The essential B2B event connecting maritime and logistics professionals with solutions in Saudi Arabia

The 3rd edition of Saudi Maritime Congress, the Kingdom’s most influential maritime and logistics event has received support from industry stakeholders that have significantly contributed to the growth of the maritime sector in the MENA region.

Supported by major maritime authorities in the Kingdom such as Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and the Transport General Authority, the event will connect the industry across the region by bringing together ship owners, suppliers, and key decision-makers.

As Latest innovations and adoption of new technologies within the maritime sector are at the top of the agenda of the 3rd edition of the Saudi Maritime Congress. The event aims to present the most prominent developments related to accelerating digital transformation and adopting advanced technological solutions in all operations within the sector.

The conference that will be held on September 28 & 29, 2022 at Dhahran Expo in Dammam aims to provide the optimum ways to open broad horizons for developing business models whilst exploring opportunities to employ big data capabilities and smart technology solutions within the maritime sector.

Ali Shehab, Global Director of Special Projects & Services, DNV Maritime said: “Ships and offshore-related units have been transformed into sophisticated sensor hubs and data generators, producing, and transmitting information from anywhere, even in real time.

Connectivity is also reinforced thanks to satellite communications’ innovations, and therefore, an increased amount of data can be transferred at the lowest cost possible.

Cloud-based technologies, such as big data platforms and digital twin technologies, are currently gaining ground, while having a significant effect on how vessels, offshore units and their machinery are designed and built, as well as, on how the industry handles information.”

“Decarbonisation and digitalisation are transforming the maritime industry. Through collaboration we can shape solutions that bring value to all stakeholders of the maritime community, globally.

And we believe that the upcoming Saudi Maritime Congress is the best platform to help enable these solutions, especially as the Kingdom is experiencing a renaissance in building its maritime capabilities and infrastructures,” Shehab added.

Industry leaders believe that there is an increasing need to employ big data solutions within the maritime sector by adopting artificial intelligence technology to help the sector keep pace with the general trend of digitisation in other logistics sectors, especially in the fields of air and land freight.

This need has emerged significantly during the pandemic and the impact of digitisation, remote-control tools, and the sector’s sustainability.

Les Shortall, Director of Market Development, Maritime, Inmarsat said: “Digitalisation continues to be a driver for enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the maritime industries, also benefiting the welfare of those working at sea.

With demand for digital services accelerating dramatically through the pandemic, prompt, reliable and highly efficient data connections are indispensable to accessing cloud services and Big Data applications. Inmarsat’s high-efficiency and high-performance communication solutions are helping to transform the shipping industry and creating the ecosystem for artificial intelligence, greater automation, remote support and proactive maintenance to thrive.

We have greatly appreciated the dynamic and collaborative approach taken by maritime authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where connectivity is always a priority. We would like to acknowledge the drive shown by the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and Bahri – which manages the world’s largest fleets of crude oil tankers. By participating in this event, we look forward to continuing to exchange views, visions and experiences in this significant market.”

Its noteworthy Inmarsat announced to be sponsoring the Saudi Maritime Congress at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam this year. It is the largest gathering of maritime and logistics industry professionals in Saudi Arabia and we look forward to meeting with key players in the region.

Inmarsat’s Director of Market Development, Les Shortall, will be speaking at the event and joining a panel discussion Maximise asset performance with big data and analytics at 12:45 – 13:30 on 29 September.

The session will explore the ability to store and analyse data in a sector where it is growing exponentially. The panel will look at how ports, owners, operators and suppliers can maximise the benefits of trend analysis, getting to the bottom of data and use it for scenario forecasting.

The third edition of the Saudi Maritime Congress is witnessing an unprecedented turnout and record participation from government agencies and major international and regional companies.

This edition is the first to be organised in person after the pandemic and the recovery of global economies from its unprecedented effects on the supply chain. The event is organised under the strategic guidance of its co-founders the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and Bahri, with the participation of DP World, ATCO, Al-Tamimi and Associates, Red Sea Gateway Terminal, in addition to Ince, Inmarsat and over 50 other leading maritime organisations.

Chris Morley, Group Director – Maritime Events, Informa Markets, said: “Our main goal is to support those contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and help highlight the unlimited potential of the Kingdom, which is located at the heart of international trade routes linking Asia, Africa and Europe.

Therefore, we are keen to gather the most important and forward-thinking solutions providers in the world under one roof, to enhance the integration of technology solutions and provide comprehensive digital systems for the maritime sector.

The conference represents a golden opportunity to establish strategic partnerships between service providers, investors, and local governments, to promote sustainable development and achieve a qualitative leap that contributes to a sector that aspires to lead in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology.”

On the other hand H.E. Dr Nabel Bin Mohammed Al Amudi, Former Minister of Transport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia posted “Saudi Maritime Congress is strategically important and remains an interactive platform for exchanging information, transferring experiences and exploring investment opportunities available to develop the maritime sector with the participation of experts, pioneers and decision-makers.

Added : The Kingdom has provided a pioneering model in the development of the maritime sector, accompanied with unlimited support and unprecedented attention of our wise leadership, which translates to a quality-focused shift in facilities, operational and logistical mechanisms, to position Saudi ports among the ranks of the most important regional ports and an ideal destination for major global navigation lines.

Pointing : We confidently look forward to the conference, which represents an important step towards keeping pace with developments in the global maritime and logistics sector. We seek to continue fruitful cooperation with the public and private sectors to promote this vital sector, successfully connect bridges with three continents and make the Kingdom a global logistics center.”

About Saudi Maritime Congress

Saudi Maritime Congress is the largest global shipping & logistics event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two-day exhibition and conference provides a unique platform to learn about the key opportunities in the Kingdom and connect with an international audience of decision-makers and government entities