Digitalisation as a national maritime imperative

An industry perspective by the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents

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AS the apex body representing Sri Lanka's shipping and agency community, the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) has, for decades, served as the collective voice of the maritime industry, engaging policymakers, regulators and stakeholders on matters that directly impact trade facilitation and national competitiveness.

From this vantage point, CASA observes a clear shift in the factors that determine maritime success. While Sri Lanka's strategic location and port infrastructure remain important, the industry is increasingly shaped by how efficiently and coherently it operates as a digitally connected ecosystem. In a region where competing hubs are moving rapidly towards integrated digital platforms, digitalisation has become fundamental to sustaining Sri Lanka's position in global shipping networks.

For the shipping industry, digitalisation is not about technology for its own sake. It is about reducing friction across the value chain, improving predictability, and ensuring that Sri Lanka remains an efficient and reliable node in international trade.

Beyond the Port: Digitalisation across the maritime ecosystem

While terminal productivity remains important, port efficiency is ultimately shaped by processes that extend well beyond the terminal gate. Vessel and cargo operations involve multiple stakeholders shipping lines, agents, forwarders, terminals, haulers, Customs, port authorities and other border agencies.