Digitalization is now affordable … and operationally compelling, says Mark O’Neil

The cost of creating smart vessels has fallen dramatically in recent years, making digitalization a financially viable and operationally compelling option for shipowners and managers, according to Columbia Group.

Speaking at a Capital Link conference in Athens this week, Mark O’Neil, president and CEO of Columbia Group, said one of the biggest barriers to digital adoption in shipping today is no longer technology itself, but a lingering misconception around cost.

“There is still a perception in the market that digitalization is expensive,” O’Neil said. “That may have been true in the past, but it is not true today. The economics have changed completely.”

O’Neil said that advances in sensors, cameras and optimization software have significantly reduced the cost of making vessels fully digital. Where similar upgrades once required investments of around $50,000 per vessel, comparable systems can now be installed for closer to $5,000, delivering higher-quality data and greater functionality.

“You can now make a vessel totally smart for a fraction of what it used to cost,” he said. “In many cases, the return on investment can be achieved in weeks through fuel savings and operational efficiencies alone.”

Despite these improvements, said O’Neil, outdated cost assumptions continue to slow adoption across parts of the industry. He noted that when owners are presented with the current economics, perceptions often shift quickly.

Beyond cost, O’Neil identified training and system complexity as key challenges. Early digitalization efforts brought a wide range of innovative but fragmented solutions, each requiring separate platforms and training programs. This placed an unnecessary burden on crews and shore-based teams, he told the conference.

“Our people are extremely busy,” said O’Neil. “They want integrated platforms with a common interface, where you train once and deploy multiple tools. Standardization is critical if digital solutions are to be used effectively.”

He also highlighted the role of smart-vessel technology in decarbonization, particularly as the industry reassesses the pace and practicality of alternative fuels. While alternative fuels will play a role, very few vessels currently operate on them as a single fuel source.

“What we are seeing instead is a strong focus on optimization. Using existing assets more intelligently can deliver carbon reductions of up to 30% or more, regardless of fuel type,” he said.

Optimization technologies, such as the OneLink platform provide a realistic and scalable pathway to emissions reduction while laying the groundwork for future solutions such as carbon capture, the Columbia Group chief said. He added that as technology becomes more affordable and more powerful, it must still be deployed within a strong governance framework to manage data and operational risk.

“Shipping will always be a people business,” O’Neil concluded. “Technology should support decision-making, not replace it. With today’s economics smart vessels are no longer a future ambition, they are a viable reality.”

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