Case Study: By The Ocean We Unite achieves safer, more efficient maritime operations with Microsoft Power BI

Ships use data from IoT and cloud solution to operate more safely and efficiently

By The Ocean We Unite, a Netherlands-based nonprofit that researches and campaigns to reduce ocean plastics, needed a reliable way to collect, analyze, and share data from its research vessel Fantastiko despite limited at-sea connectivity. ABB deployed its ABB Ability Marine Advisory System — OCTOPUS, using Azure for secure cloud transfer and edge computing, and Microsoft Power BI (with Microsoft Surface devices for access) to present the results as easy-to-use dashboards.

By integrating OCTOPUS with Azure and Microsoft Power BI dashboards, BTOWU crews can log trawl survey data onboard, publish findings to their website and social channels in near real time, and share datasets with universities and partners—boosting visibility, scientific collaboration, and outreach. The ABB solution, supported by Microsoft Power BI, also delivered operational gains across ABB’s fleet (enabling about 90% remote troubleshooting and cutting an estimated 70% of prior service visits), freeing teams to focus on mission-critical research and awareness work.

By The Ocean We Unite

Thomas van Thiel

Founder