In the context of profound structural transformation of the maritime industry driven by the implementation of the Industry 4.0 concept and the consistent tightening of environmental requirements by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the digital modernization of fleet technical operation processes becomes strategically critical and becomes a key prerequisite for maintaining the long-term competitiveness of shipping companies. The study focuses on assessing the effectiveness of integrating digital solutions across the full spectrum of operations: from the transition to electronic watchkeeping logs and intelligent checklists to the implementation of predictive analytics systems aimed at optimizing fuel efficiency and monitoring the technical condition of heat-exchange equipment. The methodological basis of the work relies on a system analysis of empirical data for 2024–2025, drawing on reports of leading classification societies (DNV, Lloyd’s Register), design and operational documentation from manufacturers of marine equipment, as well as a current corpus of scientific publications. Based on the analysis performed, it is substantiated that the transition from fragmented paper-based document management to integrated digital ecosystems makes it possible to reduce the number of human-factor-related errors by 70–80%, which fundamentally increases the reliability of technical operation procedures. It is shown that the use of machine learning (ML) algorithms for continuous monitoring of operating parameters of heat exchangers and separators provides the possibility of abandoning the traditional model of planned preventive maintenance (PPM) in favor of the condition-based maintenance (CBM) concept. Such a transformation of maintenance strategies leads to a reduction in total operating costs and a decrease in the vessel’s carbon footprint, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements for the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of mandatory requirements for the digitalization of bunkering operations entering into force in Singapore in 2025, which establish a new global benchmark in the field of transparency, traceability, and verifiability of fuel operations and exert a catalytic influence on the formation of unified international standards for digital control of fuel logistics.

Digitalization of shipping, electronic logs (eLogs), predictive maintenance (PdM), digital twins, fuel efficiency

Lloyd’s Register. (2025, March 26). Global Maritime Trends Barometer 2025. Lloyd’s Register. Retrieved from: https://www.lr.org/en/knowledge/research-reports/2025/global-maritime-trends-barometer/ (date accessed: September 5, 2025).

Bureau Veritas. (n.d.). Asset management solutions. Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. Retrieved from: https://marine-offshore.bureauveritas.com/asset-management-solutions (date accessed: September 10, 2025).

ABS Wavesight. (2024, October). Making the switch from paper to electronic logs in maritime shipping (White paper) [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://www.abswavesight.com/sites/default/files/2024-10/eLog_WhitePaper_V5-1.pdf (date accessed: September 15, 2025).

International Maritime Organization. (2023, July 7). RESOLUTION MEPC.372(80): Guidelines for the use of electronic record books under the BWM Convention [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.372%2880%29.pdf (date accessed: September 20, 2025).

Diaz-Bejarano, E., & Coletti, F. (2019). Fouling in heat exchangers. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88079. Retrieved from: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/?? (date accessed: September 25, 2025).

Experimental/Numerical Investigation and Prediction of Fouling in Multiphase Flow Heat Exchangers: A Review. (2023). Energies, 16(6), 2812. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062812. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/6/2812 (date accessed: September 30, 2025).

Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore. (n.d.). Digital bunkering. Retrieved from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/port-marine-ops/marine-services/bunkering/digital-bunkering (date accessed: October 5, 2025).

Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore. (2024, October 9). Advancing Maritime Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Manpower Development Efforts at SIBCON 2024 (Media release). Retrieved from: https://www.mpa.gov.sg/docs/mpalibraries/media-releases/mpa-advancing-maritime-digitalisation-decarbonisation-and-manpower-development-efforts-at-sibcon-20244112aab4-a39c-43aa-b1dd-4f307c54e327 (date accessed: October 10, 2025).

World Cargo News. (2024, October). Singapore mandates digital bunkering from April 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/2024/10/singapore-mandates-digital-bunkering-from-april-2025/ (date accessed: October 15, 2025).

Evaluating High-Precision Machine Learning Techniques for Optimizing Plate Heat Exchangers' Performance. (2025). Energies, 18(4), 957. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18040957. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/957 (date accessed: October 20, 2025).

Je, Y.-W., Kim, Y.-J., & Kim, Y.-J. (2022). The Prediction of Separation Performance of an In-Line Axial Oil–Water Separator Using Machine Learning and CFD. Processes, 10(2), 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10020375. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/10/2/375 (date accessed: October 25, 2025).

