Data, AI, strategy and resilience drive DataSmart Shipping Conference 2026

At a time of growing instability in global logistics chains — marked by geopolitical tensions, climate shocks and accelerating technological transformation — maritime industry executives and experts in data and artificial intelligence will gather in São Paulo to discuss the future of global shipping.

That is the goal of the DataSmart Shipping Conference 2026, an event organized by Datamar, a company specializing in data intelligence and analysis of maritime trade and port logistics in South America. The conference will take place on March 17–18, 2026, at the Blue Tree Premium Faria Lima hotel in São Paulo.

The 2026 edition of DataSmart Shipping is supported by Platinum sponsor Grupo Chibatão, known as the largest integrated cargo storage and transport network in northern Brazil and recognized for its sustainability initiatives. The partnership reinforces the event’s commitment to combining technology and data in pursuit of a more sustainable future for the maritime sector.

Under the theme “Shipping 5.0: Data, Technology and People for a Sustainable Future,” the event will bring together maritime and port industry executives, technology specialists, artificial intelligence and data analytics experts, as well as representatives from academia and government. Discussions will focus on how the convergence of AI, data analytics, automation, sustainability and human decision-making is reshaping the future of maritime transport and global trade.

According to Datamar CEO Andrew Lorimer, the maritime industry is undergoing a period of structural transformation.

“The maritime industry is entering an era in which data, artificial intelligence and strategic analysis are no longer complementary tools but are becoming central to decision-making. Shipping 5.0 represents precisely this integration between technology and human intelligence,” Lorimer said.

More than 90% of global trade is transported by sea, making efficiency, predictability and resilience in logistics chains increasingly critical for the global economy.

PROGRAM

Over two days of intensive technical programming, the DataSmart Shipping Conference 2026 will offer specialized content and strategic networking opportunities. The focus will be on transforming data into market intelligence and actionable insights capable of supporting faster, more robust and better-informed decision-making in a global environment shaped by systemic shocks, climate instability and geopolitical tensions.

The concept of Shipping 5.0 moves beyond models based solely on efficiency and automation. Instead, it integrates advanced analytical capabilities, high-performance technology and the central role of people, reinforcing that human intelligence remains essential for interpreting complex scenarios, managing uncertainty and building resilience within the maritime system.

Key topics to be discussed at the event include:

• Shipping 5.0: vision, context and purpose
• Advanced technology supporting human decision-making
• How to build resilience in maritime transport
• From information to decision-making in shipping
• Academia, government and the private sector: building the foundations of Shipping 5.0
• Environmental footprint in international trade
• Decarbonization of maritime transport, with a focus on Brazil

Supporting initiatives that promote innovation and the future of the sector, Horus Group — a company providing international logistics, transport, storage and logistics engineering solutions — will again sponsor the DataSmart Shipping Conference, reaffirming its commitment to the event.

Geopolitics, climate and technology reshape maritime transport

The 2026 edition of the conference takes place at a particularly sensitive moment for international maritime transport. Conflicts in the Middle East, attacks on strategic routes and rising maritime insurance costs highlight how global logistics has become increasingly vulnerable to external shocks.

In this context, data intelligence and strategic analysis are gaining importance as tools to support faster decision-making, improve supply chain predictability and reduce operational risks in maritime transport.

The conference program will bring together executives from shipping lines, ports, terminals, maritime agencies and technology companies, alongside representatives from government and academia, reinforcing the event’s goal of fostering dialogue among different perspectives across the maritime ecosystem.

Confirmed participants include Luiza Bublitz, president of Aliança Navegação e Logística; Osmari de Castilho Ribas, administrative superintendent at Portonave; Luís Resano, executive director of ABAC (Brazilian Association of Cabotage Shipowners); Cristiane de Marsillac, CEO of Marsalgado; Claudio Loureiro, executive director of Centronave; Andrew Lorimer, CEO of Datamar; Marcos Silva, M.Sc., CIO of Datamar; and John Mein, executive coordinator at the PROCOMEX Institute.

The event will also feature Walter Teixeira Lima Junior, PhD, professor at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and chief scientist of DatamarLab, who will deliver the keynote address and participate in additional panels. His contributions will offer a strategic perspective on the challenges and transformations shaping maritime transport. Aligned with the Shipping 5.0 concept, he will explore how technology, data, leadership and human intelligence can converge to create a more resilient maritime sector capable of navigating complex decision environments.

Representing port operations and logistics management, the conference will also include Jeferson Gilgen, pricing and commercial planning coordinator at Porto Itapoá; Daniel Belisário, commercial director at JBS Terminais; Ricardo Maeshiro, logistics planning and innovation manager at the Santos Port Authority (APS); and Eliane Akie Okino, manager at Rochamar Agência Marítima.

Researchers and specialists from leading academic and research institutions will also participate, including Prof. Eder Cassettari, M.Sc., from the University of São Paulo (ESALQ and FEA-RP); Thiago Nobre Mascarenhas, M.Sc., head of data and architecture at Engineering Brasil; and Prof. Dr. Marcos Santos, PhD in operations research and professor at the Brazilian Naval Academy. Their presence will broaden discussions on applied science, technology and decision-making in maritime and port environments.

The conference’s agenda on data, technology and innovation will also feature Lucas Sanchez of WiseTech Global, Cristiano Kaehler of Datamar and Cecílio Perez of the RCGI-USP (Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation).

Service

Event: DataSmart Shipping Conference 2026
Theme: Shipping 5.0: Data, Technology and People for a Sustainable Future
Date: March 17–18, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Blue Tree Premium Faria Lima
📍 Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3989 – São Paulo, Brazil

Registration and information:
👉 https://datasmart.datamar.com

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