CHAPTERS

00:00 – Heather's journey into robotic welding

02:53 – Robots, jobs and the shortage of welders

05:53 – How AI learns to weld through practice

09:07 – The origins of Path Robotics

16:01 – Why conventional automation struggles in shipyards

17:17 – Rove: the robot dog that can weld

19:16 – How automation could change skilled work

21:55 – The submarine welder's extraordinary working conditions

23:55 – Rebuilding American shipbuilding capacity

34:32 – HII, Path Robotics and the HYPR programme

41:58 – What tomorrow's shipyards could look like

48:09 – Weld quality, inspection and costly rework

53:23 – Could robotic maintenance eventually move onboard?

56:51 – Challenging the human-in-the-loop assumption

1:01:24 – How AI operates within welding standards

1:06:06 – NAVSEA, ABS and accepting robotic welding

1:09:31 – Resilience, reshoring and future shipbuilding

Heather's interest in welding is personal. Her husband operated a manufacturing business that struggled to find skilled welders, a problem that eventually contributed to his decision to sell it.

She explains how Path Robotics trains its Obsidian AI model using real-world welding data, why conventional industrial robots struggle with shipbuilding and how mobile systems such as Rove might offer new possibilities.

The discussion covers Path's collaboration with Saronic and its work with HII and GrayMatter Robotics. Heather also describes the working conditions faced by a submarine welder, raising difficult questions about safety and how skilled labour is used.

Later, the conversation turns to an assumption familiar across maritime AI: that a human should always remain in the loop. Heather makes the case for allowing trained models to adapt within approved welding procedures, while acknowledging where human involvement and technical oversight remain essential.

Nick and Raal also explore the potential for robotic maintenance at sea, the challenges of gaining technical acceptance and what a more automated shipbuilding industry could look like.

EPISODE PARTNER

Adding another digital system to the fleet is easy. Getting it to work seamlessly with everything else is where the real work starts.

Disconnected platforms create duplicate data, manual workarounds and unnecessary complexity across a fleet. Insight and SmartSea bring it together through a common integration layer connecting onboard operations, applications and data into one end-to-end environment — a fleet that's easier to manage, easier to scale, and ready for whatever comes next.

Because the best technology doesn't work in isolation. It works together.

Connect your fleet with Insight.

#UnDocked #Shipbuilding #PhysicalAI #MaritimeTechnology #Robotics

From vendor dependence and workforce skills to governance and boardroom accountability, they ask how operators can embrace automation without surrendering control or flexibility.

CHAPTERS

• 00:20 IT's move from support to strategy
• 04:50 Episode partner: trusted fleet data
• 05:33 Efficiency or resilience?
• 09:42 Vendor lock-in and skills fade
• 15:14 Transforming organisations for AI
• 17:10 Leadership and AI governance
• 21:55 Measuring returns and building capability
• 27:11 Audience: data risks and shadow AI
• 32:29 Digital twins and human resilience

Live at the Digital Ships Summit in Athens, Nick and Raal begin with IT's move from back-office support to strategic decision-maker. What should shipping prioritise as technology becomes more central to operations?

Raal argues resilience must take priority over efficiency. Geopolitical disruption, recovery planning, vendor lock-in and skills fade can make efficient technology choices dangerously brittle. Nick calls this a false choice: resilience is unavoidable, while the bigger decision is how organisations transform for AI.

That requires informed leadership, practical governance, measurable returns and capabilities beyond IT. The audience confronts shadow AI, sensitive data and digital twins built from decades of institutional knowledge. They finish by considering how technology transformation can strengthen resilience rather than undermine it.

EPISODE PARTNER

Better decisions start with better data. But across maritime, fleet data is still fragmented, inconsistently standardised and uneven in quality.

A weak data foundation leads to unreliable decisions. The same is true for AI and analytics: they're only as good as the data they're fed. That's why getting the fundamentals right — data standards, structure and governance — has to come before scaling innovation.

When leaders trust the data, they move faster, invest with more confidence and turn digital ambition into measurable outcomes. Build trusted data foundations with insight. Follow the link in the episode description. Discover data solutions from Insight.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Two conferences, one city: What you missed
• 01:12 Shipping UK: Geopolitics and national security
• 09:51 Resilience, decarbonisation and the true cost of shipping
• 14:01 Digital ROI: Measuring the return on technology investment
• 23:05 Demystifying AI in Maritime: From potential to practical application
• 27:47 The verification tax and AI's trust problem
• 30:24 Real-world AI applications and emerging risks
• 40:37 AI in the boardroom: Investment, accountability and people
• 50:31 Seafarers, shadow AI and the STEER project
• 55:14 AI bias and the importance of critical thinking

Nick and Raal compare notes from Shipping UK, hosted by the UK Chamber of Shipping, and Demystifying AI in Maritime, organised by Intent Communications. From national security to artificial intelligence, both events raised difficult questions about how shipping prepares for an increasingly uncertain future.

At Shipping UK, geopolitical risk dominated the conversation. A sobering keynote from Major General Paul Maynard highlighted the growing importance of commercial shipping to national security and the possibility that the UK may need to draw upon maritime expertise in a future conflict. But after decades of limited government investment in commercial maritime capabilities, is the industry equipped to respond?

The discussion turns to resilience and an uncomfortable economic reality: shipping may need to become more expensive. Building redundancy into supply chains, preparing for disruption and funding decarbonisation all require investment.

On a more practical note, Nick shares insights from his panel on digital return on investment. New benchmarking data reveals a significant jump in spending on AI and automation, while conventional IT budgets are being squeezed.

Across London, Raal attended Demystifying AI in Maritime, where the conversation has matured from excitement about AI's capabilities to more fundamental questions of trust and accountability.

Raal shares practical examples, including AI-powered food waste monitoring on cruise ships, alongside emerging threats from fraudulent certification, cyberattacks and information overload. A discussion with ABS also challenges the assumption that giving AI more context necessarily produces better answers.

The conversation then moves into the boardroom. How should directors evaluate AI investments when the technology is evolving faster than conventional governance processes? Finally, attention turns to seafarers, who are already adopting AI tools regardless of whether their employers have formal strategies in place.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by GTT Marine.

Every integration RFP in shipping asks for a single source of truth. Almost no fleet actually wants one in practice.

Why? Because, as one operator told the team at Thetius, the moment you force everything into one platform, you risk sacrificing best-in-class functionality.

The great integration, the new Thetius and GTT Marine report, makes the case for something more achievable.

A consistent view across the systems your teams already trust. Recommended reading for anyone running an integration RFP.

Download it here.

CHAPTERS

• 03:31 Why ownership changes accountability
• 07:46 Commercial viability and seafarer safety
• 09:30 Using technology to reduce risk
• 11:58 Courage, culture, and difficult decisions
• 16:03 Why transformation fails at adoption
• 18:51 Transforming operations at Cargill
• 23:26 Turning operations into a P&L enabler
• 29:59 Leaving the corporate identity behind
• 33:12 Designing a career with intention
• 41:03 Decarbonisation beyond future fuels
• 47:55 Fixing incentives across the value chain
• 51:50 What effective collaboration requires
• 56:18 What comes next for SeaThrew Marine

Eman Abdalla joins Nick and Raal to explain why founding SeaThrew Marine was the culmination of a career spanning chartering, operations, logistics, governance and strategy, and why her original ambition was not simply to advise shipowners, but to own and operate vessels herself.

In Emans’s view, influence only goes so far. Charterers, managers and operators can set standards and shape behaviour, but ultimate responsibility for safety, seafarer welfare and investment decisions still rests elsewhere. Her aim is to build a business where commercial performance and operational accountability sit in the same place.

The conversation moves into the practical meaning of transformation. Eman argues that technology should do more than optimise fuel consumption: drones, better data, AI and redesigned processes should also reduce risk for seafarers and improve the quality of everyday decisions. 

She also reflects on her time at Cargill, including the work of repositioning operations from a perceived cost centre into a function that protects and enables P&L. That required trust, stronger communication, talent development and a clear link between organisational values and daily decision-making.

The discussion then turns to career identity and Eman’s decision to leave the security and visibility of a major corporate role. She describes the vulnerability of separating her own professional identity from a large company name, alongside the freedom to pursue board work, entrepreneurship and problems where she believes she can have a direct impact.

Finally, the conversation examines shipping’s decarbonisation challenge. Eman argues that uncertainty over future fuels cannot become an excuse for ignoring operational efficiency today. Better voyage planning, port coordination, contractual incentives and data sharing could cut avoidable emissions now, but only if owners, charterers, ports, cargo interests and operators stop optimising their individual piece of the system in isolation.