Melo, L. F., & Pinheiro, M. M. (1992). Biofouling in heat exchangers. In Biofilms — Science and Technology (pp. 499–509). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1824-8_44. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-1824-8_44 (date accessed: October 30, 2025).

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). (2019, June). Shipping safety – Human error comes in many forms. Allianz Commercial. Retrieved from: https://commercial.allianz.com/news-and-insights/expert-risk-articles/human-error-shipping-safety.html (date accessed: November 3, 2025).

Maternová, A., Materna, M., Dávid, A., Török, A., & Švábová, L. (2023). Human Error Analysis and Fatality Prediction in Maritime Accidents. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(12), 2287. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11122287. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/12/2287 (date accessed: November 6, 2025).

NAPA. (2025, April 28). MEPC 83: Digital Tools Can Ease the Rising Tide of Compliance Data Demands. Retrieved from: https://www.napa.fi/mepc-83-digital-tools-can-ease-the-rising-tide-of-compliance-data-demands/ (date accessed: November 9, 2025).

Kulp, L., Sarcevic, A., Cheng, M., Zheng, Y., & Burd, R. S. (2019). Comparing the effects of paper and digital checklists on team performance in time-critical work. In Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1–13). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3290605.3300777. Retrieved from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6800573/ (date accessed: November 12, 2025).

Hussamadin, R., Jansson, G., & Mukkavaara, J. (2023). Digital Quality Control System—A Tool for Reliable On-Site Inspection and Documentation. Buildings, 13(2), 358. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020358. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/358 (date accessed: November 15, 2025).

Liu, X., Zhang, Q., Wang, S., Cheng, X., & Tang, J. (2015). Research of Ship Maintenance Management Platform Based on Cloud Computing. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mechatronics, Materials, Chemistry and Computer Engineering (ICMMCCE 2015). Atlantis Press. Retrieved from: https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/25845126.pdf (date accessed: November 18, 2025).

Offshore Energy. (n.d.). Bunkering at the Port of Singapore: The new normal is digital. Retrieved from: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/bunkering-at-the-port-of-singapore-the-new-normal-is-digital/ (date accessed: November 21, 2025).

Advanced Marine Solutions Ltd. (n.d.). Viscosity Control System (VCS) – AMS. Retrieved from: https://amarsolutions.gr/service/viscosity-control-system-vcs/ (date accessed: November 24, 2025).

Technava. (n.d.). Viscometer by RIVERTRACE – “SMART VISCO” Fuel Condition Monitor. Retrieved from: https://www.technava.gr/viscometer-by-rivertrace-smart-visco-fuel-condition-monitor/ (date accessed: November 27, 2025).

Aquametro Oil & Marine AG. (2021, August). VCS controller (Installation/operation documentation) [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://www.aquametro-oil-marine.com/files/aquametro/downloads/7475e_VCS_controller_2108.pdf (date accessed: November 30, 2025).

Alfa Laval. (n.d.). Flow optimization of the separator feed: Improved separation and energy savings beyond the pump[PDF]. Retrieved from: https://www.alfalaval.com/globalassets/documents/microsites/hss/flow_optimization_wp.pdf(date accessed: December 2, 2025).

Development of Automatic System to Discharge Sludge in Oil Separator of Marine Engine. (2018). https://doi.org/10.7736/KSPE.2018.35.7.663. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326413916_Development_of_Automatic_System_to_Discharge_Sludge_in_Oil_Separator_of_Marine_Engine (date accessed: December 3, 2025).

XMPRO. (n.d.). Predict heat exchanger fouling (Solution library). Retrieved from: https://xmpro.com/solutions-library/asset-performance-management,oil-gas,predictive-maintenance,use-cases/predict-heat-exchanger-fouling/ (date accessed: December 4, 2025).

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. (2016). Question 44: How do you monitor exchanger fouling? How do you use that information to justify additional work scope during unplanned shutdowns? Retrieved from: https://www.afpm.org/data-reports/technical-papers/qa-search/question-44-how-do-you-monitor-exchanger-fouling-how-do-you (date accessed: December 5, 2025).

International Chamber of Shipping. (2025, June 26). ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2024–2025 [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://www.ics-shipping.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ICS-Barometer-2025.pdf (date accessed: December 8, 2025).

Mordor Intelligence. (2025, June 25). Smart Port Market Size, Growth Trends & Global Industry Analysis, 2030. Retrieved from: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/smart-port-market (date accessed: December 10, 2025).