Convergence

There is no such thing as accidents—just a means of communicating a message.

Within the past 4 hours I have been privy to two different fora discussing our industry.  In both, the comment was made about shipping’s isolation as a barrier to change and evolution,

“Shipping needs to be fully integrated in the bigger ecosystem.  It can no longer afford to be isolated.”- Mike Powell, Cardinal Point Marine during the “Technical Innovation and Optimizing Transportation and Logistics Web Panel.”

“When it comes to infrastructure for ocean innovation, panelists agreed that development tends to be quite siloed. There are both differences and similarities in regional approaches, but the panelists agreed that it’s increasingly critical to tackle our ocean’s problems with a cross-sectoral approach… When it comes to certain industries, like shipping and aquaculture, according to the panelists, siloed thinking is very evident.”- overview of SeaAhead Global Bluetech Summit.

Next week, I will be speaking at a Mareforum event in Houston on the topic of “Convergence:  Silos crumbling in the face of change”.  My theme will not be different:  shipping needs to participate in the integration of the supply chain. Whether it likes it or not, the silos that have historically protected shipping are crumbling.  Call it innovation, technology, or cultural there is a seismic shift occurring.

Global standards need to be set.  Communication and trust need to be employed.  Our vision for our future needs to broaden beyond the tactical to the strategic as we move towards the next decade.

Keep optimizing,