Dualog launches Workspace for secure ship–shore collaboration

Dualog has introduced Workspace, a secure collaboration platform specifically tailored for the operational needs of the shipping industry. This platform consolidates seafarers and shore-based teams into a single, identity-protected environment, moving away from the disjointed mix of email, personal messaging apps, and generic office software typically employed across fleets.

Workspace is organized around vessels, ranks, and crew rotations. Its inaugural service, Chat, offers ship and rank-based messaging, along with audio and video calling, all under stringent access controls and complete traceability. A recent Dualog survey revealed that 44% of seafarers find email overload a significant inconvenience, while 74% noted information loss during handovers.

Moreover, 70% of respondents utilize personal messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, for work-related communication. Generic office software, often licensed to individual users, can result in maritime companies depending on shared, role-based accounts, which diminish accountability. With the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.3 and IACS Unified Requirements E26 and E27 placing greater emphasis on unique user identities, controlled access, and traceability, Workspace is designed in line with these maritime operational structures.

Users are automatically grouped by vessel, rank, and rotation, ensuring communication channels cater to the entire fleet, a single ship, or a particular rank. Integration with crew management systems facilitates granting and revoking access as personnel rotate, minimizing the need for manual onboarding and offboarding. Every user operates under a unique identity rather than a shared login, guaranteeing that messages and actions can be traced back to an individual.

Furthermore, the platform is engineered to accommodate the connectivity challenges of maritime operations, featuring offline-tolerant messaging so communication can persist during periods of limited or intermittent bandwidth. Incoming crew can access prior communication history, thereby reducing information loss and enhancing handovers.

Reporting and approval processes can follow a uniform path from vessel to shore, while real-time messaging permits the swift resolution of operational queries. Given that access is tied to individual identity and crew rotation, permissions stay up-to-date as personnel transition between assignments. Silje Moan, Dualog's Chief Commercial Officer, remarked, "Crew and shore teams have been reliant on tools that were never designed for the maritime environment.

Workspace addresses this by offering a central hub where communication aligns with fleet operations, is secure, traceable, and ready for evolving regulatory demands. This is where maritime communication is heading, and Dualog aims to support shipping companies in navigating this transition." Chat serves as the initial service to be rolled out within Workspace.

Additional features, including Files, Mail, and a native AI assistant, are slated to be introduced in the coming months, integrating document sharing, email, and fleet insights into a single secure platform. By consolidating these services under a unified user identity, Workspace seeks to enhance collaboration, bolster accountability, and alleviate the administrative burden on both crew and shore-based teams.

Dualog will showcase Workspace at the SMM 2026 exhibition in Hamburg from September 1–4 in Hall B6, Stand 609. Vessel IT, fleet management, and operations teams are encouraged to visit the stand for a live demonstration. Additionally, attendees can partake in The Dualog Arctic Delights, Dualog's flagship event at the exhibition, held on Wednesday, September 2 at 14:00.