Page 62: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2017)

Transas CEO Frank Coles oices

D ISRUPTION “Powered by Transas” Frank ColesFrank Coles [CEO Transas]

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News caught up with

Frank Coles, the ubiquitous leader of Transas, fresh from his company’s user’s conference in Malta. In typical candor,

Coles paints his picture of maritime and shipping’s future.

By Greg Trauthwein

With a captive audience of more the future of maritime. Maritime vs. Shipping according to Coles, as he said the eco- than 400 clients in scenic Malta for “Everyone’s talking about ships, ship Coles is clear from the start to differen- nomics of shipping and logistics is much several days earlier this year, one technology and autonomous ships, but tiate between ‘shipping’ and ‘maritime.’ more compelling for change than is the might be surprised when Frank no one is talking about why we should be “I live in the United States. When economics of the ‘? oating truck.’

Coles admits that the meeting doing these things. What is the business we talk about ‘shipping’ something in “You see the economics of shipping was not all about Transas. “I wanted model? We’re all missing that point. If we America, we talk about using FedEx. changing faster than the technology an something completely different. I didn’t are ever going to have unmanned ships, When we talk about shipping something, innovation in the maritime part of ship- want to talk about Transas, I wanted can you see the United States, can you see we talk about moving it from the west ping.” to talk about the industry and what we the Chinese allowing an unmanned ship coast to the east coast. That’s shipping But while Coles is looking big picture, can learn from aviation. I wanted to talk to simply sail through territorial waters it, whether by truck, train, plane or ship. make no mistake that he sees Transas about what we are we missing.” without some sort of ship traf? c control?,” Shipping is the movement of the goods ? rmly in the maritime realm. “Transas

And so starts another candid conver- Coles questions. “It is unthinkable. So the and anything economically associated belongs in the maritime industry, so sation with Coles, a corporate leader whole world has to change. So you can with that. Maritime is the water transport Transas’ role is about the ecosystem of that speaks with a Steve Jobs-like vi- have an unmanned ship, but you have to piece,” said Coles. the new world; that being the ship talk- sion and zeal when discussion turns to envision the structure that goes with it.” Distinguishing the terms is important ing to its operation center, the way that 62 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2017

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