Smart Maritime Network appointed BIMCO to the Global Shipping Business Network board to support eBL adoption and industry standards development.

The goal of the Smart Maritime Network (SMN) is to provide a platform to promote the benefits of enhanced integration and data sharing among stakeholders within the maritime and transport logistics sectors, informing and educating the industry on technological developments and innovations while providing wider opportunities for relationship building and knowledge sharing. This is achieved with our website offering free access to relevant industry news, interviews with thought leaders, white papers and presentations outlining new technologies and processes, to provide the most comprehensive knowledge bank on maritime innovation in the sector. To widen the reach of this knowledge network SMN holds a series of regional events targeted at local maritime industry stakeholders, to present new ideas to key companies while addressing issues of specific local importance, communicating the overarching goal of a connected and integrated industry to a global audience. Activities also include the Smart Maritime Council, a series of private meetings for maritime technology developers and systems integrators providing a platform for discussions on the development of a wider range of mutually beneficial partnerships, on issues relating to compatibility, standardisation and harmonisation. Council meetings take place alongside SMN conferences in various locations, to provide an opportunity for a wide range of companies and their representatives to become involved. Ultimately, the goal of the Council is to drive improved collaboration in a number of areas where competition is not conducive to the best interests of the industry, and work towards the agreement of guidance notes on future regulation of maritime technologies for proposal to relevant authorities.