By Wasana Nadeeshani Sellahewa
(Commonwealth) _ However, there will be economic losses, the industry won’t remain unharmed, and any recovery will take time. A improved understanding of the working circumstances for sailors and the advantages of digital operations is what we need to see in the upcoming 12 months.
The “new world” we emerge into will be one that is more focused on digital technology and the human factor because, if we’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that there are flaws in the operational chain. The global recovery won’t come overnight. The existing method has a flaw if you can’t reach a ship to do a survey or inspection.
However, the answers are now available and we have been giving them to shipowners. They are not in the distant future. The way we conduct business in the shipping industry has to be reevaluated as we transition to digital operations.
Through our network of Deputy Registrars, who are collaborating with ship owners and operators to help mitigate the effects of the current pandemic crisis, we have focused on helping ship owners over the course of the pandemic. We do this by providing them with support through our digital services and remote operations. We have been able to help them at this challenging time because of our emphasis on moving present-day digital operations into the future.
But the impacts on sailors have been among the most devastating problems brought on by the pandemic. They are either imprisoned on shore unable to join warships or unable to leave their ships due to lockdowns and limited movement. The pandemic not only put the business under severe financial strain, but it also had an effect on sailors’ mental health. This is a problem for both the personnel and their employers. After COVID, this is an area that need much more study.
This pandemic has served as a wake-up call regarding the working conditions for seafarers, who remain an essential component of the maritime industry. The shipping industry has always been open to innovation, and shipowners are aware of the advantages of technology, even though some have been sluggish to adopt new working practices.
We can ensure same-day delivery to ships, ships and seafarers’ credentials, and the rest of our services thanks to digital operations and online services, with the majority of them arriving onboard in just a few seconds. The world’s shipping fleet will profit from this as business turns to them to drive the recovery since ship owners’ inventiveness and tenacity have always helped the global economy get through difficult times. We must trust digital technology to revitalize the maritime industry.
Through the use of remote operations and digital services, PISR has continued to offer shipowners uninterrupted services throughout this ongoing pandemic. The delivery of e-certificates to ships at sea nearly instantly; online applications for all paperwork; the issuance of digital documents for seafarers; online payments and support; and the introduction of remote surveys and audits must be the future of the shipping industry. There is a demand for additional online fee calculators that give clear pricing since shipowners are wanting to obtain the greatest value for their money. This will allow them to budget and control expenditures. Here and now, this is how shipping will develop.
After the removal of the worldwide lockdowns, progress could be gradual at first, but the shipping industry is now in motion. The industry has always been hesitant to adapt. This is partially because modifications sometimes take a long time to be implemented due to the IMO’s complexity and wide reach. After COVID, this is not expected to continue, and we are already witnessing the introduction of regulatory amendments that will enable advancement in the areas of certificates and Port State Control, insurance coverage, and remote ship surveys.
