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Shipyard digitalisation gathers pace
1st Jul 2026
Digitalisation is changing ship repair fast (image: Shutterstock)
The ship repair business is undergoing a fundamental transformation as ship-to-shore digital connections enable always-on monitoring systems to flag up issues long before a vessel arrives for docking.
That is dramatically changing what has always been a ‘spot’ business with important implications for designers.
Rapid advances in online monitoring systems relating to ship operations are transforming the skills and working practices required of seafarers. But they are also changing the lives of fleet superintendents, shore-based ship managers and, of course, repair yards that service ships on a regular basis.
This accelerating digitalisation is likely to gather even more pace as