In the unpredictable world of maritime trade, where vessels face constant pressures from global commerce, safety regulations, and crew welfare, the most valuable investment isn’t necessarily more steel or more ships. It’s smarter thinking. That’s the message from Marasco Marine Ltd, a company that’s making waves by prioritizing risk prevention as a core cultural value. Their President, Mr. Anastasios Maraslis, established the company’s Advisors’ Board with a clear mission: to support clients with advanced risk control, loss prevention, and claims reduction strategies that boost profitability and lead to premium discounts.
Mr. Harilaos Petrakakos, an executive member of the Advisors’ Board, recently shared five actionable, human-focused technological strategies that shipowners, managers, and insurers can adopt to enhance safety, reduce claims, and support the people at the heart of maritime operations: the crew. These aren’t just theoretical ideas—they’re practical, proven solutions that are already making a difference in the industry.
First up is **Predictive Maintenance with IoT Sensors**. The idea here is simple: smart sensors embedded in machinery detect anomalies like vibration spikes, heat fluctuations, or pressure changes before a breakdown occurs. For crews like Chief Engineer Nikolaos, this means no longer relying solely on instinct. IoT turns machines into early warning systems, reducing stress, allowing for scheduled repairs, and minimizing downtime. The result? A 40% drop in unscheduled maintenance in Greek-ownership fleets using predictive tech.
Next is **Augmented Reality (AR) Emergency Drills**. Instead of the usual scripted, often ineffective drills, AR overlays simulated crises—fires, flooding, injuries—onto real ship environments. Crews experience stress-replicating training that builds real reflexes and coordination under pressure. Mistakes are made—and learned from—in a safe space. The outcome? AR-trained teams resolve incidents 30% faster during simulations.
Then there’s **Maritime Cyber Hygiene**. Ships rely on software, and that software must be protected. Cyber risk awareness programs, multi-factor authentication, and routine system updates empower crew members to act as digital gatekeepers. But here’s the key: ships also retain manual overrides—a crucial fallback that respects human autonomy. Mariners aren’t replaced; they’re protected.
**Wearables to Combat Fatigue** is another game-changer. Fatigue is one of the top root causes of maritime claims, and smartwatches and health bands track rest, alerting officers before exhaustion becomes dangerous. This builds a new safety culture: one that encourages rest, not machismo. Prevention, not punishment: fatigue alerts support wellbeing.
Finally, **AI-Powered Dynamic Risk Maps** fuse live weather data, piracy zones, and satellite movements to generate real-time routing alerts. Navigators are no longer flying blind. Instead, they team with technology to make informed decisions that protect the vessel, cargo, and crew. A Maersk vessel, for example, was rerouted 24 hours before a Category 4 storm—crisis averted.
The shipping industry must resist the narrative that automation is the future. Instead, the winning formula lies in technology that empowers the human onboard, not replaces them. These five hacks are not gimmicks—they are tools that amplify expertise, sharpen instincts, and create safer workplaces.
Marasco Marine Ltd and its Advisors’ Board are committed to supporting shipowners with solutions that reduce risks, minimize claims, and ultimately lower premiums. With the right mix of intelligence and empathy, they believe they can help clients navigate forward with confidence, resilience, and respect for those who make global trade possible.
So, what does this mean for the future of the maritime industry? It suggests a shift toward a more human-centric approach to technology. The focus isn’t just on efficiency or cost-cutting—it’s on creating safer, more sustainable work environments for crews. This could lead to a wave of innovation in maritime tech, with companies racing to develop tools that enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.
Moreover, it challenges the industry to rethink its priorities. If the smartest investment is in smarter thinking, then perhaps the next big breakthrough won’t come from a new type of vessel or a novel trade route. It might come from a better way of supporting the people who keep the ships running.
In the end, the message is clear: the future of maritime trade isn’t just about bigger, faster, or cheaper. It’s about smarter, safer, and more human. And that’s a direction worth steering toward.