ERMA FIRST, the maritime-focused environmental engineering group, announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in METIS Cyberspace Technology that was previously owned by the Germanos – led Olympia Group.
Established in 2016, METIS is specialized in electronic engineering, IoT, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, offering a platform that enables shippingcompanies to acquire and analyze data to improve performance over a wide range of operational aspects.
The innovative METIS platform uses Cloud-based Virtual Personal Assistants that work ceaselessly to provide in-time information, diagnosis and prediction to company personnel through a conversational user interface focused on the requirements of shipping companies. In a very short period of time, METIS has attracted an exceptional client list of prominent international shipowners and managers. The team will remain the same as before.
METIS’ expertise is seen as complimentary, offering an extensive added value to those of ERMA FIRST, a spin-off from the long-established Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE). ERMA FIRST is an engineering and manufacturing company best-known in the shipping industry for its successful Ballast Water Treatment System that was the first of its kind type-approved by the US Coast Guard. It brings to the strategic cooperation a wealth of environmental protection knowledge, an international sales and service network and an established client base around the world.
With technology playing an increasingly critical role in every aspect of the industry, both companies recognize that they need to accelerate the development of green digital solutions to ensure they remain in the competitive vanguard.