THOMAS Wilhemsen, CEO of Norway's Wilhemsen Shipping Services, believes it's best to be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to tech adoption and even thinks that conservative owners will go out of business if they fail to undergo a digital transformation.
In an interview with Maritime CEO magazine, the 44-year-old boss of one of Norway's largest maritime firms said: 'We need to be in the forefront and setting the pace.' He added: 'Our aim is to shape the maritime industry.'
As well as its car carrying fleet, the Wilhelmsen brand is involved in port agency, ship management and insurance. Across the multiple companies and its 21,100 employees what the group CEO has tried to instil is an ambition to try out new things, reported Singapore's Splash 247.
'If we are able to live up to our vision to shape the industry we need to be agile enough, curious enough to try new ways of working,' Mr Wilhelmsen said.
'We are not a tech company. We are not heavily vested towards R&D. We do not have the competence to create the technologies as such but we want to get the mindset for our people to try new technologies.'
Wilhelmsen has been buying into tech firms and pushing ahead with revolutionary maritime pilot projects. For example, it has partnered with Airbus to develop drones for delivering parts and essentials to ships.
The company believes delivery by drone has the potential to lower shore-to-ship delivery costs by up to 90 per cent and remove risks associated with delivery via launch boat.
Others might follow Wilhelmsen's lead in drones but according to the group CEO, clients appreciate how forward thinking the Norwegian company is.
'Being the first to do it is good,' Mr Wilhelmsen was quoted as saying. 'Others might copy it, they are welcome to do so but that puts us in different situation with our customers who see us as proactive.'
Wilhemsen has been trialling smart ropes with sensors as well as 3D printing in port. Another development is Massterly, an autonomous shipping joint venture with fellow Norwegian group Kongsberg. Announced this April, Massterly will offer a value chain for autonomous ships from design and development, to control systems, logistics services and vessel operations.
Kongsberg, along with fertiliser company Yara International, has recently tapped shipbuilder Vard to build the world's first fully-electric autonomous container vessel. The 120-TEU ship is scheduled for delivery in 2019.
In an interview with Maritime CEO magazine, the 44-year-old boss of one of Norway's largest maritime firms said: 'We need to be in the forefront and setting the pace.' He added: 'Our aim is to shape the maritime industry.'
As well as its car carrying fleet, the Wilhelmsen brand is involved in port agency, ship management and insurance. Across the multiple companies and its 21,100 employees what the group CEO has tried to instil is an ambition to try out new things, reported Singapore's Splash 247.
'If we are able to live up to our vision to shape the industry we need to be agile enough, curious enough to try new ways of working,' Mr Wilhelmsen said.
'We are not a tech company. We are not heavily vested towards R&D. We do not have the competence to create the technologies as such but we want to get the mindset for our people to try new technologies.'
Wilhelmsen has been buying into tech firms and pushing ahead with revolutionary maritime pilot projects. For example, it has partnered with Airbus to develop drones for delivering parts and essentials to ships.
The company believes delivery by drone has the potential to lower shore-to-ship delivery costs by up to 90 per cent and remove risks associated with delivery via launch boat.
Others might follow Wilhelmsen's lead in drones but according to the group CEO, clients appreciate how forward thinking the Norwegian company is.
'Being the first to do it is good,' Mr Wilhelmsen was quoted as saying. 'Others might copy it, they are welcome to do so but that puts us in different situation with our customers who see us as proactive.'
Wilhemsen has been trialling smart ropes with sensors as well as 3D printing in port. Another development is Massterly, an autonomous shipping joint venture with fellow Norwegian group Kongsberg. Announced this April, Massterly will offer a value chain for autonomous ships from design and development, to control systems, logistics services and vessel operations.
Kongsberg, along with fertiliser company Yara International, has recently tapped shipbuilder Vard to build the world's first fully-electric autonomous container vessel. The 120-TEU ship is scheduled for delivery in 2019.