Steel walls, signal loss, and vendor lock have slowed shipping’s digital transformation. Wireless mesh networks could change that.
For years, shipping has lagged behind other industries in adopting the Internet of Things, IoT. One of the main reasons: connectivity at sea is harder than it looks. Traditional Wi-Fi struggles below deck, steel structures interfere with signals, and vendor lock-in has limited flexibility for shipowners. In this episode of HANSA.Newscast, Sven Brooks, CEO of ScanReach, outlines how wireless mesh networks are being applied on board to overcome these hurdles. He explains how simple retrofit installations can improve crew safety and reduce reliance on costly cabling, while also opening options for shipyards to rethink signal wiring on newbuilds.
Sven also points to the wider shift in digitalization: separating infrastructure from applications, giving shipowners the freedom to choose the best analysis tools for maintenance, performance, or monitoring needs. The discussion spans use cases across offshore wind, bulkers, tankers, and even livestock carriers, and compares the innovation climate in Norway and Germany.