EPISODE PARTNER

Compliance in maritime is too often treated as a constraint. Done properly, it's the foundation for better operational performance.

The real barrier isn't the regulation — it's fragmented data and inconsistent standards, which make compliance manual, slow and reactive. Standardise the data and strengthen the governance, and compliance starts improving data quality and reducing inefficiency across the fleet, instead of just sitting on top of it.

Compliance isn't the anchor holding the fleet back. It's the keel that keeps it stable — and lets you move faster with more confidence.

Build compliance into every workflow with Insight.

CHAPTERS

• 03:40 MCPs, LLMs and the future of maritime transactions
• 14:52 When maritime standards meet the wider technology ecosystem
• 18:30 Shipping’s “unicorn” CTO problem
• 25:44 AI-powered CCTV arrives on board
• 30:15 Surveillance, privacy and the social contract
• 36:53 The Hawthorne effect and monitoring crew behaviour
• 39:29 Why the Maritime Single Window still isn’t truly interoperable
• 49:11 AI agents, digital identity and converging workflows
• 52:14 Why all of this lands on the CTO’s desk
• 57:02 Strategic choices, resilience and avoiding technology drift

The episode opens with Nick testing Princess Cruises’ new ChatGPT integration and asking what happens when the browser stops being the default interface to digital services.

That leads into shipping’s search for increasingly improbable technology leaders: CTOs expected to understand cloud infrastructure, cyber security, AI, data, vendors, transformation and the operational realities of ships. Nick and Raal consider whether companies need deep maritime experience, deep technology expertise, or teams deliberately designed to combine both.

The discussion then moves on board, where AI-enabled CCTV promises better safety analysis, automated evidence and reduced administrative workload while raising difficult questions around privacy, crew acceptance and surveillance.

Finally, they examine the Maritime Single Window, seafarer identity and certification as examples of a wider interoperability problem. Digital systems may be individually compliant yet still fail to work together.

Tickets are still available for the Digital Ship Summit in Athens. Join maritime IT leaders for practical discussion around the technology choices shaping the fleet.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by Insight.

Most organisations invest in preventing a cyber incident. Fewer can say, with confidence, how they'd keep operating on the day one happens.

Insight and SmartSea build resilience so an incident is a disruption, not a shutdown — connecting technology, people and operational workflows so critical decisions can still be made even when a single system is compromised.

Because resilience isn't only about stopping attacks. It's about keeping the business moving when one gets through.

Future-proof your digital defences with Insight.

CHAPTERS

• 01:03 Helium shortages and an unexpected shipping dependency
• 03:35 Qatar, Hormuz and the global helium supply chain
• 08:40 Shipping’s difficult alternative-fuel investment choices
• 15:20 What the newbuild engine mix says about 2050
• 19:00 Ammonia safety and the long road to fuel adoption
• 24:25 Could alternative fuels reshape tramp shipping?
• 40:19 The sea miles behind sausage rolls

Nick opens with one of shipping’s less obvious supply-chain vulnerabilities: helium. Its role in MRI scanners, semiconductor production and aerospace makes disruption to Qatari supply more consequential than the commodity’s profile might suggest. 

Raal then turns to study published by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Boston Consulting Group on shipping’s fuel transition and the decisions being embedded in today’s newbuild orderbook. The pair discuss the economics of conventional fuels, LNG, methanol, ammonia and onboard carbon capture, and why carbon pricing, hydrogen costs, bunkering availability and safety requirements make a 25-year investment decision exceptionally difficult. 

That uncertainty raises a bigger operational question. If future fuels are available only along selected corridors and port networks, could shipping become less flexible? Nick considers whether tighter dependence on known bunkering locations could constrain tramp operations and encourage more fixed trading patterns, while Raal points to combination carriers as an example of how the industry can extract more efficiency from established routes.

Nick brings that global system down to the scale of a single Greggs sausage roll, tracing ingredients and inputs across Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, India, Morocco, Ukraine and the US. 

The episode closes with a more immediate operational concern: a cluster of reported cyber incidents involving tankers and gas carriers. With allegations involving cargo-monitoring and control systems rather than only conventional IT or navigation, Nick and Raal discuss why cyber resilience is increasingly a safety and fleet-management issue, not simply an information-security problem.

EPISODER PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by Insight.

Fleet IT shouldn't mean a constant cycle of hardware refreshes, scattered support contracts, and capital tied up in kit that's hard to maintain.

It's the same discipline behind Insight's day-in-the-life device management on the Aroya refit — every one of 650-plus onboard devices tracked, maintained and accounted for across its lifecycle, on schedule and within budget.

Insight's Ship-to-Shore IT Asset Management brings that same model fleet-wide, modernising onboard technology without upfront capital spend — shifting fleet IT from a lump CapEx cost to a predictable service.

It's a smarter way to run fleet IT — freeing your teams to focus on operations, not infrastructure.

Simplify your fleet IT with Insight.

CHAPTERS

• 01:32 Could bad crew welfare cost shipowners their bunkers?
• 07:22 Why maritime suppliers may have more leverage than we think
• 11:36 Connecting crew performance, maintenance and procurement data
• 14:57 Why doesn’t better training affect insurance premiums?
• 19:25 Can maritime risk data drive prevention, not just pricing?
• 21:33 The end of the Mercator map?
• 30:42 South Korea’s plan to make AI a public utility
• 43:20 AI insiders sound the alarm over the race to superintelligence
• 52:01 Would AI regulation protect incumbents?
• 01:01:17 Shipping gets a techno artist: Handysize and 14 Knots

The episode opens with an unusual proposal for tackling one of shipping’s most persistent welfare problems: what if suppliers simply refused to do business with operators that mistreat or fail to pay their crews?

Raal highlights Suzun Marine Fuels’ move to include crew-welfare provisions in bunker contracts, allowing it to refuse or cancel supply where operators have been reported over issues including unpaid wages, poor conditions, forced labour or modern slavery.

That leads to a wider discussion about the overlooked influence of maritime suppliers and how unpaid wages can be used as a signal for financial distress at the organisation-level.

From there, they turn to P&I and loss prevention, asking why investment in crew competency and training is still so weakly connected to the way maritime risk is priced.

From there, Nick gives a brief history of the Mercator map and its proposed replacement: The Equal Earth projection.

The second half moves into AI. South Korea’s plans for a sovereign, widely available generative-AI capability prompt a discussion about what happens when AI starts to look less like a software subscription and more like national infrastructure. 

That optimism is followed by the darker side of the AI race. Raal tracks a rapid sequence of resignations, safety warnings and calls for greater oversight from researchers and industry leaders.

They finish on a less apocalyptic note with former Shipfix co-founder Antoine Grisset’s return to electronic music as Handysize, including his debut track 14 Knots, dedicated to women at sea.

You can support Handysize and women in maritime here:

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by OneOcean

Weather has always shaped shipping. But what happens when conditions become more extreme, less predictable, and the consequences start reaching far beyond the voyage plan?

On 29 September, Digital Ship Media and OneOcean are bringing together senior maritime leaders to explore what that means in practice - from vessel performance, cargo and fuel consumption to schedules, crew wellbeing and commercial decisions.

You’ll hear from Capt. Harpreet Singh, COO of Suisse Atlantique, and Peter Turner from OneOcean, in a discussion moderated by Nick.

Register here and join the discussion on 29 September.

CHAPTERS

• 01:07 How SMM is changing
• 03:21 The Thetius Top 150
• 07:52 Wind propulsion goes mainstream
• 12:39 Maritime AI before the AI boom
• 16:27 Meet the “meat proxy”
• 17:39 Class as an innovation enabler
• 28:25 What people at SMM really think comes next
• 32:03 Shipping’s messy, contextual data problem
• 35:12 Who owns the authoritative version of reality?
• 37:03 Moving decisions closer to the frontline
• 41:32 Critical thinking becomes digital judgement
• 43:16 Are spreadsheets making a comeback?
• 47:22 Ordinary abundance
• 50:13 Pineapples, spices and what shipping lets us take for granted

Nick is back from SMM Hamburg, where the exhibition increasingly looks less like a showcase for engines and heavy equipment alone and more like a cross-section of shipping’s technological transition. Using the newly launched Thetius Top 150 as a lens, he picks out several signals from the week: nuclear propulsion moving towards a credible adoption pathway, wind-assisted propulsion shifting decisively from demonstration to commercial scale, and classification societies becoming important enablers rather than inadvertent bottlenecks for new technology.

Although maritime has been applying machine learning, computer vision and predictive systems for years, much of the industry remains cautious about the current generative AI boom. Nick’s conversations at SMM underline the contradiction nicely: almost everyone thinks AI matters, but nobody wants to be the person predicting AI.

