The maritime sector has spent years talking about digitalisation, but progress remains uneven. For Smart Ship Hub, the pitch is straightforward: bring everything into one place and make the data usable. Joy Basu, the company’s chief executive, frames it as a shift away from fragmented systems toward a single operational layer. “Smart Ship Hub (SSH), headquartered in Singapore, is an all-in-one, cyber-secured maritime digital platform designed for shipowners, operators, charterers, marine insurers, and ports,” he says. “It brings together multiple operational functions into a single ecosystem, creating a ‘single source of truth’ that delivers rich, reliable data across the entire maritime supply chain.” The platform leans heavily on onboard data. “The platform leverages high-frequency sensor data deployed onboard vessels to provide a highly customised user experience,” Basu says, noting that users can tailor dashboards to suit their operations. Data is pulled from across the vessel, from machinery and navigation systems to cargo consoles and camera feeds, feeding into real-time monitoring and performance tracking. He positions the system as a full operational layer rather than a niche tool. “SSH is among the first platforms to deliver true end-to-end digitalisation in maritime operations,” he says, pointing to coverage across technical management, chartering, voyage performance, routing and maintenance. That all-in-one approach is central to the pitch. “By consolidating multiple functions into a single platform, SSH eliminates the inefficiencies of using disparate software systems,” Basu says, comparing the model to consumer platforms that bundle services into one interface. Still, shipowners have heard similar promises before, especially around integrating fleet data without heavy upgrades. Basu argues the difference this time is execution. “While the industry has heard similar claims before, what differentiates Smart Ship Hub is the practicality and flexibility of its approach,” he says. The system uses an onboard gateway to tap into existing equipment, avoiding large-scale retrofits. “At its core, Smart Ship Hub uses a simple onboard gateway that enables data logging by tapping directly into existing vessel systems,” he explains, adding that the platform connects to systems already in place, from alarm monitoring to power management. Where data gaps exist, selective upgrades can be added. “For older vessels where data availability may be more limited, SSH also offers the option to retrofit selected components,” he says. Standardisation is another part of the argument. Basu points to ISO frameworks as a way to normalise data across fleets built in different yards and eras, allowing like-for-like comparisons. “What ultimately makes the SSH model stick is the combination of standardised, high-frequency vessel data, continuous telemetry, and a robust digital platform underpinned by built-in data models,” he says. The integration challenge runs deeper than hardware. Shipping has long been weighed down by standalone systems that do not talk to each other. Basu says the industry is now moving past that phase. “The maritime industry has long struggled with fragmented, standalone technologies that add complexity rather than solving it,” he says. Partnerships are part of the solution, but only if they do not add another layer. “Partnerships such as the one with ORBYT are a natural extension of this vision, not an additional layer of complexity,