News

Today's normal is defined by fragmented decarbonisation regulations, political tensions with few signs of resolution, competition for talent and an ever increasing need to protect both our people and customers’ vessels amid it all.

When IMO delegates gathered in London to finalise their previously approved Net Zero Framework (NZF), “business as usual” was nowhere to be seen. Read BSM CEO Sebastian von Hardenberg’s take on the outcomes of last month’s extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).

Satellite navigation has become an integral part of everyday life, supporting everything from mobile mapping to secure banking. While these systems are generally dependable, incidents of signal interference and manipulation are on the rise. If a misplaced navigation dot is an annoyance on land, the same failure at sea can quickly become a frontline operational challenge, testing not only the resilience of a ship’s systems, but also the capabilities of its crew.

Global shipping’s decarbonisation is advancing, with several fuels vying for prominence. A mix of low‑carbon and climate‑neutral options—such as methanol, e‑fuels, hydrogen, and ammonia—is likely. As a fuel‑agnostic company, BSM is preparing for all technologies and shares insights here on ammonia as fuel.

BSM is expanding its fleet portfolio and has for the first time taken on the technical management of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU). The vessel is managed by Pronav, BSM’s highly specialised Ship Management Centre which exclusively operates large-scale LNG carriers from its Hamburg-based office.

From complexity to clarity, smartPAL’s journey as a ship-management software represents ongoing evolution. Today, the PAL system is a comprehensive one-stop solution built to reflect the real-world demands of fleet ownership and management rather than simplify them away. It stands out because it has been shaped by the practical insights of both ship managers and owners.

As the maritime industry navigates its course toward lower emissions, a range of alternative fuels is reshaping how ships are powered. But the shift to new fuels is more than a technical change — it is a human one. Ensuring that seafarers are properly trained to handle, operate, and manage alternatively powered vessels is key to securing a smooth transition to the fuels of the future. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement prepares its crew to power tomorrow’s ships through comprehensive training programmes.

Since the steam engine era, society has progressed through the technological and digital revolutions. Today, Industry 4.0 offers near-limitless access to knowledge and a vast network of connected devices. Products or services seem only one click away. But as long as sci-fi ‘beaming’ technology remains fiction, maritime transport will continue to carry most goods, keeping seafarers at the heart of global trade. But is seafaring still attractive?