Vanguard Magazine

Andy Smith's keynote shed light on these challenges, sharing that current processes are now focusing on greening the fleet and reducing emissions to an all- time low for all newly constructed ships. Smart Ships of the Future BY ELISE PARK www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2022 41 EVENTS A Recap of ShipTech Forum 2022: S hipTech Forum is an annual virtual conference addressing various marine, shipbuild- ing, ship repair, and growth and export issues. This year, 240 registered participants attended this wholly virtual event, partaking in engag- ing keynote presentations and various networking sessions. The Master of Cer- emonies, Dave Hatherall, led the two-day event featuring keynote speakers includ- ing Day 1's Andy Smith, Deputy Com- missioner, Shipbuilding and Materiel of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and Day 2's RAdm Casper Donovan, CD, Director General Future Ship Capabil- ity, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), among countless other key presenters including (but not limited to) Microsoft, Gastops, IDEaS, Shift Clean Energy, and the World Wildlife Fund. It is evident that we are now entering a rebirth of major shipbuilding capaci- ties. With Canada being 10 years into the National Shipbuilding Strategy, it is the most opportune time to focus on new methods of how technology can help this sector amplify its age-old processes and push its limits above and beyond. There is a struggle to renew fleets while simul- taneously managing remaining assets, and the development of these new fleets are driving new workforces, as evident in the quick growth of shipyards in Vancouver and Halifax. Now, a new third shipyard is in the works to ensure that Canada's demands for fu- ture fleets will be met in a timely manner. The successful establishment of this ship- yard will allow for many more job oppor- tunities within the Canadian sector, which in turn also spawns a need for greater re- sources. With every advancement comes another problem to solve – so how can we maintain momentum and continue to achieve competitive milestones? The solutions to these dilemmas lay in the very theme of this year's ShipTech Fo- rum itself – Smart Ships of the Future, a nod to the modernization and technolog- ical advancement of maritime ships that is currently underway. On Day 1, presentation themes focused on the advancement and potential barriers towards Green Tech/Energy, Alternative Fuels, Noise and Emission Reduction, and its impact on the Arctic. Many conversa- tions were had regarding how to meet the International Maritime Organization's decarbonization goals in reducing the 2008 global greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. Countless questions were A SHIP IS A FLOATING CITY, WITH ALL ITS NEEDS MANAGED AND INTEGRATED. IN THE LAST DECADE, DIGITALIZATION HAS STARTED TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON MARITIME OPERATIONS AND THE WAY THE WORLD INTERACTS WITH SHIPS. TO REVEAL THE POTENTIAL OF THIS NEW ERA OF SMART SHIP OPERATIONS, MANY GOVERNMENT/RCN/ CCG AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS GATHERED AT THE 9TH ANNUAL SHIPTECH FORUM HELD ON FEBRUARY 24-25, 2022.

• Cover