Maritime Technology Partner

Digitalisation - An Important driver in the maritime industry’s green revolution

"The global shipping fleet and maritime industry are undergoing significant changes, driven by technological shifts and requirements for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Technology offers great opportunities for more energy-efficient vessels. As a technology provider, Kongsberg Maritime is leading the green transition currently taking place at sea," says Lisa Edvardsen Haugan.

avril 2025

Interview with Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, EVP KONGSBERG and President Kongsberg Maritime. Article first published in Annual Report 2024.

Q: What is Kongsberg Maritime’s most important contribution?

A: Kongsberg Maritime is the technology expert of the seas. 34,000 ships around the world are equipped with technology from Kongsberg Maritime. We deliver maritime technology from propellers to bridge solutions, and by integrating products with technologies such as artificial intelligence, we create unique solutions that secure and optimize maritime operations. This gives us a unique position to lead the digital revolution currently taking place at sea and to be a key driver in the development of decarbonization.

Maritime operations currently account for around three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has decided that greenhouse gas emissions from shipping must be zero by 2050. This means that fossil fuels must be replaced with renewable energy. This energy is more expensive and less available today. The transition to renewable energy will have to happen gradually. Our contribution to this journey is to provide both zero-emission solutions where the market is ready for this, and solutions for energy efficiency and reduced consumption in segments where real zero-emission solutions are not yet available. We aim to be the best possible partner and advisor, offering solutions that help our customers navigate a challenging energy transition.

"We recognise that our customers face complex decisions, and therefore, we aim to be the best possible partner and advisor throughout the energy transformation."

Q: What were the highlights of the year?

A: 2024 has been a fantastic year for Kongsberg Maritime, with strong and profitable growth in all our divisions. We have delivered unique new builds, have high activity towards the sailing fleet, and we are entering 2025 with a record-high order reserve.

The strong results are primarily due to the solid efforts of Kongsberg Maritime's skilled and highly competent employees who contribute every single day. Our 7,200 employees are in 34 countries at 97 locations. Our strategy is to be present where our customers are, and when they need us throughout the vessel's lifetime. Therefore, we opened offices in four new locations in the past year.

In 2024, Kongsberg Maritime increased its focus on digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence. Going forward, we will intensify our efforts in this area. In 2025 Kongsberg Maritime is taking over the maritime operations of Kongsberg Digital. This is a structural change that will significantly strengthen Kongsberg Maritime’s digital capacity. Through digitalisation, we focus on optimizing vessel operations, ensuring good digital life cycle management, integration with the wider value chain and remotely controlled operations.

We have leading solutions for automation, navigation, steering, propulsion and manoeuvring systems, energy management and remote operations. It is good to see the development of integrated solutions, in the form of better deliveries, higher quality and improved vessel performance. Our deliveries to Høegh Autoliner’s 12 new Aurora-class car carriers provide an example of the contribution we are making to significant reductions in energy consumption by integrating our products in smarter ways. Here, we are providing automation and bridge systems, digital solutions for emission monitoring and reporting, energy management systems and propulsion and manoeuvring systems. Höegh’s Aurora-class vessels are powered by LNG, resulting in 58 per cent fewer carbon emissions per car carried. The vessels are also cleared to operate using ammonia and
methanol.

Q: What are the biggest opportunities ahead?

A: The climate crisis, increased geopolitical tensions and great-power rivalry lead to unpredictability and protectionism. Navigating in such conditions is challenging for a global company like Kongsberg Maritime. Nevertheless, these challenges also represent opportunities. Geopolitical conditions have increased the need for maritime transport, accelerated the demand for energy from offshore oil and gas, as well as offshore wind power, and boosted investment in naval vessels.

Kongsberg Maritime’s broad presence in many segments creates a solid basis for developing competitive technologies and navigating market dynamics. The ability to adapt and standardise solutions for each individual segment is an important element in our strategic positioning. Opportunities to connect vessels via mobile networks and low-orbit satellite communication permit increasing levels of remote operation, autonomous functions, smaller onboard crews and larger numbers of qualified mariners working at control centres on shore. This creates space for new, cost-effective concepts that challenge the way maritime operations are carried out today.

Digitally connected vessels interact with cloud-based applications to optimise their operations individually and across fleets. Cloud-based applications will also integrate the vessels in their respective supply chains. For example, maritime transport will be incorporated into a larger logistics system.

We are already seeing that digitally connected vessels enable customer support to be provided without the customer support team physically being present. This increases uptime and reduces costs. Associated digital services will allow preventive maintenance, software updates and the installation of new functionalities to be performed online.

Kongsberg Maritime’s overarching goal is to protect people and the planet. We do so by leveraging our technological expertise and maritime know-how to make seafaring safer and more climate friendly. In 2025, we will further ramp up our application of digital solutions and artificial intelligence to develop more energy-efficient vessels.