A global corporation called Wärtsilä is pushing "An Oceanic Awakening," due in part to all the stuff people order online.
The awakening is taking place around a SEA20 effort, which is calling on major port cities including New York, Singapore, Hamburg, Helsinki and Rotterdam to develop a digitalized marine ecosystem - or Smart Marine - by 2020. "This encompasses connectivity, data-sharing, intelligent automation and intelligent, carbon-free vessels, which feature efficient designs, hybrid propulsion technologies and cleaner fuels for eco-friendly shipping," says Wärtsilä, which is headquartered in Helsinski, Finland, and makes power plants and marine equipment.
How will they get it done? SEA20 has reportedly assembled key influencers from the targeted cities to participate in an online forum and ongoing series of events and workshops; including FOOD designer/founder Dong-Ping Wong, who has worked on projects for Kanye West and Nike.
How would a "smarter" Big Apple look? SEA20 reimagines it "with offshore ports allowing for pop-up test sites within the city itself – like retail hubs and fresh produce markets," also taking pointers from ORE Design + Technology Founder/Principal Architect Thomas Kosbau, rePLACE Urban Studio’s Peter Syrett and The Dream Corps CEO Vien Truong.
Wärtsilä President and CEO Jaakko Eskola argues that shipping is the most cost-effective way to move goods and people around the world. Demand is increasing, and so are opportunities to improve operational inefficiencies that hurt profitability and sustainability:
Source :- Forbes.com
