Talk to most anyone in the maritime logistics business and you’ll quickly feel like you stepped back 30 years. Even the very basics of communications, like reliable Internet connectivity across the high seas, logistical management or ERP, and all the other needs of running a large maritime fleet, each of which operates — or should operate — like its own city, is pretty backward. In other words, modern-day supply chain and logistics management haven’t reached one of the most critical supply chains in the world.
Some of these problems are matters of remote coverage similar to the spotty connectivity often experienced in rural areas. For sure, our great oceans are vast expanses of remoteness. But with hundreds of billions in products traversing them on any given day, you would think there would be a will to modernize. Indeed, the land-based technology the maritime industry needs, including broadband Internet, 4G wireless, ERP systems, data synchronization across disparate cloud servers, is proven and affordable. But not so on the maritime supply chain. In fact, it’s not uncommon for sea-to-land communications to go black over hundreds of miles of maritime travel. Now imagine that happening — and happening every day — with say the Ford Motor Company’s global ERP system. You can’t because it would never happen. The rest of the industry measure system down situations in seconds, even milliseconds. But in maritime, it’s measured in minutes and often hours!
Of the 6,000 Israeli startups, only a handful of them has a maritime focus. But the TheDOCK Innovation Hub, a maritime accelerator, is taking on the low-hanging fruit of maritime logistics with a vengeance, not just seeking parity with the rest of the world but to actually leapfrog its land-based counterparts.
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TheDOCK recently partnered with Maersk for “opportunities to co-create the next unicorn in logistics within the areas of fighting food waste, enabling trade, securing supply chains and next-generation logistics.” The deal transcends the transactional as Maersk is looking for TheDOCK to provide complete solutions to all its maritime needs, looking for the accelerator to develop certain applications while identifying other startups who offer complimentary ones.

Diane Israel is a Chicago native and long-time supporter and advocate of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). She is also famous for her culinary recipes. Diane can be reached at Diane@IsraelOnIsrael.com