The maritime industry is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history. Long known for durability, reliability, and conservative technology cycles, the sector is now rapidly evolving under pressure from climate targets, digitalisation, cybersecurity requirements, and alternative propulsion technologies.

As shipping operators, ports, and infrastructure providers work toward decarbonisation and more connected operations, the importance of certified infrastructure is growing rapidly.

From enclosure systems and power distribution through to climate control and IT infrastructure, certified technologies are becoming essential to ensuring operational reliability, compliance, and long-term performance.

Maritime Infrastructure Is Changing

Global regulation is accelerating the transition.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping to net zero by around 2050, while the European Union continues introducing stricter emissions and energy regulations across the maritime sector.

This includes:

• Expansion of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to shipping
• FuelEU Maritime regulations targeting lower greenhouse gas intensity
• Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requirements for shore power infrastructure at ports

At the same time, maritime operations are becoming increasingly digitalised. Modern vessels, offshore facilities, and port infrastructure now rely heavily on interconnected electrical, automation, and IT systems.

As a result, infrastructure requirements are changing significantly.

Operators now need systems that support:

• Operational reliability
• Energy efficiency
• Cybersecurity
• Scalability
• Faster approvals
• Global compliance
• Simplified maintenance

Why Certifications Matter More Than Ever

Traditionally, certifications were often viewed as a final compliance step before commissioning.

Today, they are becoming a strategic advantage.

According to the white paper, certifications now help organisations:

• Accelerate project timelines
• Simplify approval processes
• Improve operational reliability
• Reduce lifecycle costs
• Support international deployment

Certified systems also provide confidence that infrastructure can withstand demanding maritime conditions, including vibration, humidity, salt mist, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference.

For operators and engineering teams, this creates greater planning certainty while helping reduce downtime and maintenance complexity.

The Growing Importance of Maritime Standards

Modern maritime infrastructure relies on a broad range of standards and certification frameworks.

One of the most important is IACS UR E10, which defines environmental and EMC testing requirements for maritime electrical and electronic systems.

These tests assess:

• Vibration resistance
• Inclination tolerance
• Temperature performance
• Humidity and salt mist exposure
• EMC resilience
• Electrostatic discharge protection

Additional standards and approvals such as DNV CG-0339, IEC 61439, and IMO MSC.428(98) further support safety, cybersecurity, and power distribution compliance.

Together, these frameworks help ensure systems are suitable for harsh maritime environments while supporting smoother project approvals and long-term operational performance.

Certified Infrastructure from Rittal

Rittal supports the maritime industry with a certified range of enclosure systems, power distribution platforms, climate control technologies, and IT infrastructure solutions designed specifically for demanding marine environments.

These systems are engineered to withstand:

• Vibrations
• Salt mist
• Humidity
• Electromagnetic interference
• Severe temperature fluctuations

Enclosure Systems

Rittal’s maritime-certified enclosure portfolio includes:

• AX compact enclosures
• AX plastic enclosures
• VX25 baying enclosure systems
• PK polycarbonate enclosures
• KX small enclosures

These systems provide modularity, scalability, and compatibility across a wide range of maritime applications.

Power Distribution

Safe and scalable power distribution is also becoming increasingly important as electrification and shore power infrastructure expand.

Solutions including RiLine, RiLineX, and VX25 Ri4Power support standardised, modular power distribution architectures designed for simplified approvals and efficient maintenance.

Climate Control

As onboard power density and digital infrastructure increase, enclosure climate control becomes critical.

Rittal’s Blue e+ Dynamic cooling units are designed specifically for demanding maritime environments and certified to DNV CG-0339.

The hybrid cooling technology combines passive heat pipe operation with active compressor-based cooling to improve energy efficiency while supporting reliable operation under harsh environmental conditions.

Building the Future of Maritime Infrastructure

The maritime industry is moving toward a more connected, electrified, and sustainability-focused future.

As infrastructure complexity increases, certified systems are becoming more than a compliance requirement — they are enabling faster deployment, safer operations, improved efficiency, and greater lifecycle reliability.

For shipbuilders, ports, operators, and infrastructure providers, investing in certified, modular, and globally supported infrastructure platforms will play a critical role in supporting the next generation of maritime operations.

Download the White Paper

To learn more about the role of certified infrastructure in the maritime industry, download Rittal’s latest white paper here