That leads into a broader discussion about shipping’s increasingly connected data environment. As vessel, port, customs and operational systems exchange more information, the challenge is no longer simply collecting data. It is deciding which source deserves authority when those systems disagree. 

This has one unexpected consequence of generative AI: the possible return of the spreadsheet. Tools that once required specialist software or analyst support can increasingly be built and interrogated quickly, although data governance and validation remain significant constraints.

The episode closes with a reminder of the once-extraordinary luxuries that shipping now enables us to take for granted as everyday essentials.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by GTT Marine.

Every integration RFP in shipping asks for "a single source of truth". Almost no fleet actually wants one in practice. Why? Because, as one operator told the team at Thetius, the moment you force everything onto one platform you risk sacrificing best-in-class functionality. 

The Great Integration, the new Thetius and GTT Marine report, makes the case for something more achievable — a consistent view across the systems your teams already trust. Recommended listening for anyone running an integration RFP. 

Download it today.

CHAPTERS

• 00:27 Introducing Steve Hemmings
• 02:05 Why maritime needs to take IT more seriously
• 03:45 Insight’s evolution from hardware to transformation
• 10:34 Lessons from banking and open standards
• 18:38 What a mature maritime IT organisation looks like
• 22:52 Building an accurate vessel IT asset inventory
• 27:58 Turning maritime data into business value
• 32:58 What cargo shipping can learn from cruise
• 43:17 AI adoption and building a culture of innovation
• 45:51 The human side of technology transformation
• 50:40 Legacy platforms, AI and the future architecture

The episode opens with a fundamental question: why does maritime still struggle to treat IT as a strategic capability rather than a support function? Steven Hemmings, Client CTO for Insight’s EMEA maritime team, explains how Insight moved from supplying technology into transformation and integration work, including its experience supporting the AROYA project with Columbia Group.

The conversation then turns to what maritime can learn from other sectors. Drawing on his early career at the Bank of England, Steve argues that banking’s progress on standards depended as much on relationships, behaviour and sustained dialogue as it did on technology. 

Cruise provides a useful reference point.

Better onboard infrastructure, stronger connectivity and clear revenue incentives have pushed cruise operators towards more mature digital environments. Those foundations matter increasingly for cargo shipping too, particularly as IT and operational technology converge and cyber exposure grows.

The discussion closes on two closely related challenges: AI and people. Legacy platforms may constrain what shipping companies can do next, but replacing everything at once is rarely realistic. Building around existing systems, creating stronger data foundations and introducing new capabilities incrementally may offer a more practical route. 

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is partnered with Insight, in partnership with SmartSea.

The most resilient fleets don't wait for a cyber incident to start thinking about security — they design it from day one.

Under NIS2, maritime is classed as essential infrastructure, and IMO's cyber risk rules already require security to be built into a vessel's Safety Management System.

Insight and SmartSea help operators meet both by embedding cyber resilience directly into everyday operational workflows — so compliance isn't a separate project, it's how the fleet already works.

Because the strongest fleets are resilient by design, not by reaction.

Future-proof your digital defences with Insight and SmartSea. 

CHAPTERS

• 00:23 Best-of-breed software and the importance of good data
• 04:51 Maritime fragmentation, taxonomy and interoperability
• 08:08 Why older ships can be easier to integrate
• 10:26 Fleet interoperability and the economics of maritime SaaS
• 14:27 Who pays when an autonomous tanker spills oil?
• 21:42 Masters, fatigue and remote pilotage
• 28:03 Search and rescue, COLREGs and autonomous ships
• 31:15 Cyber risk, software updates and seaworthiness
• 38:04 Anglo-Eastern’s approach to fleet-wide cyber security
• 44:52 AI, cyber attacks and a changing threat landscape
• 49:40 Wilson Sons’ long-term technology investment strategy
• 55:53 SMM, the Digital Ship Summit and the Thetius Top 150

The episode opens with Nick reflecting on a webinar with GTT Marine and Dorian LPG examining one of shipping technology’s recurring questions: whether owners should consolidate around a single platform or assemble a best-of-breed technology stack. 

That leads into the structural fragmentation of shipping itself. Different vessels, vendors, ranks, departments and even fleets can describe the same things differently, making interoperability as much an organisational problem as a technical one. 

The main discussion turns to autonomous and remotely operated ships, prompted by the question of who would be liable for pollution when control no longer sits conventionally on board. From there, the legal questions multiply. 

• Who is the master when control is divided between people and autonomous systems? 
• How do hours-of-rest rules apply to shore-based operators? Does a pilot still need to board? 
• What happens to search-and-rescue obligations on an unmanned vessel? 
• And which jurisdiction governs somebody controlling a ship from another country? 

Cyber risk brings the same tension into seaworthiness. The discussion considers whether poor cyber risk management could ultimately call a vessel’s seaworthiness into question, and what happens when software updates can materially alter how a ship performs after it has sailed.

Anglo-Eastern’s work with CyberOwl provides a more immediate operational example: rather than replacing the different systems across a large third-party-managed fleet, the aim is to create a consistent cyber-risk layer capable of working with the infrastructure already on board.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by Insight, in partnership with SmartSea. 

Every voyage means thousands of small decisions — on fuel burn, maintenance timing, emissions, and cost. Made well, they compound. Made blind, they compound too.

Insight and SmartSea help operators bring route optimisation and predictive maintenance into everyday operations through one connected digital environment — turning sustainability and efficiency from a separate initiative into simply how the fleet performs, voyage after voyage.

Because the best gains aren't the ones you chase once. They're the ones built into how you already operate.

Take the next step with Insight. 

CHAPTERS

• 04:18 Rhine water levels and inland shipping
• 07:04 Panama Canal drought and draught restrictions
• 10:17 Drift Energy and green hydrogen at sea
• 18:39 Maritime innovation and the ocean economy
• 23:18 Singapore’s Pier 71 startup programme
• 30:52 The gap between research and commercialisation
• 35:14 The EU AI Act and transparency requirements
• 45:08 AI disclosure, watermarking and content quality
• 51:59 Human oversight and the future of knowledge work

The episode begins with extreme heat and an unlikely supply-chain indicator: Nick talks about its direct maritime consequences, with exceptionally low water levels at Kaub restricting cargo capacity on the Rhine and drought reducing permissible draughts through the Panama Canal.

The conversation then moves from climate impacts to potential solutions. Raal introduces Drift Energy’s concept for sailing vessels that generate electricity at sea and convert it onboard into green hydrogen.

The discussion broadens into tidal power, onboard carbon processing and the wider ocean economy, asking whether ships can become energy-producing assets rather than simply consumers of cleaner fuels.

Attention then turns to Singapore’s Pier 71 programme and what its alumni suggest about the value of sustained, government-backed maritime innovation.

Nick and Raal contrast that model with the persistent difficulty of moving promising technologies from research funding into viable commercial businesses, particularly in the UK and Europe.

The episode closes with the EU’s developing approach to AI transparency. They examine watermarking, disclosure obligations, human oversight and the implications for companies using generative AI professionally. The central question is less whether AI was involved than whether the finished work is accurate, useful and properly scrutinised.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by Insight, in partnership with SmartSea. 

Getting new technology onto one ship is an achievement. Getting every ship the same benefit is where most digital transformation programs lose momentum.

On the Aroya refit, Insight delivered the largest cruise IT transformation in EMEA — on schedule, in 11 months, across 33-plus workstreams — built on a single connected architecture designed to be repeated on the next vessel, not rebuilt from scratch.

That's the model Insight and SmartSea bring to fleet-wide rollouts: pilot once, deploy consistently, and cut the time and cost of getting every vessel to the same standard.

Because transformation only counts once it reaches the whole fleet.

Start your digital transformation journey with Insight.

CHAPTERS

• 03:38 Bridgetown Port’s $500k digital transformation
• 07:52 From 52 paper documents to a port community system
• 10:05 RightShip, NorthStandard and inspecting once
• 13:33 Can vessel inspections become a shared data standard?
• 18:59 The case for asking for maritime data only once
• 23:13 Oceanic Alliance and procurement pooling
• 27:18 What happens when AI starts making the decisions?
• 29:28 AI forecasting, broking and market feedback loops
• 37:31 Finding an edge when everyone has the same data
• 42:36 Marketing claims versus primary research
• 44:26 Where to look for maritime technology’s real frontier
• 47:29 Why asking customers to pay changes the feedback
• 52:01 Shadow AI and the EU AI Act
• 59:19 Why a subsea cable was rerouted for Dobby

The episode opens with a new candidate for Undocked’s “Under the Radar” series: Bridgetown Port in Barbados, which has built its own cloud-based port community system. The numbers make the case unusually tangible: a reported $500,000 investment, 52 physical documents reduced to none.

