Industry Leaders highlight rising operational demands, digital gaps and the expanding role of seafarers in webinar

The new ship inspection regime SIRE 2.0 has shifted vessel inspections from periodic events to a state of continuous preparedness, industry leaders discussed at a webinar focused on how digitalization is reshaping the maritime industry.

The panel included Co-Founder and CEO at Kaiko Systems Fabian Fussek, Captain Kapila Malawwethanthri, Deputy Director and Head of Seafarers and Manning at the Bahamas Maritime Authority, Leonid Zalenski, Chief Operating Officer at Columbia Group, and Frans Ubaghs, Deputy Marine Director at INTERTANKO.

The debate began with an in-depth discussion of how SIRE 2.0 has impacted the industry 14 months after its implementation, revealing how the enhanced inspection regime is reshaping operational culture, digital practices, and industry expectations.

Mr Fussek said SIRE 2.0 represents more than a revision of inspection checklists - it marks a structural transition in how the industry must operate.

“Shipping has always been reactive: fix what’s broken, prepare before inspectors arrive. SIRE 2.0 forces a fundamental shift. You cannot prepare for this manually or episodically. You need a continuous data foundation.”

Kaiko Systems built its platform to support this shift, but he emphasized that the pressure comes from the regime itself, not software vendors.

Mr Fussek explained how the new inspection regime has evolved from a periodic event into a continuous readiness regime that fosters a sustainable perspective, ensuring people know what they are doing and why.

“Where we've seen the biggest change in how operators and managers prepare for SIRE is the emphasis on providing tools that allow every crew member to prepare in a structured way. That is where preparation happens, and people are now seeing successful outcomes. Seafarers are gaining confidence in their roles and responsibilities.”

Mr Fussek also shared an example of how digital tools are resulting in significant reductions. One customer reported a reduction in negative observations from 6.4 to 4.2, an improvement of 34 per cent, after adopting Kaiko’s structured SIRE 2.0 preparation tools. Preparation time also reduced from 30 days per vessel to 10-15.

Representing the BMA, Captain Kapila welcomed the heightened evidence-based approach. “We want to maintain the standard of ships across the fleet. SIRE inspections and all other inspection regimes are above average, and we welcome them,” he said.

Mr Zalenski from Columbia Group noted that familiarity is key to safer operations, which he identified as SIRE 2.0’s main benefit. He also questioned how compliance could be made easier. He said: “This is where digital tools help companies prepare for inspections, build the required level of familiarity, and analyze the results. Preparation and analysis are both critical elements of this process.”

Frans Ubaghs, Deputy Marine Director at INTERTANKO, highlighted a notable shift in negative observations - from process-related issues to human-factor-related issues - supporting Mr Fussek’s argument that standardization must occur onboard, not just on paper.

He said: “Operators are implementing the required processes, which is good progress. However, challenges remain around human factors. Seafarers and junior officers can explain what they do and how they do it, but data shows that most negative observations are not caused by stress, workload, or fatigue, as one might expect. Instead, they relate to how procedures are followed and how safety-critical tasks are recognized.”

The panel agreed that SIRE 2.0 is driving the industry toward unprecedented levels of operational transparency and data-driven consistency.

Discussion then turned to how digitalization can advance crewing and training, particularly the move to digital record-keeping and certification.

Captain Kapila explained how the Bahamas Maritime Authority is digitalising documents on behalf of the flag:

“This means that while the original certificate remains with the flag, users can access it through a QR code or authentication system, rather than relying solely on paper or electronic copies.”

Captain Zalenski added, “Crew training plays a crucial role in preparation for inspections and the success of the inspection process. Ultimately, this contributes to operational safety, which is the main goal of the new inspection regime. I strongly believe we need to make compliance easier for our crew, and digital tools play a significant role in achieving this.”