Columbia Group is anchoring new maritime ventures in Cyprus, leveraging its collaboration with the Emirates Shipping Association to drive digital transformation across the wider region.
Speaking at the Investopia Global Mediterranean Forum in Limassol, Columbia’s chairperson and CEO Mark O’Neil said the group’s proprietary platform, SmartSea, is already reshaping how shipping operations are managed, and that Cyprus is expected to play a key role in its regional rollout.
“The UAE saw the potential of this approach, as did Abu Dhabi,” O’Neil said, referring to SmartSea’s real-time, automated systems based on Sita’s technology, designed to replace outdated manual processes.
The platform, he explained, aims to unify logistics infrastructure across markets.
According to O’Neil, the Middle East is “extremely fertile for such opportunities,” and Columbia is now proceeding with the creation of companies originating in the UAE but based in Cyprus.
“We are not talking theory, this is already in motion,” he said.
Waddah Ghanem Al Hashmi, board member of the Emirates Shipping Association, welcomed the deepening ties between the two parties.
“You don’t have to invest in the UAE, you can invest in Cyprus for the UAE,” he said, emphasising the flexibility of the business model.
The discussion, titled Charting the Course: Shipping in an Era of Transformation, was held as part of the Investopia Forum and moderated by Ali Shehab, global director of special projects and services at DNV.
Both speakers addressed the broader challenges facing the sector, including new regulations, the shifting job market, and the rapid pace of technological change.
“People don’t want to go to sea anymore, technology is changing everything,” Al Hashmi said, pointing to the urgent need for talent adaptation as automation advances.
The session concluded with a clear message to maritime professionals. As both of the speakers put it, “Don’t wait for someone to come to you with an opportunity. Go out, meet people, and look for it yourself.”