From there, Nick and Raal move onto a collaboration between RightShip and NorthStandard raises a deceptively simple proposition: inspect once, then make better use of trusted evidence. 

The same logic appears in another form through Oceanic Alliance’s procurement pooling model. By aggregating purchasing demand across hundreds of vessels, smaller owners can potentially access some of the economies of scale traditionally associated with large third-party managers while retaining control of ship management.

The conversation then turns to AI and a more uncomfortable problem: what happens when everyone feeds similar data into similar models? In broking, product design, hiring, marketing and investment research, AI can improve analysis while simultaneously pushing participants towards the same conclusions. Once those conclusions begin influencing the underlying market, better forecasting can create new feedback loops and potentially new blind spots.

Finally there is the less predictable operational challenge of subsea infrastructure: a $600 million cable route reportedly altered to avoid the fictional grave of Dobby the House Elf.

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is supported by Insight and SmartSea, powered by SITA.

AI is reshaping maritime — but a model is only as good as the data and systems behind it. Too many AI initiatives stall because fleet data is fragmented and disconnected from day-to-day operations.

Insight and SmartSea, powered by SITA, connect data, applications and onboard operations through one fleet architecture — so operators can identify opportunities, prove value, and scale what works, rather than running another isolated pilot.

The outcome isn't "we tried AI." It's AI embedded in daily operations, driving measurable efficiency, resilience and business results.

Turn AI ambition into measurable outcomes with Insight and SmartSea.

Chapters

• 02:16 The origins of the Seafarers Happiness Index
• 04:45 A decade of changing seafarer sentiment
• 08:16 What the latest results reveal
• 09:19 Technology overload and operational futility
• 11:34 Control, agency, and wellbeing at sea
• 14:08 Why younger seafarers have more choices
• 16:30 The erosion of shore leave
• 18:45 Making technology work with seafarers
• 22:12 Balancing traditional and digital skills
• 24:58 Understanding the futility trap
• 26:39 Wellbeing among shore-based teams
• 28:43 Compliance theatre and disconnected policies
• 31:47 Putting seafarers inside decarbonisation decisions
• 34:05 Training, competence, and personal investment
• 39:48 Trip length and emotional adjustment
• 41:46 Why crew relationships still matter
• 45:14 Food quality, weather, and life onboard
• 48:50 Why captains report lower happiness
• 50:16 Measuring welfare across the industry
• 54:01 The Seafarers Pledge

The episode opens with Steven Jones explaining how the Seafarers Happiness Index grew from a simple attempt to hear directly from crews into one of the industry’s most closely watched measures of life at sea. More than a decade of responses now provides a view across connectivity, shore leave, wages, food, workload, welfare, health and relationships onboard.

The latest results point to something deeper than routine quarterly movement. Steven describes a growing sense of futility as seafarers face geopolitical instability, expanding compliance demands and technology that is frequently added without removing existing work. The discussion examines the operational gap between systems sold ashore and the reality of implementing them onboard.

Nick, Raal and Steven also consider the loss of agency at sea, the decline of meaningful shore leave and the changing expectations of younger seafarers with credible career alternatives ashore.

The conversation closes on the areas where progress remains possible. Strong relationships between shipmates continue to underpin wellbeing, while better food, protected downtime and genuine consultation can make an immediate difference. 

BE PART OF THE SURVEY

Contribute to the Seafarers Happiness Index

Take part in the Shore-Based Happiness Index

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode is sponsored by GTT Marine.

By 2027, EU ETS will cover 100% of reported emissions. 

FuelEU Maritime will be in full force. And CII corrective action plans will be a regular part of the conversation. The operators best positioned for that moment aren't necessarily the ones buying new systems right now. 

They're the ones using 2026 to connect what they already have. The Great Integration, the new report from GTT Marine and Thetius, is a practical blueprint for getting decision-ready before the deadlines stack up. 

Download it now.

CHAPTERS

• 00:36 Mintra connects 2.8 million training records
• 04:09 National competence registries and maritime careers
• 07:15 Who controls seafarer training data?
• 12:32 Creating an international trust layer
• 15:43 The career risk of lost paper certificates
• 18:24 Discharge books and multi-flag complexity
• 20:50 Mintra, Safebridge and digital credentials
• 21:56 Maritime technology predictions that failed
• 27:10 Weak signals and the next decade of shipping
• 31:21 AI, productivity and changing maritime jobs
• 37:44 Why maritime adopted native mobile apps
• 40:40 Huawei, HarmonyOS and a third ecosystem
• 45:58 Export controls and unintended consequences
• 50:00 Domestic systems meet international shipping

The episode begins with Mintra’s decision to connect 2.8 million training records to Norway’s national competence registry. The initiative raises a broader question for shipping: whether digital records can move securely between employers, industries and jurisdictions without replacing fragmented paper bureaucracy with equally fragmented digital systems.

Nick and Raal examine the distinction between certified qualifications and the wider training data held inside company learning systems. They discuss ownership, consent and the practical value of allowing records to follow an employee throughout a career. In a global industry without a single governing authority, the more difficult challenge is establishing trust between flags, training providers, employers and technology platforms.

The discussion then turns to maritime technology forecasting, before closing with Huawei’s HarmonyOS. Maritime software has largely been designed around two mobile ecosystems, Android and iOS. A credible third platform—particularly one supported by China’s large seafaring, shipbuilding and industrial base—could create substantial development and security choices for vendors relying on native apps and seafarers’ personal devices.

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CHAPTERS

00:44 The human element of maritime AI

04:03 Treating AI like a new employee

06:33 Seafarers, shadow AI and governance

13:55 MF Shipping’s people-first digital strategy

17:43 Transparent KPIs and operational priorities

27:50 Why most AI projects show no measurable return

32:39 Agentic AI at the Digital Ship Summit

35:17 A decade of maritime technology consolidation

40:19 Insurance pathways for autonomous vessels

46:45 A seven-billion-dollar week in shipbuilding

50:06 China’s dominance of the global orderbook

53:16 National shipbuilding strategies and friendshoring

55:39 AI-enabled shipyards and software-driven vessels

57:38 The risk of renewed vessel oversupply

The episode opens with Raal’s reflections from a maritime roundtable on AI and the human element. Seafarers are already using consumer AI tools for spreadsheets, emails, administrative work and personal support, often beyond the visibility of company policies. 

MF Shipping offers a more deliberate model. After surveying around 900 seafarers, the company is shaping its digital strategy around simpler workflows, reduced administrative burden and better operational decisions. Its public KPIs also challenge the industry to measure digital success by its effect on people, rather than the number of systems deployed.

Nick and Raal then examine the accelerating consolidation of maritime technology, including private equity interest in vessel operations, autonomy, cybersecurity and safety. Broader platforms may simplify fragmented technology stacks, but they also raise questions about integration, competition and control of maritime data.

The episode closes with shipbuilding’s return as a geopolitical concern. New investments in India, Bangladesh and the United States sit against China’s dominant share of global orders.

Governments are responding with industrial policy, allied shipbuilding partnerships and friendshoring, while Korean and Chinese yards develop AI-enabled design and production systems. The strategic race is intensifying just as the global orderbook approaches another potential cycle of oversupply.

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CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Freedom of navigation under pressure
• 05:04 Why charging for the Strait of Hormuz matters
• 08:12 China's accelerating electric shipping strategy
• 12:20 Smart ships, autonomy and China's maritime infrastructure
• 17:02 AI, geopolitics and competing development models
• 21:14 AI ends shipping's copy-and-paste era
• 25:03 Why maritime software is beginning to look the same
• 32:22 Emergence World and AI societies
• 39:44 Explainable AI and the human element
• 44:36 Shipping's next digital bottleneck
• 50:08 A lesson from computer-based training

This week begins with the deteriorating security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, following renewed attacks on merchant shipping and proposals to introduce charges for transiting one of the world's most important waterways. Nick and Raal examine what this could mean for the long-standing principle of freedom of navigation, and why weakening that norm would have consequences far beyond the Middle East.

The discussion then shifts to China, where rapid investment in electric vessels, autonomous shipping and digital maritime infrastructure paints a more nuanced picture of the country's decarbonisation strategy than many in the West assume. Rather than simply replacing one fuel with another, China appears to be redesigning parts of the maritime system around new technologies and long-term industrial planning.

