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systems, and the overall integrity of ship-shore interaction. In a highly connected operating environment, cyber resilience has become an integral component of overall operational resilience.The industry has made notable progress in recent years: awareness has increased, regulatory expectations have become clearer, and many companies have introduced cyber procedures, crew training, access controls, and incident response frameworks.The regulatory and standards response has also accelerated. The IMO updated its Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management (MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.3) and embedded cyber risk into the ISM Code through Resolution MSC.428(98), requiring cyber risks to be addressed within Safety Management Systems. IACS has also placed %u201csafe digital transformation%u201d on its agenda and issued cyber-resilience recommendations.Nevertheless, preparedness across the industry remains uneven. While guidance is becoming increasingly clear, maturity levels still vary across fleets, supply chains, and training programmes. Some organisations treat cyber risk as a core operational and safety issue, while others continue to approach it primarily as an IT matter.Cybersecurity must be embedded across vessel operations, procurement decisions, software management, crew awareness, and leadership oversight. Technology alone will not solve the issue; preparedness depends on strong governance, discipline, and continuous training. Ultimately, cyber risk must be treated as a core safety and business continuity issue rather than a mere IT concern.Looking ten years ahead, which element of smart shipping do you believe will be the most transformative and why?The most transformative element will be the integration of intelligent decision-support across the full ship-shore ecosystem.In other words, it is not about a single isolated technology, but rather about the ability to integrate vessel performance, voyage planning, maintenance, emissions management, safety management, and commercial decision-making into a single, continuous, data-driven operating model.This will be transformative because shipping has traditionally operated with fragmented information flows and delayed feedback loops. When these systems become integrated, owners will be able to make better decisions faster, reduce inefficiencies, improve safety, strengthen compliance, and deploy capital more effectively.Such integration will also support more credible decarbonisation pathways because efficiency improvements will be measured and managed under real operating conditions.I do not believe the future of shipping lies in removing the human element but rather in equipping people with better tools and greater operational visibility. The companies that successfully combine operational experience with intelligent digital systems will achieve the strongest and most sustainable competitive advantage.For me, smart shipping is ultimately not about technology for its own sake. It is about using technology in a practical, disciplined way to make fleets safer, more efficient, more transparent, and better prepared to meet the commercial and environmental demands ahead.I do not believe the future of shipping lies in removing the human element but rather in equipping people with better tools and greater operationalvisibility. The companies that successfullycombine operational experience with intelligent digital systems will achieve the strongest and most sustainable competitive advantage.Smart shipping158 NX