By fostering relationships and raising awareness, they hope to influence policymaking to benefit the industry and ensure that maritime issues are understood and supported across the political spectrum.

3. Maritime UK's Focus Areas

Over the next 12 months, Maritime UK's emphasis will be on developing people, skills, and regions to strengthen the maritime sector through themes such as tech and innovation, careers, and diversity and inclusion. The aim is to develop the maritime workforce, preparing them for the future and driving regional growth across the UK.

4. Coastal Communities at the Heart of Maritime 

As Chris Shirling-Rooke said, "Maritime lives in coastal communities", so Maritime UK is focusing on regional clusters where much of the maritime industry is based. Through initiatives like Coastal Powerhouse Summits, Maritime UK wants to drive collaboration and development in coastal areas, creating regional hubs of maritime excellence to fuel maritime development through local expertise and economic growth.

5. Packed Maritime Event Calendar 

Maritime UK has a busy schedule of events for 2024-25 aimed at showcasing the industry's potential and encouraging greater participation. These events, which include presentations at both political conferences in September, are designed to elevate the profile of maritime and foster broader involvement from both the public and private sectors.

ESG in Maritime 

Next was a panel discussion on ESG in maritime with industry leaders Stephanie Hatton, IFA Corporate Benefits Executive at Zurich, Gina Panayioutou, Founder and CEO at Oceans Arena, and Marius Suteu, CTO and Board Member at Eyesea. The session discussed ESG best practices, evaluating ESG impact, and how to drive ESG forward in the maritime sector. 

1. What does ESG and sustainability mean to you? 

Everyone has an environmental footprint so ESG applies to us all. The industry's current understanding of ESG is very low despite the concept emerging over 20 years ago - not due to lack of effort, but more because ESG is fluid and there's no one-size-fits-all solution. ESG is more than charity donations or recycling; it requires a clear strategy and deep understanding of what drives your operations. ESG is a continuous journey of learning and collaboration unique to each company who should strive to build an ever-growing knowledge base.

2. What will have the biggest impact on the industry in the next five years? 

The panel formed the three Rs: regulation (through upcoming CSRD legislation), responsibility (taking ownership and undertaking strategic ESG planning), and recruitment (addressing the skills gap). As Marius put it, the ESG journey is like navigating a ship - it's unique to each company depending on the route, the obstacles, the conditions etc. and it requires input from all departments like a crew all pulling in the same direction. 

3. What is the difference between CSR and ESG? 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ESG share similarities, but they differ in scope and intent. CSR is more ego-centric and tends to focus on company image, while ESG is a broader, global effort driven by personal belief in making a difference. Strengthened by SDGs, ESG seeks to maximise a company's positive impact on the world by making the most of resources and contributing to global betterment. 

4. Are companies investing millions in ESG? 

Effective ESG isn't about throwing money at problems and greenwashing is a concern as companies superficially invest in ESG without meaningful impact. However, cost shouldn't be the primary focus as true ESG efforts can be cost-effective and valuable without massive investment. The true measure of success lies in how these efforts align with the company's core values and future needs, such as supporting the next generation of seafarers. If leadership’s first question is about cost, it’s a sign to reassess the approach. ESG is about engagement, purpose, and making a difference, not about PR or flashy investments.

5. How do companies drive ESG? 

ESG requires a mix of strategic investment, effective communication, and a focus on long-term solutions. ESG is a necessary journey, but one that must be approached at the right pace, with transparency and honesty. Companies should focus on empowering communities, not just offering temporary fixes. Leadership engagement is critical, as is collaboration, to ensure that ESG goals are met meaningfully and sustainably.

Artificial Intelligence 

Jason Bissell’s engaging discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in maritime highlighted the transformative potential of generative AI and automation, particularly with supporting complex and/or time-consuming processes. His session emphasised the current presence and future promise of AI within maritime, balancing regulatory considerations and global best practices.

1. AI is already here

Many people are concerned thinking ‘AI is coming’ or view it as some distant future technology but as Jason pointed out, AI is already here. It is already transforming the maritime industry today and being used on a broad scale across multiple industries which should provide both comfort and inspiration. AI has already shown it can level the playing field, offering even small maritime businesses the chance to compete globally.

2. Embracing AI 

We shouldn’t fear AI as it can offer significant benefits, such as enhancements to maritime operations using AI agents who can support the automation of complex workflows as a virtual “co-worker” which Jason demonstrated with several video demos of AI agents in action. AI can enhanced processes, streamline operations, and improve decision-making in real time. Maritime companies should focus on adopting AI solutions to boost productivity and efficiency across their operations.

3. Striking a regulatory balance

We are in a fortunate position on the Isle of Man as our unique regulatory position - striking a balance between stringent EU rules and unregulated US markets - places us in an ideal spot to innovate with AI. The Isle of Man is well-positioned to adopt a pragmatic AI framework, similar to what has been successfully implemented in Singapore.

4. Learnings from Singapore

Singapore’s AI framework is well underway and Jason, who spent 13 years in Singapore, suggested that the Isle of Man follow Singapore's lead in creating a robust yet adaptable AI framework. Singapore has become a model for AI adoption, and the Isle of Man has the opportunity to fast-follow this framework to become a leader in AI, particularly in maritime. 

5. Meeting legislative complexity with AI

Maritime regulations vary from country to country, and are constantly evolving. AI offers the potential to simplify compliance. Each regulatory body has its own distinct requirements, so AI can help businesses quickly adapt to these demands, making compliance more efficient and less burdensome, and making it more manageable to meet each legislative requirement. 

Digital Transformation in Maritime

The final session I attended was presented by PDMS’ very own Bruce McGregor and it focused on the ongoing digital transformation within the maritime industry. Bruce explored the multi-faceted journey of digitalisation, emphasising the importance of data, the challenges faced, and the strategic imperatives for success:

1. It's a journey, not a product 

Digital transformation is not something a business can purchase or implement overnight. It is a continuous process that involves reshaping how a company operates, not a one-time product or fix. Maritime companies need to view digital transformation as a long-term journey that should always keep evolving - and beware of companies who say 'we have the perfect product for that'.

2. Importance of data in digital transformation

Data is at the heart of any digital transformation, serving as both an enabler of change (when done right) and a potential obstacle if not handled properly (when done wrong). Accurate, high-quality data is essential for driving transformation efforts, but poor data can lead to inefficiencies and setbacks. Getting the right data is the foundation for change and success. 

3. Meeting your business goals

When undergoing digital transformation, the best starting point is to align your transformation with your organisational goals. This helps ensure four core objectives: maintaining relevance to your business model, ensuring sustainability, improving productivity, and boosting your competitiveness and convenience. These pillars are essential for any company seeking to optimise its operations and remain competitive in the digital age.

4. Key considerations for planning 

Cultural resistance ('if it ain't broke, don't fix it'), data complexity, and security concerns remain significant barriers to digital transformation. However, these challenges are not insurmountable but they do require careful planning and clear communication within the company. A commitment and focus on overcoming these hurdles are crucial for driving transformation forward.

5. Who cares wins 

Ultimately, focusing on the time and convenience of both your staff and customers should be the guiding lights of any digital transformation journey. Bruce highlighted that companies who prioritise making processes easier and more efficient for their teams and clients will be the ones who thrive in a digital-first maritime industry.

In conclusion

The inaugural Isle of Man Maritime Conference was a resounding success, providing valuable insights and setting a positive trajectory for the future of maritime on the island and beyond. It was fascinating to hear such informative and positive discussions which celebrated both the rich maritime heritage of the Isle of Man and the innovative strides being made to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future!