From there, the conversation moves into artificial intelligence. Recent consolidation across maritime software providers prompts a discussion about whether competitive advantage will come from owning proprietary data or building the best interfaces to it. As AI increasingly becomes the layer connecting multiple systems, attention turns to the quality of underlying data, explainability and the limits of automation.

Finally, an extraordinary AI experiment, where different frontier models were allowed to govern virtual societies, provides a springboard into a wider debate about AI behaviour, accountability and what safe deployment should look like in highly regulated industries such as shipping. 

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by IEC Telecom.

Connectivity today goes far beyond a single service. IEC Telecom delivers a fully integrated ecosystem for modern maritime operations, combining multi-orbit connectivity, cybersecurity, network management and crew welfare into one platform.

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CHAPTERS

• 00:24 CEO departures continue across container shipping
• 02:37 New research into human factors and operational reality
• 05:06 Why interviews often reveal more than surveys
• 16:39 Alarm fatigue, cognitive overload, and the modern bridge
• 20:23 Digitalisation, distraction, and unintended consequences
• 25:08 Fatigue, simulation, and operational decision-making
• 34:03 What competence really means at sea
• 42:07 Why compliance training can create capability gaps
• 44:41 Leadership, culture, and why every ship is different
• 52:29 AI update: Fable returns
• 53:16 Holiday sign-off

The episode opens with another round of senior leadership changes across container shipping before turning to two new research reports examining one of maritime's most persistent problems: the gap between how systems are designed and how ships actually operate.

Nick shares findings from primary research with serving seafarers, masters and fleet managers, revealing how disconnected bridge systems increasingly rely on humans to act as the interface between technologies. The discussion explores cognitive overload, alarm fatigue and why bridge teams are often managing software rather than navigation during periods of highest risk.

The conversation then shifts to competence. The research suggests today's compliance-focused training is increasingly detached from operational reality, with situational awareness, decision-making under pressure and teamwork emerging as the industry's biggest capability gaps. Nick and Raal argue that leadership, culture and effective familiarisation have a greater influence on operational performance than certificates alone.

Read the Thetius report here: https://thetius.com/competent-or-compliant-seafarer-readiness-in-modern-maritime-operations/

EPISODE PARTNER

This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by KVH.

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CHAPTERS

• 00:52 Michael Skov steps down as Hafnia CEO
• 03:27 Episode Partner: GTT Marine
• 04:12 A $600 shipboard data logger changes the economics of vessel data
• 07:25 Edge computing, bandwidth and why raw data isn't the answer
• 10:05 Best-of-breed software versus the single platform vision
• 13:15 Why maritime technology moves in cycles of convergence and divergence
• 16:25 Software procurement, organisational silos and buying decisions
• 22:20 Nick's Neko Health scan and the future of preventative medicine
• 27:45 Could advanced health screening become standard before going to sea?
• 30:33 Digital literacy: shipping's overlooked transformation challenge
• 34:25 Data literacy, statistics and why dashboards can mislead
• 38:35 Compliance versus competence in maritime training
• 42:15 STCW reform and preparing seafarers for technologies that don't yet exist
• 47:55 Anthropic's Fable model and the AI capability leap
• 53:20 AI infrastructure, government intervention and vendor dependence

This week Nick and Raal begin by reflecting on Michael Skov's departure as CEO of Hafnia after sixteen years leading the company from startup to the world's largest chemical tanker operator. They discuss the leadership lessons behind that journey before turning to one of the more significant technology developments of recent weeks: dramatically cheaper onboard data logging that could make high-frequency vessel performance data accessible across a much larger share of the global fleet.

The conversation then returns to one of shipping's enduring technology debates—whether owners should pursue integrated software platforms or assemble best-in-class ecosystems connected through APIs. Drawing on recent industry commentary, they explore vendor lock-in, procurement strategy, organisational silos and why AI may make interoperability easier than ever.

Nick also shares a firsthand experience with an AI-enabled preventative health assessment, prompting a wider discussion about the future of seafarer medical screening, preventative healthcare and whether technologies of this kind could eventually reshape the ENG1 process.

Finally, the discussion turns to digital literacy, data literacy and the ongoing revision of STCW. The hosts examine why technology adoption remains fundamentally a people challenge, why understanding data is becoming as important as using software, and what the industry's latest research reveals about the growing gap between formal training and operational reality at sea. They close by exploring the brief release—and rapid withdrawal—of Anthropic's Fable model, considering what it means for AI governance, cybersecurity and the future of critical digital infrastructure.

EPISODE PARTNER 

This episode of Undocked is brought to you by GTT Marine.

Download The Great Integration, the latest report from Danialk and Thetius, exploring how fragmented technology systems affect decision-making across shipping, and what owners can do about it.

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Chapters

• 00:28 Norway anniversary and the Bergen live episode
• 02:02 Preparing for a 20-minute live Undocked
• 05:10 AI, workforce needs, and the human factor
• 06:15 Live Undocked begins at BISC
• 07:34 Raal’s idea: scaling human capital
• 08:00 Arm farms, observation, and performance data
• 10:58 Training, adaptive learning, and needs analysis
• 13:35 Digital twins and transferable expertise
• 15:04 Nick’s idea: the death of the manager
• 16:20 AI-led organisations and the changing middle layer
• 20:01 Meat layer, execution work, and maritime application
• 22:43 Technical expertise and Gell-Mann amnesia
• 24:56 Debriefing the live session
• 29:04 Why shipping follows other sectors
• 31:08 Prototyping adaptive learning
• 32:55 Reflections on live formats and future events

Episode Shownotes

This episode begins in Bergen, where Nick and Raal revisit Undocked’s Norwegian origin story and reflect on the challenge of taking an intentionally loose, edited podcast format onto a live conference stage. The brief from the Bergen International Shipping Conference was simple but unforgiving: twenty minutes, two big ideas, and no room for the usual rambling.

The live discussion centres on AI and the maritime workforce. Raal argues that AI will not simply replace human capital, but make expertise more observable, transferable and scalable. Starting from the unsettling image of an “arm farm”, he reframes machine observation as a possible route to better performance data, sharper training needs analysis and adaptive learning pathways built around the individual rather than rank-based progression.

Nick takes the more provocative line, imagining a future in which AI moves from helpful assistant to organisational operator, leaving humans to provide execution, accountability, governance and trust. His “death of the manager” thesis asks what happens when AI becomes better at measuring performance, turning strategy into plans and monitoring outcomes than the human middle layer currently doing much of that work.

The conversation closes on the maritime consequences: shipboard roles, the risk of further gigification, the enduring need for technical work, and the importance of knowing when AI is wrong. In a safety-critical industry, the episode lands on a pragmatic tension: AI may remove some layers of work, but it will also raise the premium on judgement, challenge and domain expertise.

Episode Partner

This episode of Undocked is brought to you by IEC Telecom.

IEC Telecom delivers integrated multi-orbit connectivity for maritime and offshore operations, bringing LEO and GEO networks together into reliable, flexible systems for vessels at sea.

Learn more at iec-telecom.com

Chapters

00:42 — Welcome back from Bergen
01:38 — Setting the scene: Maritime Bergen and Undocked Live
03:15 — Why geopolitics dominated the agenda
04:23 — Michael Beckley on shipping, security and great power tension
07:44 — The three tailwinds turning into headwinds
09:23 — AI, productivity and the limits of comparison
11:35 — Decarbonisation, energy security and global rules
16:38 — Raal and Nick reflect on resilience over efficiency
19:14 — Sabrina Chao on China, Norway and maritime collaboration
23:03 — China’s green transition and the need for regulatory certainty
26:53 — Shipping as a model for global cooperation
29:17 — Nick and Raal unpack China’s maritime position
31:15 — Andreas Enger on China, ammonia and shipbuilding capacity
38:04 — Chinese dominance in shipbuilding and the risks of disengagement
40:27 — Höegh Autoliners’ ammonia-ready future
42:20 — One hundred years of adaptation at Höegh
47:19 — Leadership, transformation and making the right decisions
56:18 — Julian Bray on risk, cash and market cycles
1:00:17 — Why this is not quite 2008 again
1:03:25 — Pia Melling on ship management, services and adaptability
1:07:33 — Why more owners are outsourcing specialist services
1:10:03 — Energy-saving technologies and practical decarbonisation
1:12:19 — AI, learning and changing work at sea and ashore
1:17:02 — Göran Persson on global institutions and shipping’s role
1:20:15 — Making shipping visible through green leadership
1:21:43 — Final reflections: avoiding groupthink and widening perspectives

Shownotes

This special episode comes from Bergen, where Nick and Raal recorded quick-fire conversations with speakers from Maritime Bergen.

