At Europort 2025, BlueBridge Maritime curated and delivered a series of Smart Stage Panels addressing the real operational challenges shaping the maritime industry’s digital and regulatory transition. The programme brought together shipowners, ship managers, ports, shipyards, class societies, regulators, technology providers, start-ups, and innovators for insight-led discussions on digitalisation, connectivity, autonomy, AI, cybersecurity, decarbonisation, and crew-centric technologies. With 500+ attendees across the Smart Stage sessions, the programme became one of the most active knowledge hubs at Europort 2025, distinguished by a non-commercial, complementary format that encouraged open dialogue, practical exchange, and meaningful connections across the maritime ecosystem.
Senior industry stakeholders and public-sector representatives actively participated in the discussions, including the unexpected participation of Mr Robert Tieman – Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Netherlands, who informed us only a day in advance of his interest in attending and joined the Navigating FuelEU, EU ETS & MRV-Tools, Strategies & Market Access panel. Engaging directly with the industry experts, the Minister raised in-depth questions on emerging technologies, regulatory readiness, and practical implementation. Attendees — including shipping companies and technology partners — left the sessions informed and confident about the industry’s direction, while the Smart Stage also facilitated meaningful B2B connections, both between shipping companies and solution providers and between suppliers themselves, enabling partnerships that extended well beyond the event.