Splash reaches for its crystal ball in launching Ship Concept 2035, a magazine delegates attending Nor-Shipping can pick up for free. To assess the design of tomorrow’s ships our reporters factored in incoming regulations, the runners and riders in the future fuel race, changing seafarer skillsets, port constraints, shipyards, connectivity, and artificial intelligence. The shipping industry is on the cusp of one of its most transformative decades. Driven by decarbonisation, digitalisation, and a shifting geopolitical landscape, the vessels that traverse our oceans in 2035 may look similar at first glance—but beneath the surface, they’ll be smarter, cleaner, and more efficient shaped by technological innovation and regulatory pressure. While hull shapes may remain largely familiar, function is set to redefine the form. “Externally, we need to expect evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, change,” says Ajay Chaudhry, CEO of shipmanagement at Synergy Marine Group. “Constraints like port infrastructure and classification limits will inevitably curtail radical redesigns.” Chaudhry says to expect visible additions like wind-assisted propulsion systems, air lubrication systems, larger and repositioned fuel tanks and some modifications to superstructures to reduce wind resistance. As Stamatis Tsantanis, chairman and CEO of Greek owner Seanergy Maritime puts it: “Function will still dictate form, though sustainability demands will reshape certain visible elements over time.” If the outside will evolve slowly, the inside will undergo a radical transformation, experts surveyed for this magazine suggest. “In 10 years, the smartest ships may look familiar from the quayside, but function entirely differently from within,” says Chaudhry. The smartest ships may look familiar from the quayside, but function entirely differently from within Digital control rooms, sensor-integrated systems, and AI-assisted operations will be standard, according to Shah Irani, chief technology officer at Fleet Management who predicts a convergence of artificial intelligence for predictive safety and operational decisions, internet of things to enable real-time monitoring and diagnostics, big data analytics for route optimisation and predictive maintenance, and finally blockchain to secure and streamline logistics and compliance. These tools, Irani says, will reshape everything from navigation to fuel efficiency. The strongest tailwind in shipping’s transformation is decarbonisation. “The shipping industry stands at a pivotal transformative moment, driven by digitalisation and decarbonisation,” says Nick Copley, co-CEO of Ocean Technologies Group. “First movers who embrace innovation stand to gain a clear and lasting competitive advantage.” “Economy of scale, engine optimisation, and environmental pressures have historically driven design,” says Kristin Omholt-Jensen, the CEO of Maritime Optima, a shipping intelligence firm. “Now, carbon emissions will drive change—sails, propellers, dual fuels—all will influence the future.” “Vessel design will continue to evolve; to address regulatory requirements in particular around emissions and to promote improving operational efficiency,” says Gareth Burton, senior vice president of global engineering at ABS. Yet, challenges abound. As Dr Kanghyun Song, a senior vice president at Korean Register, points out, there are four key uncertainties namely fuel price volatility, regulatory ambiguity, technological immaturity where the likes