Written by Matteo Di Maio, Co-founder & Director, Bluestone Group
This week at Nor-Shipping, we’re reminded of a simple truth: the only constant in maritime is change. But in today’s environment, change isn’t just accelerating, it’s becoming more layered, more unpredictable, and more urgent to act on. The theme of this year’s event, #Future-proof, couldn’t be more timely.
The challenge is no longer just how we decarbonise, digitise, or diversify. It’s how we do all three – while continuing to operate reliably, safely, and competitively.
At Bluestone Group, we’ve seen this pressure most acutely in the retrofit space. With regulatory timelines tightening under FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS, CII, and the incoming IMO carbon levy, many shipowners are facing the same paradox: upgrade now, or risk falling behind – but don’t disrupt operations in the process.
This is where futureproofing becomes less about prediction and more about preparation. It’s not about assuming the right fuel or technology pathway will emerge. It’s about having the capability, adaptability, and partnerships to act quickly and effectively when it does.
For us, that means rethinking how technical services are delivered. We’ve moved away from a yard-only mentality, where retrofits are seen as one-off events tied to drydock schedules. Instead, we’re helping clients build continuous, lifecycle-driven approaches that allow for flexibility – from on-voyage execution to remote engineering and phased system integration – across retrofit design, project management, installation, electrical services, and offshore renewables support.
That lifecycle approach is at the heart of what we do at Bluestone. We’re not tied to any single OEM or shipyard. Our independence means we can design around what works best for the vessel and its route, not what fits a pre-set template or ‘blueprint’.
It’s a model we’ve honed through more than 1,000 retrofit projects globally. Whether it’s upgrading ships to support methanol engines, installing batteries, integrating air lubrication systems across multi-region fleets, or managing advanced wastewater treatment installations in constrained engine spaces – the goal is always the same: enable progress and improvement without pausing operations.
Futureproofing also means recognising the human element. At Nor-Shipping, there’s a clear consensus that collaboration is critical – not just between companies, but across disciplines. Our ability to deliver consistent quality worldwide isn’t just about engineering tools or software. It’s about the people: planners, electricians, naval architects, project managers who bring insight, urgency, and precision to every challenge, no matter the location.
In a landscape where shipyard capacity is constrained, supply chains are volatile, and technology is evolving faster than regulation, that agility matters more than ever. Futureproofing, in our experience, doesn’t come from waiting for certainty. It comes from building the muscle to manage complexity – and keep moving forward.
This week in Oslo, we’re proud to be part of the conversation about what comes next. But more importantly, we’re proud to be working, every day, on delivering what’s needed now.