We were delighted to return to events as we attended the Smart Maritime Network’s Athens conference at the Divani Apollon Palace & Spa on the 15th of June 2021. It was a pleasure to reconnect in person with partners and customers and to participate in the lively panel discussions. The in-person event was held under careful conditions and in-line with all guidelines and restrictions as issued by the relevant authorities.
The Smart Maritime Network (SMN) is a platform “to promote the benefits of enhanced integration and data sharing 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”.
SMN Athens was due to be held one year after the first SMN conference and designed to take a look at “the pace of progress” for digital adoption and how digital innovation has been embraced across the industry. This, like all events worldwide, was postponed due to the pandemic.
However, despite the unfortunate postponing of events, the pandemic really demonstrated the significance that the digital age has on our industry and what digitalization can do to industry resilience and growth.
The talks held by industry experts covered topics from the pace of our digital progress, to how to harmonize and standardize the industry. What’s more, topics covered subjects such as the digital roadmap to sustainability and trade facilitation of the future. It was a pleasure to hear experts speak about such important topics, which are influencing our industry like never before.