Michael Beckley sets the geopolitical frame: the tailwinds of globalisation, demographics and industrial productivity are weakening, pushing shipping to think more about resilience than efficiency.

Sabrina Chao brings a Chinese perspective on collaboration, regulatory certainty and decarbonisation, while Andreas Enger grounds the China discussion in ammonia, shipbuilding capacity and Höegh Autoliners’ long-cycle approach to transformation.

Julian Bray looks at market risk and why today’s stronger balance sheets make this cycle different from 2008. Pia Melling explains how ship management is evolving as owners seek scale, specialist services and practical support with energy efficiency, crew welfare and AI.

Finally, former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson argues that shipping must become more visible by leading on green transport, investment and innovation.

Together, the episode captures an industry adapting to a more fragmented world while trying to keep sight of long-term transformation.

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Chapters

• 00:27 Introduction to Stylianos Papageorgiou and Lomar Labs
• 01:24 Lomar’s 50-year history and appetite for change
• 02:42 Episode partner: GTT Marine
• 03:21 Why Lomar built its own venture lab
• 09:35 Using a changing fleet as a testbed
• 11:34 How Lomar Labs works with startups
• 14:08 Choosing problems worth solving
• 16:14 Building the Compass programme
• 17:56 R&D, innovation, and procurement
• 20:38 The three pillars: technical risk, commercial readiness, and funding
• 25:40 Portfolio focus: future of work, energy, and emissions
• 29:47 Testing technology on ships without overwhelming operations
• 31:09 Seafarer feedback and onboard experimentation
• 33:41 What makes a startup worth backing
• 37:22 Commercialisation, pricing, and market realities
• 39:15 Regulation, timing, and the energy transition
• 46:46 Future of work at sea
• 49:45 Autonomous navigation and alarm overload
• 51:10 Signal Fusion, behavioural data, and human judgement
• 53:27 Automated audit trails and the limits of measurement
• 54:01 The long-term vision for Lomar Labs
• 55:56 How shipping can better support innovation
• 58:23 How startups and shipping companies can reach Lomar Labs

This episode begins with Stylianos Papageorgiou, managing director of Lomar Labs, drawing a sharp line between R&D and innovation: one creates knowledge, the other turns it into viable businesses. It is a useful distinction for shipping, where promising technology often struggles to survive contact with operational reality.

Nick and Raal explore why Lomar built its own venture lab rather than joining an accelerator or investing through a fund. Stylianos explains how the Compass programme gives startups structured access to ships, crews, class, flag, and commercial feedback — without demanding exclusivity, discounted first units, or shared IP.

The conversation moves from model to mechanics: technical de-risking, commercial readiness, funding pathways, and the floating laboratory Lomar uses to test modular technology onboard without disrupting day-to-day operations. There is also a clear focus on seafarers, who are not treated as passive subjects of innovation but as critical users whose feedback can shape whether a product works.

The episode closes on regulation, energy transition, autonomous systems, and founder discipline. Stylianos argues that startups should solve problems shipping genuinely values, not simply wait for regulation to force adoption. For shipowners, the lesson is equally pragmatic: innovation needs managed risk, real assets, and enough patience to let useful ideas mature.

Episode Partner

This episode of Undocked is brought to you by GTT Marine.

The Great Integration, a new report from Danalec and Thetius, looks at how fragmented systems are eroding decision quality across shipping — and what owners can do about it.
Learn more at gttmarine.fr.

From the explosion of AI messaging across the exhibition floor to the technologies that are quietly moving from concept to commercial reality, this episode separates hype from substance.

They discuss why governance is becoming the defining challenge for AI adoption, how simulation technology is reaching new levels of realism, why condition-based maintenance may finally be having its moment, and what recent industry deals tell us about the future direction of maritime software.

Along the way, they examine why alternative fuels seem to have disappeared from centre stage and what has replaced them as shipping's immediate priority.

Chapters

00:00 Live from Posidonia: Raal's missing, Nick's roaming

02:00 AI everywhere: genuine innovation or marketing necessity?

05:00 What separates serious AI solutions from AI wrappers

09:00 From ideas to products: when does innovation become commercial reality?

12:00 Why shipping only solves problems when they become unavoidable

14:00 Hot or Not: the technologies dominating Posidonia 2026

17:00 Alternative fuels are out. Vessel performance is in.

18:00 Simulation technology is getting frighteningly realistic

23:00 Why great simulations don't always need great technology

26:00 AI governance moves from theory to business priority

28:00 Kaiko's acquisition and what it says about maritime software consolidation

38:00 Condition-based maintenance may finally be ready for prime time

41:00 Why inspections are becoming valuable data sources

44:00 Looking ahead to Bergen Shipping Conference

This episode is brought to you by KVH. Delivering resilient connectivity, data, and insights to keep maritime operations connected, informed, and moving, wherever you are. Learn more at kvh.com.

Chapters

• 00:00 A long-overdue hosts-only episode
• 01:39 IMEC and “People at the Helm”
• 04:21 Seafarers in conflict zones
• 07:27 Real-time information and crew psychology
• 10:34 Geopolitics and rerouted supply chains
• 15:33 Decision-making under pressure
• 19:11 Welfare support and trust in AI
• 21:59 Voyage optimisation and supervised automation
• 30:15 AI adoption gaps onboard
• 35:25 Maritime AI and fragmented data
• 46:02 Vendor lock-in and cloud dependency
• 55:50 Digital twins and organisational knowledge
• 01:02:19 Email overload and operational culture

Episode Shownotes

Nick and Raal return for a rare hosts-only conversation following several weeks of conferences, travel, and near-misses in airports and hotels. The discussion opens with reflections from IMEC’s “People at the Helm” conference, where shipowners, unions, welfare organisations, and employers gathered to discuss the realities facing seafarers in an increasingly unstable world.

A major theme throughout the episode is geopolitics and what it now means for maritime operations. From the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, the pair explore how conflict risk is reshaping assumptions around global trade, crewing, and operational resilience. They discuss the uncomfortable reality that merchant seafarers are increasingly exposed to direct geopolitical risk while supply chains continue to rely on globally fragmented ownership, flags, and labour models.

The conversation then turns toward resilience — not just in trade routes, but in people and decision-making. Nick and Raal examine how rerouted voyages, longer sailing distances, and constant operational pressure are changing the demands placed on crews. That leads into a wider discussion around training, fatigue, welfare support, and whether existing maritime frameworks were ever designed for the level of disruption now facing the industry.

The second half of the episode focuses on AI, voyage optimisation, and the “human in the loop” problem. Drawing on recent research into RPM optimisation and supervised automation, Nick explains why sophisticated AI recommendations often fail to translate into operational behaviour onboard. Workload, alarm fatigue, fragmented systems, and competing priorities all contribute to the growing execution gap between software and shipboard reality.

The episode closes with a broader discussion about digital infrastructure, vendor lock-in, and AI-enabled organisational knowledge. From cloud dependency to digital twins, Nick and Raal explore how maritime businesses may eventually codify operational judgement and experience — while questioning how much human expertise can truly be replicated by machines.

Episode Partner

This episode of Undocked is brought to you by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

The future of shipping is being shaped right now — from AI and decarbonisation to digital operations. Lloyd’s Maritime Academy offers forward-looking courses designed to help maritime professionals build practical expertise for the industry ahead. Download the 2026 here.

• 01:22 Susanne Justesen on joining maritime and the role of GMF
• 04:20 How the Global Maritime Forum drives industry collaboration
• 07:00 The origins and evolution of the All Aboard Alliance
• 11:15 Why crew welfare, diversity and safety are interconnected
• 14:45 Maritime exceptionalism and lessons from other sectors
• 18:05 Sustainable crewing guidelines and sharing best practice
• 22:10 Moving from self-assessment to measurable transparency
• 25:00 New welfare standards, benchmarking and certification plans
• 28:10 Aligning commercial incentives with crew welfare
• 31:15 Charterers, retailers and the challenge of transparency
• 34:00 Human data, AI and concerns around surveillance
• 38:00 Learning from what works rather than only failures
• 41:00 What happens next for the Alliance and its standards work
• 44:00 Closing remarks

Episode Shownotes

Recorded live from the IMEC People at the Helm conference in Southampton, Raal Harris sits down with Susanne Justesen, Human Sustainability Director at the Global Maritime Forum, to discuss the next phase of the All Aboard Alliance and the industry’s growing focus on measurable crew welfare standards.

The conversation begins with Susanne’s route into maritime from the world of innovation and diversity advisory work, before unpacking the role GMF plays in convening senior leaders across shipping’s value chain to tackle problems that regulation alone has struggled to solve.

