Connected Ship Market Trends

• During the forecast period, Europe is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the connected ship market. The shipbuilding industry in the region is going through a rough patch. However, the increased demand for autonomous ships and cruises from the region is expected to fuel the market's growth during the forecast period. The region is home to leading shipbuilding countries such as Germany, France, and Italy. Hence, they are one of the prime consumers of marine electronic equipment.
• The shipbuilding industry in the region offers sophisticated naval vessels such as cruises, ferries, mega yachts, submarines, and dredgers (offshore vessels). This is expected to place the region in a strong position in the international market. Other wide ranges of products/ship components offered as a part of the marine equipment industry in the region include propulsion systems, diesel engines, environment safety systems, cargo handling systems, and related electronic products.
• According to the European Commission, European seaborn external freight accounts for over 90% of the total. Furthermore, The united kingdom has planned to invest USD 5.3 billion in the shipbuilding sector, including investments in zero-emission vessels. Moreover, intending to exit the European Union, the UK government is indicating extensive development of the maritime industry to reform its trading relationship with countries worldwide. With the strategic plan for Maritime 2050, the UK government is investing highly in many projects for developing autonomous systems in the maritime industry.
• Denmark also has an expansive coastline, surrounded almost entirely by the North and Baltic Seas, and has significant maritime activities. The country comprises more than 400 islands, including the Faroe Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean between the United Kingdom and Iceland.
• The Danish Ministry of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs has recently introduced a sectoral strategy for the shipping industry to strengthen its IT security and prevent cyber threats in the maritime sector. This strategy consists of adopting navigational safety solutions (systems and software) for operating, propulsion, and navigation ships in Danish waters. Moreover, they also mentioned establishing a maritime cybersecurity unit along with traffic monitoring, warning, and information systems.
• Additionally, the French Foreign minister mentioned working with other European capitals, including Germany and the United Kingdom, for maritime security in the Persian Gulf. This came after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to the United Kingdom establishing a mission for monitoring and observing maritime security in the Gulf. These instances indicate the region's high potential for the connected ship market.

In June 2021, Wärtsilä Voyage completed an extensive upgrade of the Croatian National Vessel Traffic Management & Information System (VTMIS) with new Sea Traffic Management (STM) functionality. Completing this project confirmed this upgrade as one of the first STM installations in the Adriatic Sea.