The competitiveness of the maritime sector will depend on how well it takes advantage of "big data", says a Connecticut NADAQ-listed software company.

Speaking at the Maritime CIO Forum at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, KVH Industries CEO Martin Kits van Heyningen: "Probably the most important thing for maritime managers to do is make big data a priority."

Mr Kits van Heyningen said it was important that shipping adopt a big data mentality.

"Even if you don't think of yourself as a data company, data is becoming a resource in its own right, and offers incredible possibilities for understanding every aspect of your business better," he said.

Mr Kits van Heyningen said the maritime industry has been slow to adopt big data even though the industry faces many challenges for which data capture and analysis can provide answers.

He gave as examples meeting an increasing number of maritime regulations to improving the fuel efficiency of vessels.

"The maritime industry has spent the past 20 years trying to limit the amount of data going on and off vessels, while the rest of the world has been doing the exact opposite in adopting big data," he said.

Computer analysis of big data goes far beyond human capacity in providing information that can make a maritime operation more efficient, said the company statement.

For example, with real-time analysis of such data as engine monitoring, consumption rates for various fuel types, the fixed running costs of a ship, and weather data, a maritime operation can optimise a voyage for financial performance rather than just time or distance.

"This is not a calculation that can be done by a human, no matter how much experience with a given route the people onboard may have," said Mr Kits van Heyningen.