Dutch reefer carrier Seatrade will rely on the Tilla Technologies platform to plan and execute its crew changes in the future. After a successful pilot project in the second half of 2024, Seatrade has now already rolled out Tilla across most of its 52-vessel fleet.
The goal is to simplify processes, create transparency and measurably optimize crewing decisions. The Tilla Technologies platform delivered very convincing results in the pilot project. It demonstrated that it could reduce Seatrade’s crewing costs by a double-digit percentage and save each crew operator up to one hour of working time per day.
Complex routes and crews around the world
Seatrade operates its reefer fleet primarily on routes between Europe, North America and Latin America. The crews come mainly from Russia and the Philippines, and there are not good flight connections everywhere in these regions. Combined with a decentralized organizational structure—the company’s crew operators work in Vladivostok, Manila and Groningen—this leads to high demands on planning and communication in all crewing processes at Seatrade.
Tilla Technologies platform. (Image credit: Tilla Technologies)
The Tilla Technologies platform solves these challenges. It enables crewing teams to plan, monitor and continuously optimize crew changes. All relevant data sources are integrated: vessel schedules, crewing data, port agency data, real-time flight data, travel requirements and many more. The platform finds the best flights, books them automatically and notifies all parties of changes in real time. Tilla’s platform integrates seamlessly with existing crew management systems and works with 15 travel agencies. It covers all steps of crew change planning, from planning to reporting and invoice management.
Complete Transparency of all Crew Change Parameters
Kor Wormmeester, Manager Crewing at Seatrade, explains: “Tilla quickly convinced us with both its measurable efficiency gains and its ease of use. We particularly appreciate the transparency the platform gives us in all planning and cost processes. This is a big difference to the traditional system, where crew changes are handled by travel agencies with sometimes opaque cost structures and little insight into optimization potential.”
Niklas Weidmann, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Tilla Technologies, says: “Everyone talks about digitalization, Seatrade is doing it. They already believe in improving crew satisfaction through digital innovation. Digitizing their crew change management was the next logical step. While Excel spreadsheets and emails are still the standard for crew change management in many companies, Seatrade now relies entirely on data-driven, automated decisions for each and every crew change – to the benefit of everyone involved.”
Tilla Technologies’ platform is used by many well-known companies in the shipping industry, including Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG, Stödig Ship Management, NSC and Leonhardt & Blumberg. It optimizes over 10,000 crew changes per year.
The Berlin-based company is growing and has expanded its team in recent months, filling several key positions. Further new hires are planned for 2025.
