From Vessels to Ventures
From the fascinating realm of ship recycling to forging strategic alliances and a curated compilation of insights from leading industry events we've attended this (early) spring, this edition of Gateway to Growth is all about looking ahead. Dive in and discover!
In 2021, we at Maersk Growth added the strategic partnership avenue to our offerings to accelerate the impact of innovation across Maersk. Since then, we have been guiding both business partners and startups through our strategic partnership program and proof-of-concept cycle to foster long-term partnerships and uncover a sustainable and agile path for development.
Bridging external innovation and internal excellence
Here’s our most recent Proof of Concepts
Maersk Project Logistics POC with Clockwork Logistics
Clockwork’s Project Logistics solution offers a web-based platform in concert with various field mobility solutions to provide end-to-end chain of custody and operational control over Maersk Project Logistics customer’s high-value inventory moving across various remote project sites, rail yards, ports and warehouses. Through Clockwork, Maersk is able to digitise all detailed vendor SOPs in order to support customer-specific SLAs. The platform has enabled Maersk Project Logistics to deliver operational excellence while elevating their customer’s experience.
Maersk Emissions Studio Scenario Analysis POC with 7bridges
Decarbonisation is a strategic imperative for our industry and for our customers. With the objective to support our customers journey towards decarbonisation, 7bridges POC goes beyond supporting with emissions visibility to recommend tangible emissions optimisation actions in our customers supply chain. Post accessing the emissions footprint, the 7bridges AI-based algorithm supports to simulate routing optimisations, mode shifts and switching to renewable fuels to optimise the carbon emissions footprint further.
A solution offered across all industry verticals, empowers Maersk customers to proactively track and optimise their carbon footprint, fueling their journey towards decarbonisation.
Expert Corner
Circular innovation for ship recycling 🚢
The shipping industry is embarking on a revolutionary journey towards a circular economy, fundamentally rethinking the way ships are designed, maintained, and, ultimately, recycled. This transition is driven by the urgent need to achieve zero-carbon emissions, which presents both challenges and exciting opportunities.
The ambitious goal of net-zero by 2050 for the shipping industry presents a unique situation. While innovative technologies like zero-emission ships are being developed, there will be a significant increase in early scrapping of older, less efficient vessels. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that by 2030, nearly half (43%) of current container ships will be scrapped, while the remaining 57% will continue operating. The ongoing push towards a carbon-neutral steel industry presents a unique opportunity to integrate circularity principles within both shipbuilding and ship recycling. This convergence could seamlessly bridge the gap between these two phases of a ship's lifecycle, fostering a more sustainable and resource-efficient maritime industry.
Emerging technologies and business models hold the potential for a more circular approach to ship recycling
🛠 Remanufacturing, Reuse, and Repair
Extending the lifespan of ship components through remanufacturing, reuse, and repair offers substantial benefits. Existing networks of marine equipment manufacturers and ships' regular maintenance cycles already provide a foundation for circular opportunities. However, this requires further advancements in standardisation, innovation, and skilled workforce development.
🛂 Material Passports
Implementing material passports, or circularity passports, can play a crucial role in facilitating responsible recycling. These digital inventories detail the materials and components used in a ship, enabling efficient identification, extraction, and reuse during the demolishing process. This information can be further utilised to create material banks and centralised repositories of recyclable materials from ships, fostering reuse and minimising waste.
🏗 Sustainable Shipbuilding Materials
Shipbuilding itself can be made more sustainable by exploring alternative materials. Steel, the dominant material in ship construction, offers excellent recyclability. However, innovations like flax-based alternatives can further enhance sustainability by reducing weight and lowering carbon footprint.
Successfully implementing these innovative approaches requires a collaborative effort from various stakeholders. Shipbuilders, dismantlers, regulatory bodies, and research institutions working together can create a robust ecosystem for circular ship recycling. This collaboration will ensure responsible disassembling practices, foster responsible material management, and, ultimately, contribute to a more sustainable maritime industry.
Is the future of supply chain to be found in Vegas? 💸
Perhaps it is - many vital drivers of innovation and transformation within supply chain tech at least gathered in the so-called neon city for a few days during february to join Manifest - one of our industry's most significant events.
This year's conference brought together Fortune 500 supply chain executives, logistics service providers, innovative startups, VCs, and technology leaders, creating a dynamic platform for exploring the latest trends and forging valuable partnerships.
Alexandra Ciobotaru, Ecosystem Engagement and Strategic Partnership Manager at Maersk Growth, joined and met incredible VC peers and leading startups under the Vegas sun. Amongst others, our portfolio companies Dexory and VIZION.
Here are Alexandra’s top takeaways!
🤖Robotics - The Indispensable Force
Automation transforms warehouses, and robotics is leading the charge. By automating repetitive tasks, robots offer unparalleled efficiency. Advanced sensors and AI algorithms ensure they can navigate complex environments, collaborate seamlessly with human workers, and execute tasks quickly and accurately.
🔐Unlocking the Power of AI
Data is the new oil, and AI-powered analytics are the refinery leveraging vast data sets from sensors, IoT devices, and enterprise systems to gain real-time visibility. AI can analyse this data to identify trends, predict future outcomes, and mitigate potential risks, empowering proactive decision-making and strategic planning.
💚Charting a Sustainable Course
Decarbonising the maritime industry is crucial for combating climate change. This involves transitioning to cleaner fuels, adopting electric and hybrid propulsion systems for cleaner port operations, and implementing energy-efficient measures like hull design optimisation, retrofitting existing vessels, and utilising wind-assisted propulsion.
Buckle up as we prepare for landing at Hello Tomorrow
Behind closed doors, the next game-changers in our industry are sculpting the future of our field. We hope to meet some of them at Hello Tomorrow.
In a nutshell, Hello Tomorrow is on a mission to unlock the potential of Deep Tech to tackle global challenges and enhance our lives. That's why Aarzoo and Malene will be attending the summit.
Here, they will engage with supply chain and climate tech startups, investors, and industry peers to expand our network, learn from the companies and people leading the transformation, and explore potential collaborations with new portfolio companies.
Will you be there too? Don't hesitate to reach out via the app—we're eager to connect with you!
Stay connected!
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Are you a startup working to solve the challenge of how to decarbonise logistics, or a supply chain tech startup looking to get in touch regarding a potential PoC collaboration with Maersk? Contact us via growth@maersk.com!