Tidalis at IHMA Congress 2026 | Resilience starts with a shared operational picture

More data, but not the same picture

Ports have access to more information than ever before. Yet many of the operational challenges discussed in Rotterdam do not come from a lack of data. They come from stakeholders working with different interpretations, different systems or different versions of the operational picture.

A single port call can involve dozens of stakeholders. Everyone may have access to information, but resilience depends on whether everyone is working from the same operational picture when decisions need to be made. As one discussion at the congress put it, the question is no longer whether ports have enough data. It is how to turn that information into coordinated action.

Connecting Horizons
The congress theme, “Connecting Horizons – Building Future Resilient Ports Together”, came up in many of the conversations Tidalis had during the week. A common thread emerged across ports of different sizes, geographies and operational models.

As maritime operations become more interconnected, resilience depends on several groups working from a shared operational picture in real time:

• harbor masters
• VTS operators
• pilots
• service providers
• port authorities

That shift may sound subtle, but its impact is significant. Better alignment supports safer operations, more effective decision-making and stronger responses to disruption. The challenge sits where technology, processes and collaboration meet.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to share experiences and perspectives during the congress,” said Steven Detre, Partner Manager at Tidalis. “The conversations reinforced something we strongly believe: resilient ports are built when people, processes and technology operate from the same understanding of what is happening now and what happens next.”

One operational picture for every port call
Tidalis’ solutions are built around this principle: everyone involved in a port call should have access to the same, up-to-date operational information. These solutions are:

• vessel traffic services
• port management information system
• local port services
• pilot dispatching

Tidalis thanks IHMA, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and everyone who visited the booth. The team looks forward to continuing these conversations with harbor masters and port professionals worldwide. Contact us to discuss how a shared operational picture can support your port.