From there, the discussion turns to the origins of the All Aboard Alliance and how its initial focus on diversity, equity and inclusion has evolved into a broader effort to improve living and working conditions at sea. Susanne explains why fatigue, safety, psychological wellbeing and inclusion cannot be treated as separate issues, and why the industry needs clearer ways to identify what “good” actually looks like onboard.

A major focus of the episode is the Alliance’s newly launched initiative to develop independently verifiable crew welfare standards. Susanne outlines plans for global benchmarking, transparency around operational indicators, and certification models that could eventually help charterers, financiers and cargo owners distinguish between vessels based not only on technical performance, but also on the conditions experienced by crews.

The conversation also explores the economics behind welfare investment, the risks of fragmented customer-led regulation, and the growing importance of human-centred operational data. Raal and Susanne discuss AI, fatigue monitoring, psychological safety, and the tension between useful insight and intrusive surveillance.

The episode closes with a wider reflection on culture change in shipping: why the industry often focuses too heavily on failures, and why meaningful progress may come faster by studying vessels and operators where things are already working well.

Episode Partner

This episode of Undocked is brought to you by IEC Telecom.

IEC Telecom delivers fully integrated multi-orbit connectivity solutions for maritime and offshore operations, combining LEO and GEO networks into seamless, reliable systems at sea.

Learn more at iec-telecom.com

• 00:38 Introducing Friederike Hesse and Zero44
• 02:15 From startups and consulting into maritime
• 04:34 Lessons from scaling Homeday
• 07:36 Why maritime decarbonisation became a software problem
• 11:25 Breaking down EU ETS and FuelEU
• 15:06 FuelEU pooling and compliance markets
• 19:06 Early operational impacts of regulation
• 21:09 Why spreadsheets are no longer enough
• 24:34 Building Zero44 product-by-product around regulation
• 31:17 Paying penalties versus optimising compliance
• 35:32 Regulatory uncertainty and the IMO net zero framework
• 40:43 Fragmented global regulation and UK ETS
• 43:06 Women, networks, and inclusion in maritime
• 47:56 Building a mixed maritime-tech startup team
• 50:11 What comes next for Zero44

Episode Shownotes

This week on Undocked, Nick and Raal are joined by Friederike Hesse, founder and CEO of Zero44, to discuss the rapidly growing complexity of maritime decarbonisation compliance — and why software is becoming central to how shipping companies operate.

The conversation begins with Friederike’s route into shipping from economics, consulting and Berlin’s startup ecosystem, before unpacking how Zero44 emerged from the wave of regulation arriving in European shipping from 2023 onwards. What started as a tool for monitoring CII risk has evolved into a broader platform for managing EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and increasingly complex commercial carbon strategies.

The discussion explores the mechanics behind FuelEU pooling, the emergence of private carbon marketplaces, and why compliance is becoming a commercial optimisation exercise rather than a simple reporting obligation. Friederike explains how operators are balancing fuel costs, penalties, charterparty agreements and voluntary carbon markets — often simultaneously — and why spreadsheets are no longer sufficient to manage the interdependencies involved.

Nick and Raal also examine some of the unintended consequences of regulation, including distorted operational behaviour under CII, while discussing the industry’s growing adoption of biofuels and the increasing fragmentation of regional carbon regimes, including UK ETS and potential future national systems.

The episode closes with a broader conversation about building technology companies in maritime, the challenge of regulatory uncertainty, and the social dynamics of an industry still heavily shaped by traditional networks and relationship-building.

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

With students in more than 185 countries, Lloyd’s Maritime Academy provides industry-recognised maritime education designed for professionals across shipping, trade and logistics. Click here to learn more.

• 03:03 Falling into shipping via dry bulk and Maersk Broker
• 05:27 Commercial shipping culture and disconnect from seafarers
• 10:57 What PsyFyi does and how the platform works
• 12:48 Why Claire left Intertanko to found a company
• 16:05 Data privacy, benchmarking, and owner reluctance
• 20:09 Measuring organisational culture and communication gaps
• 28:26 Asking better questions and listening properly
• 30:45 Crew engagement rates and using WhatsApp at sea
• 32:23 Charterers, paperwork fatigue, and operational impact
• 37:48 OCIMF, human factors, and enclosed space fatalities
• 42:00 Why shipping struggles to use human element data
• 47:39 Linking crew data to operational KPIs
• 50:09 Advice for women entering maritime
• 51:21 Bootstrapping a maritime technology company

Claire Georgeson joins UnDocked to discuss one of shipping’s most persistent blind spots: the gap between operational performance and the lived reality of seafarers.

Drawing on a career spanning commercial tanker operations, Intertanko, and now her own company PsyFyi, Claire explains why she became increasingly concerned by the disconnect between shore-side commercial decision-making and the operational realities on board vessels. The conversation revisits piracy-era chartering decisions, the industry’s fixation on asset value, and the assumption that crew resilience can endlessly absorb operational pressure.

The discussion then turns to PsyFyi’s approach to collecting human element data directly from seafarers through low-friction messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Claire outlines how anonymised daily feedback allows owners to benchmark communication, motivation, recognition, safety culture, and organisational performance across fleets and crew populations.

Nick and Raal explore why shipping remains highly sophisticated in technical and commercial data collection, yet comparatively immature when it comes to understanding people. Claire argues that fragmented reporting structures, cultural gaps on board, paperwork fatigue, and charterer-driven administrative demands are now materially affecting vessel performance, retention, and safety outcomes.

The episode also examines enclosed space fatalities, the limits of traditional training approaches, and the growing focus on human factors from organisations such as OCIMF. Throughout, the conversation returns to a central question: if seafarers are fundamental to operational performance, why are they still largely treated as a cost centre rather than a strategic asset?

Episode Partner

This episode is sponsored by Danelec.

Danelec’s new report, The Great Integration, explores why shipping’s growing volume of disconnected systems and operational data is undermining decision-making across the industry. Produced with Thetius, the report examines how owners can move from fragmented tools to integrated operational intelligence.

Download the report here

• 01:49 – 60 days after Hormuz: strain emerges
• 02:59 – Sulphur: the hidden dependency
• 05:31 – Supply chains as complex systems
• 08:53 – CO₂ shortages and food security risk
• 10:25 – AIS misuse and mariner ingenuity
• 12:28 – Inside the Riga People Conference
• 14:20 – Education models vs uncertain futures
• 20:22 – The AI-enabled ship and future seafarer
• 25:04 – Personalised learning vs regulation
• 29:26 – ECDIS competency gaps revealed
• 37:53 – Theory vs reality on the bridge
• 43:16 – Human judgement vs AI advice
• 46:27 – Bergen Shipping Week preview

Sixty days into the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the impact is no longer theoretical. Beyond oil, sulphur emerges as a critical pressure point, embedded across fertilisers, metals, batteries, and everyday goods, revealing how deeply interconnected and fragile global supply chains really are.

As delays ripple through the system, early signals appear: tanker markets flip, shortages begin to surface, and even CO₂ production becomes a concern for food security. These second- and third-order effects underline a central theme; complex systems don’t fail immediately, they unravel.

From there, the focus turns to people. Reporting from Riga, Raal shares insights from a maritime training conference centred on capability, resilience, and workforce development. At the core is a growing tension: education systems designed for predictability are struggling to prepare seafarers for a future defined by uncertainty and rapid technological change.

AI sharpens that tension. With the potential for personalised, real-time learning and onboard decision support, the technical barriers are falling fast. But regulation, built around standardisation and control, remains a significant constraint.

New data from NorthStandard reinforces the challenge. Despite widespread certification, gaps persist in ECDIS knowledge, from chart updates to hazard recognition. The discussion questions whether traditional assessment truly reflects operational competence, and argues for a more dynamic, data-driven approach to training.

The episode closes on the human factor, judgement, interpretation, and empathy at sea, and how these will coexist with increasingly capable AI systems. Plus, a preview of Undocked Live at Bergen Shipping Week.

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.
Expert-led maritime training built around real-world application, from compliance to digital transformation.

Click here to download the prospectus.

Links:

• Nick's Shipping in 2035 Article
• Bergen International Shipping Week

Chapters

• 00:00 Reconnecting after travel and reflections on Japan
• 02:00 Strait of Hormuz, seafarer risk, and media attention
• 07:30 Cadet berth shortages and training pipeline pressures
• 12:30 Onboard realities: risk, cost, and declining access
• 16:40 Human data, AI, and performance insights
• 21:00 Personality profiling and crew dynamics
• 27:00 Workflow data and real-time decision support
• 30:30 Automation, aviation, and human disengagement
• 33:20 AI labour and workers training their replacements
• 37:00 Claude, coding tools, and accelerating capability
• 41:00 Cybersecurity risks and unintended consequences
• 43:30 Closing reflections

Episode Shownotes

Nick and Raal open with a catch-up after time on the road, before quickly turning to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. With tens of thousands of seafarers still operating under heightened risk, they reflect on the limited but growing mainstream media attention on the human impact of geopolitical disruption.

