PACIFIC International Lines has launched two new initiatives that aim to enhance operational efficiencies and strengthen navigational safety.
The first initiative is the new Centre for Maritime Efficiency. PIL said its role is to enable the company to grow its competencies in managing ship and fleet energy-efficiency performance.
The centre will be run by a team of seven with extensive seafaring experience.
The CME’s responsibilities include traffic optimisation and route analysis aimed at minimising energy usage by PIL’s fleet. The CME will be equipped with a system that houses all relevant operational data and applications in a single platform to facilitate comprehensive, centralised and efficient co-ordination.
PIL CEO Lars Kastrup said the rolling out of the CME is timely as the company forges ahead to become a more efficient shipping line committed to reducing its carbon footprint.
“This is also aligned with our aim to better leverage technology and digitalisation in our operations for enhanced operational effectiveness,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we aim to deliver quality service and good connectivity to our customers, who are increasingly expecting container shipping services to be nimble and flexible to meet their evolving needs.”
And PIL’s second initiative is the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) to collaborate on a training with technology project.
The project aims to improve seafarers’ safe navigation competency through technical and soft skills training.
PIL and CEMS are to jointly explore the effectiveness of using immersive, simulation and remote technology to deliver safety-related and ship navigation training in demanding traffic and sea states.
PIL said the data and knowledge collected from this project will be used for research and collaboration between the two partners towards the objective of strengthening the standards of maritime safety.
Mr Kastrup said PIL is pleased to collaborate with Singapore Polytechnic.
“We have over 4000 seafarers working with PIL and their safety, health and wellbeing are of utmost importance to us. The long-running pandemic has also made us more cognizant of the crucial role that seafarers play in ensuring the smooth running of the global supply chain,” he said.
“We are confident that this partnership with Singapore Polytechnic will contribute towards strengthening our seafarers’ ability to conduct safe navigation and operations.”
Singapore Polytechnic deputy principal (development) Georgina Phua said: “With the maritime industry facing rapid changes led by growing technological developments, there is increasing demand for competent and skilled seafarers who can navigate unpredictable environments with confidence and precision. Through this strategic capability-building partnership, our Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) will team up with Pacific International Lines to leverage on our combined extensive domain knowledge and expertise in the maritime sector to conduct and deliver meaningful research into technology-enabled navigational and operational safety training for our seafarers. By equipping them with the necessary tools, knowledge and autonomous technologies to safely manoeuvre highly volatile conditions, we will raise the standard of maritime safety for the larger maritime community.”
