In this interview, Maritime Gateway speaks with Amitabh Sankranti, Shipping Analytics Director, NAVTOR to explore the evolution of eLogs, the challenges of adoption, and the tangible benefits for shipowners.
In today’s digitally driven maritime landscape, electronic logbooks (eLogs) are transforming traditional shipboard operations. Long reliant on paper-based records, vessels are now shifting to digital platforms that streamline compliance, reduce manual errors, and enable real-time data access. As regulatory frameworks evolve and operational demands increase, eLogs offer a smarter, more efficient way to manage recordkeeping. In this interview, Maritime Gateway speaks with Amitabh Sankranti, Shipping Analytics Director, NAVTOR to explore the evolution of eLogs, the challenges of adoption, and the tangible benefits for shipowners—from enhanced compliance to actionable analytics—marking a crucial step in the journey toward smart, data-enabled shipping.
Tell us about the solution Navtor developed for smart shipping operations.
In traditional shipping, much of a vessel’s operations are still logged manually—despite digitization transforming other segments of the maritime industry. A significant portion of compliance, safety reporting, and daily operational data resides in physical logbooks. At Navtor, we saw an opportunity to drive transformation at this fundamental level. We began by digitizing logbooks, aiming to automate recordkeeping and integrate operational data flows across systems. While the idea initially faced skepticism—primarily due to the absence of a regulatory push—by 2019–2020, the landscape started changing. Regulatory authorities began shaping digital log requirements, and that became the catalyst. We positioned ourselves early and invested heavily in building a compliant, ship-centric solution. Today, we see digital logbooks as a foundational pillar in smart shipping, not just for compliance but also for unlocking data-driven operations.
How has the adoption progressed since 2020? What percentage of the industry has moved to e-logbooks?
Shipping is traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, and meaningful change often follows regulatory mandates. In 2020, early adoption was limited to a few pioneering, tech-savvy operators willing to experiment. Many used this phase to test viability and usability onboard. Over the past four years, however, we’ve seen significant momentum. We estimate that approximately 25–30% of the commercial shipping fleet has adopted digital logbooks today.
This uptick reflects growing confidence—not just in the technology, but also in its practical value. Initially, we had to address regulatory ambiguities and user challenges. The solution evolved, with feedback from ships shaping key improvements. Importantly, we’ve worked to earn the trust of seafarers, who are the primary users. It is a voluntary solution in most jurisdictions, so demonstrating tangible value in day-to-day operations has been essential. Today, we offer a mature, intuitive product with strong buy-in from onboard teams.
Have major industry players adopted Navtor’s eLogs?
Yes, we’re proud to have crossed 1,000 vessels using Navtor’s eLogs, with a particularly strong footprint in the Japanese market. We count MOL, NYK, and K-Line among our key clients—these are ship managers known for their operational excellence and high regulatory standards. What’s been most encouraging is that vessels with intensive logging requirements—where logkeeping is not merely a checkbox but a vital operational function—have been among the first to embrace the digital transition. Their decision validates the robustness and reliability of our platform.
If regulations support digital logbooks, what’s holding back wider adoption?
The key challenge lies in operational inertia and the practical burden on seafarers. Any new technology onboard must prove itself under real-world constraints. For instance, when introducing digital logbooks, crews often have to maintain both digital and manual logs during transition phases. This duplicative effort can be demotivating unless the benefits are immediate and tangible.
Another concern is usability. If the platform is not intuitive or adds complexity to the workflow, it risks rejection. Ship managers, too, are cautious—they evaluate how well the system supports compliance, inspection readiness, and operational consistency. If the product doesn’t demonstrably reduce Port State Control (PSC) observations, it struggles to gain traction. Success depends on showing measurable value across compliance, efficiency, and crew workload reduction.
Does the total cost of ownership (TCO), especially involving flag and class certification, pose a barrier?
Yes, TCO is a legitimate concern. A paper logbook costs around USD 30, with no added certification requirements. In contrast, digital logbooks require software type approvals, vessel-specific certifications, and flag-state endorsements. Some flags charge for these, which adds to costs for ship operators.
However, the comparison isn’t apples to apples. Most ships carry 15 to 20 logbooks—engine logs, bridge logs, ballast logs, cargo logs, and more. When you consider archiving, storage, printing, and training costs, digital begins to make clear economic sense. Furthermore, digital logs reduce inspection failures and simplify audit trails, which translates to cost savings not immediately visible on paper.
We’ve done cost modeling to show that across a full suite of logs, digital logging is now on par with or cheaper than paper-based systems, especially when you factor in operational efficiency and risk mitigation. The turning point is here.
The eLog market seems crowded. What sets Navtor apart from competitors?
The market has seen several established players offering eLog solutions—some for over a decade. However, adoption of these legacy systems has been limited. One of the biggest barriers has been rigidity—most logbooks are templated, with little room for operational customization.
Navtor stands apart by offering a customizable logbook suite, tailored to reflect each ship’s specific operational profile and logging conventions. This adaptability reduces crew resistance and eliminates the need to retrain personnel or alter workflows. Additionally, we leverage our NavBox hardware—already onboard many vessels for chart distribution and navigational services—to power our eLogs. This minimizes IT hassles and deployment costs.
Another differentiator is scope. We provide a wider range of logs, integrated with checklists and sensor data. And finally, we bring strong operational maritime knowledge into our development process—it’s not just an IT product, it’s built for real-world shipping.
What advice would you give shipowners looking to implement eLogs?
Digital transformation is not just a tech upgrade—it requires strategic intent and change management. Our advice to shipowners is to approach it with a clear timeline, implementation roadmap, and crew training strategy. Avoid duplicating effort during the transition—move in stages where possible, but ensure that the shift is swift and supported.
Choose a platform that is intuitive, tailored to your ship type, and capable of integrating into your existing IT and compliance framework. Above all, get crew buy-in early—if the end-users don’t see value, the project can falter. With the right partner and plan, the returns in compliance, efficiency, and analytics are well worth the effort.
From a shipping analytics standpoint, what new value are you extracting from operational data?
We now aggregate enormous amounts of operational data across our fleet of 1,000+ vessels. For larger operators, this unlocks automated KPI reporting, compliance tracking, and performance benchmarking. Traditionally, someone had to extract and compile reports manually—now that’s automatic and real-time.
We’ve integrated eLogs with live checklists, sensor feeds, and user authentication, ensuring the data is not only rich but also validated and traceable. This makes it possible to spot trends, identify anomalies, and make informed decisions at the fleet level. Our system can even trigger automated alerts or updates based on logged data.
For management, we provide visual dashboards that offer real-time operational insights. These are highly valued by clients, as they simplify performance management and reduce administrative overhead.
What’s next for Navtor eLogs in terms of product evolution?
Our roadmap is focused on greater automation, mobility, and intelligence. Currently, about 35% of inputs are auto-fed via system integrations. We want to push that number much higher. We’ve developed a voice-activated logging feature that allows crew to log events via speech—we’re now enhancing this capability for broader use cases.
We’ve also launched mobile apps on Android and iOS, allowing logs to be entered from different parts of the vessel via tablets—a feature especially valued by certain shipowners. Going forward, we’ll deepen integrations with navigational systems, bridge equipment, and engine control units, and bring AI-driven logging and anomaly detection into the mainstream.
“At Navtor Our mission is Smart Shipping Made easy” and we are happy that digital logbooks through digital innovation, makes smarter shipping a reality by simplifying compliance, automating reports and streamlining operations.
