VIEWPOINT
BUILDING THE FUTURE ON TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK
S
uccess through cooperation is a recurring theme in German folklore: from the resourcefulness of the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (the Bremen town musicians) to the heroics of “Sechs kommen durch die ganze Welt” (Six make their way in the world), Germany’s legends cite the virtues of faith, self-reliance and teamwork as the core values behind progress and success. In the former tale, four animals who mistakenly see themselves as musicians ultimately discover their true gifts and combine abilities to thwart evildoers and establish successful lives. In the latter, six friends cleave together, face a series of trials side-by-side and, by relying on each person’s unique ability at the right moment, triumph over their wicked antagonists and walk away with a great sack of gold. Such fables are, in effect, culturally embedded reminders that it takes a team to move the ship of life forward. Classification, while not exactly the stuff of fables, relies in the same way on teamwork, integrity and expertise to help the maritime industry develop the
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technologies and practices that bring it successfully into the future. It is appropriate, then, to reflect on technology and teamwork at the SMM exhibition because, of the three major European trade shows, SMM has the greatest focus on technology – indeed, the very name of the show means “shipbuilding, machinery and marine technology.” It is where all sectors of the industry gather to discuss and debate, challenge and change, and where they come to see the latest technology advancements. One of the most talked-about challenges today is the IMO 2020 sulfur cap, which may be the most significant regulatory event in shipping since the introduction of the double-hull requirement in the 1990s. The 2020 regulation differs from its predecessor in that it is an ‘overnight’ event – even though the industry has approached the new sulfur limits in a stepwise fashion for a decade, the dramatic switch from 3.5 to 0.5 percent sulfur will literally occur at the stroke of midnight.
