From paper to pixels: Between traditional seafaring and future digital navigation

The Lucky 8

The crew likes to call their ship the “Lucky 8”. The name originates from the fact that the “Gdansk Express” was the eighth of 12 ultra large container vessels to be delivered to us by the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in South Korea in November 2024. “The number eight is considered lucky in many cultures,” explains Captain Köppel. “That’s why we love calling this ship “Lucky 8”, as it symbolizes good fortune and success.” Having this kind of upbeat attitude is important, the Captain continues, and something he tries to instill in his team every day. “If you didn’t keep a positive mindset, you wouldn’t be able to stand it here – or the whole mood would shift.” 

Technological changes

This is especially true now, as a lot of things are changing on our ships at the same time, which can sometimes be quite challenging for the crew. “You have to keep in mind that a lot of things were different on ships before,” Captain Köppel explains. “The technology has simultaneously become more complex and more advanced.” As with any major transformation, digitalization on board is taking longer than one might have expected. “We often work on two parallel tracks, duplicating efforts because we still have to input the same data manually in multiple places,” he continues, referring to departure and arrival conditions. Currently, the captain must document these details manually in a digital system called “S-Insight” while also recording them by hand in the paper logbook on the bridge. “This redundancy is sometimes frustrating, and the time could be well invested in other things,” he notes. In addition, these redundancies not only occur on the bridge, but also in other areas of the ship, such as the engine room, where the data of the main engine often has to be read and manually documented in multiple systems. 

As part of this transitional phase, time-honored traditions, like logging entries in the ship’s paper logbook, are being blended with cutting-edge innovations, like our Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that now generate and transmit data from anywhere. “Many processes on board are still done on paper,” says Rohden, who oversees the loading operations in his role as a Chief Officer. “Despite having big ships with cutting-edge technology, we’re still running around on deck with paper and pencils. It feels like a contradiction.” For example, the 30-year-old used to have to send the deck crew on board twice a day to manually collect and document the temperatures of our reefer containers. But this process will soon become much more efficient with the introduction of a streamlined, digital solution.

Despite the challenges, this transformation is also exciting for the crew. “You’re always learning new things, and no two days are the same,” Rohden says. For seafarers, staying updated and continuously learning is essential. “Just like on land, if you don’t take the initiative to adapt, no one else will do it for you,” he adds with a smile. And, indeed, adapting to change is deeply embedded in the DNA of modern seafarers. Since Malcom McLean’s invention of the intermodal shipping container in the 1960s, global trade has expanded at an incredible pace. Ships have grown larger and larger, and more goods are being transported across the world than ever before. Some 60 years later, new advancements – such as cloud computing, big data, AI, cybersecurity, collaboration tools and process automation – are reshaping many industries and unlocking new advancements – such as cloud computing, big data, AI, cybersecurity, collaboration tools and process automation – are reshaping many industries and unlocking new efficiencies.

This applies to shipping as well. For example, our Fleet IT team ashore is also working tirelessly to become the number one for quality in on-board digitalization. “We’re trying everything to make life as smooth as possible for our seafarers on their voyages,” says Patrick Briest, Head of IT Operations Products, and continues: "We have made substantial investments into our Fleet IT team in recent years, and are now driving a large number of initiatives to digitize vessel operations on board and ashore and bring it all together in one connected Fleet Data Ecosystem. That said, our operations at sea are very special in many ways and highly regulated, which doesn't always make it easy to move away from established standards." Dominik Pfeiffer, who is heading the Fleet IT team confirms this: “The authorities still have various different digital standards,” he explains. “As a result, the requirements for on-board documentation vary from port to port and from registration flag to registration flag.” To make life easier for seafarers, he continues, Hapag-Lloyd is actively advocating for the adoption of digital standards via its representatives on key committees of several prominent shipping organizations, such as the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) and the World Shipping Council (WSC). 

Navigating with a digital system CargoMate

Our seafarers would certainly welcome a transition to more digitalized operations. “My dream is to see a paperless ship,” Rohden says. And to help make this dream come true, our Fleet IT is working on several digital solutions that will be rolled out on all ships in the near future.

One of these solutions is CargoMate, a software that was only recently acquired by our Fleet IT team. “CargoMate is a digital platform for monitoring cargo operations,” Pfeiffer explains. It replaces paper-based systems with a central, user-friendly solution on a mobile device, which makes it much easier to keep track of large quantities of cargo. Ideally, this will lead to shorter port layovers, more reliable schedules and optimized on-board operations.

The idea for CargoMate originated in 2017 with the goal of supporting our colleagues on board by replacing paper-based cargo operations with a digital system. At that time, Hapag-Lloyd decided to initially test the system on five ships before expanding to a larger number of vessels. The tests and feedback from our crews were overwhelmingly positive, leading Hapag-Lloyd to purchase the software from the vendor and to start maintaining it in-house. This represents a game changer – especially for our seafarers – and, as Rohden notes: “This is a big step toward a paperless ship.”

By investing in the software and continuing to operate it in-house, Hapag-Lloyd has everything it needs for the system. “CargoMate can thus become the heart of the digitization processes on board,” says Donya-Florence Amer, CIO/CHRO at Hapag-Lloyd, who has been particularly committed to bringing the software in-house in recent months. “Our IT teams already have a lot of ideas on how we can use CargoMate to simplify and digitalize many more processes for our seafarers.”

Going digital is much more thank you might think

However, CargoMate is just one step on our Fleet IT team’s digitization roadmap for the next few years. “We are currently equipping all our ships with company-owned laptops as well as additional phones and tablets,” Pfeiffer explains. This is particularly beneficial for the crews, as it gives them access to MS Teams and the ability to use our Hapag-Lloyd Academy for trainings. It also enables more efficient remote support via video, such as for inspections or troubleshooting. The internet connection on board is also to be further enhanced, Pfeiffer notes, adding: “We are exploring new satellite internet solutions from our main provider, Inmarsat, for business operations, as well as for private use, to optimize connectivity across our fleet.” 

So, does this mean that our ships will already be completely paperless in a just few years? “There’s still work to be done before we achieve a fully paperless vessel,” Pfeiffer says. “CargoMate has been an important first step, but the journey continues.” One of the biggest challenges ahead is building a secure IT infrastructure for our fleet, he notes, emphasizing that: “The more we connect our systems, the more crucial cybersecurity becomes. We need to ensure that our vessels are not only digital but also securely navigating into the future.”

Digitalization on board is in full swing, but the journey will be long and filled with challenges. “Maybe by the end of my career, we’ll finally see a paperless ship,” Chief Officer Rohden says. But going digital is about much more, Captain Köppel notes, explaining that: “No matter how advanced our ships become, it’s the crew – their teamwork, dedication and mindset – that truly make the difference and will lay the foundation for an even more efficient future.”

Indeed, our crews are the driving force behind this evolution, guiding us toward intelligent, data-driven vessels on which IoT devices collect real-time information, machine learning models optimize fuel consumption, and smart routing technology enhances safety and efficiency. And with every mile the "Lucky 8" sails, we move one step closer to a future in which our ships are not only paperless but also smarter, safer and more efficient than ever before.