The conversation then moves to a persistent structural issue: the shortage of cadet berths. While the need to train the next generation of officers is widely accepted, the burden of doing so remains unevenly distributed. The result is a familiar industry dynamic—collective benefit, individual cost—with long-term consequences for the maritime talent pipeline.

From there, the discussion shifts toward data and technology. Drawing on examples from industry initiatives and emerging platforms, Nick and Raal explore how fragmented human performance data could be brought together. The opportunity lies in moving beyond retrospective analysis toward real-time decision support. However, this raises a more complex question: as systems become more capable, what happens to human accountability when decisions are increasingly machine-informed?

The episode then broadens beyond shipping. Examples from aviation and manufacturing illustrate how automation is already reshaping work, from pilots disengaging in highly automated environments to factory workers generating the data that may ultimately replace them. These cases frame a wider concern: the pace of technological change is accelerating faster than industry—and policy—responses.

The episode closes with a reflection on that gap. Maritime may feel insulated, but the same forces are already at work. The challenge is not whether change is coming, but how the industry responds while it still has agency to shape outcomes.

Episode Partner

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Chapters

• 00:00 Buying at the bottom of the cycle
• 00:14 Introduction and Global Ship Lease
• 04:19 How container leasing works
• 06:19 Ownership shifts post-COVID
• 07:00 Career journey into shipping
• 13:36 Managing volatility and crises
• 15:08 Capital strategy and timing
• 19:11 Understanding market cycles
• 23:28 Red Sea and capacity distortion
• 26:52 Where are we in the cycle?
• 28:34 The German KG model
• 31:06 Markets within markets
• 35:03 Mid-size vessel strategy
• 38:12 Persian Gulf disruption
• 41:02 Seafarer realities
• 46:18 Planning under uncertainty
• 49:47 Decarbonisation challenges
• 53:18 Fuel choices and optionality
• 55:36 Carbon capture limits
• 59:15 Regulation and investment
• 1:00:08 Data and AI
• 1:02:51 Leadership reflections

Episode Shownotes

Tom Lister, CEO of NYSE-listed Global Ship Lease, begins with a simple principle: real value in shipping is created at the bottom of the cycle, but only for those with the capital and discipline to act.

The conversation explores how container shipping actually works beneath the surface. Lister outlines the shifting balance between owned and chartered fleets, the collapse of the German KG financing model, and why mid-size vessels have been structurally underbuilt for over a decade.

A recurring theme is fragmentation. Container shipping is not one market but many, segmented by vessel size, trade lane, and cargo type. Geopolitical shocks, from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, amplify this complexity by distorting capacity, forcing rerouting, and reinforcing the value of flexible tonnage.

Strategy, in this context, becomes about managing risk first. Lister explains how Global Ship Lease prioritises low leverage, liquidity, and charter coverage, while focusing on assets, like reefer-capable ships, that remain relevant through the cycle.

The episode closes on decarbonisation and data. Fuel pathways remain uncertain, with LNG, methanol, ammonia, and even nuclear still in contention, while carbon capture has yet to scale. Data is improving operational efficiency, but meaningful predictive value remains early. Leadership, ultimately, comes down to navigating uncertainty, and accepting the complexity that comes with it.

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.
Flexible, fully online courses designed for maritime professionals.
Study around your schedule, wherever you are.
Click here to learn more.

Chapters

• 00:00 Meetlayer and the “human as API” concept
• 04:25 AI agents sourcing real-world labour
• 07:40 Digital Ship AI Journal introduction
• 09:29 AI and the human element in maritime
• 16:45 Personalised learning and admin reduction
• 23:11 Simulation, digital twins, and training
• 25:12 Ethics and ownership of human data
• 31:27 AI in high-stakes maritime decision-making
• 38:45 Complex systems and logistics planning
• 43:11 Practical AI use cases (SMS, documentation)
• 46:36 Port operations and digital twins in practice
• 51:10 AI adoption strategy and ROI focus
• 53:55 Human-AI collaboration and organisational change
• 57:01 Closing reflections and journal takeaway

Episode Shownotes

This episode begins with a provocative look at meetlayer.ai, a platform positioning humans as an execution layer for AI agents. What starts as a novelty quickly becomes a serious lens on how labour, control, and value creation may shift as AI systems begin sourcing and directing human work.

From there, the discussion anchors into the Digital Ship AI and Automation Journal, using it as a framework to explore where AI is already delivering impact. A central theme emerges around the human element: not replacement, but augmentation. AI’s real opportunity lies in scaling personalised support—training, communication, and decision assistance—bringing something closer to one-to-one mentorship into operational environments.

The conversation moves into simulation and digital twins, highlighting how AI-driven environments can compress learning cycles and enable safer, high-fidelity training. But this capability introduces deeper questions around data ownership, particularly when digital representations of human behaviour begin to resemble transferable “human IP.”

Operationally, the episode examines tangible gains—from port optimisation and ETA intelligence to safety improvements through better visibility and pattern recognition. These examples reinforce a broader point: maritime is a complex system, and AI’s ability to correlate across that complexity may be its most valuable contribution.

The episode closes on implementation. Success depends less on the technology itself and more on clarity of purpose, governance, and how organisations integrate AI alongside human workflows. The emphasis is clear: start small, focus on real problems, and treat AI as a partner in judgment, not a replacement for it.

Click here to download the AI Journal

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.
With over 40 years of experience, they provide flexible, expert-led training for maritime professionals navigating digitalisation, regulation, and leadership challenges.

Click here to explore their programmes.

Chapters

• 00:00 Opening anecdote and introduction to Peter Rossi
• 00:12 Rossi’s background: F1, SaaS, private equity, and M&A
• 02:19 Entry into maritime and Beluga origins
• 03:09 Building and integrating 20+ companies
• 06:48 Tech due diligence in the age of AI
• 09:00 From chatbots to agentic AI
• 13:33 Tiered AI evolution and real-world workflows
• 20:23 Building AI-powered personal productivity systems
• 23:04 Human-in-the-loop and risk management
• 30:13 Applications in ship management and operations
• 35:04 How companies should adopt AI
• 42:42 Administrative automation vs “moonshot” tech
• 48:29 Agentic AI and the future of software
• 54:30 The future of SaaS and data ownership
• 59:30 Decentralised AI and infrastructure shifts
• 01:04:17 What comes next: agentic systems
• 01:12:09 AI in education and learning
• 01:13:35 Beluga relaunch and closing thoughts

This episode begins with Peter Rossi’s unconventional journey through Formula One, venture capital, and SaaS into maritime, setting the stage for a grounded discussion on how technology actually gets deployed inside businesses.

The conversation quickly moves to AI’s recent evolution—from static chat interfaces to embedded, context-aware tools and now toward fully agentic systems. Rossi outlines a three-tier model of AI maturity and explains why many organisations are still stuck at the earliest stage. Practical workflows, including automated content creation and data analysis, illustrate how quickly productivity gains can be realised.

A central theme is the shift from tools to systems. The discussion explores how agentic AI can orchestrate tasks across multiple platforms, enabling “management by exception” and dramatically reducing administrative burden—particularly relevant in process-heavy maritime environments like ship management.

The episode also examines the implications for SaaS, arguing that value is shifting away from interfaces toward data ownership and orchestration. This raises fundamental questions about how maritime software businesses will compete in a world of commoditised intelligence.

Finally, the conversation addresses governance, workforce impact, and adoption challenges. The hosts and Rossi emphasise that human judgment remains critical, even as AI systems take on more execution. The episode closes with a look at what comes next—and why organisations that fail to engage risk being left behind.

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Fortec.
Fortec delivers high-performance marine display and hardware solutions designed for demanding onboard environments, ensuring reliability, clarity, and operational continuity.

Learn more about Fortec’s solutions for maritime applications.

Steen reflects on his wealth of experience through nearly four decades in shipping, from Maersk and global operational roles to leading RightShip through a period of significant transformation. Over the past five years the organisation has been moving beyond its traditional roots in vessel inspections and vetting to become a technology-led platform focused on safety, sustainability and transparency across the maritime supply chain- with the ambition of raising collective standards towards zero harm.

The conversation looks at how RightShip has brought product development in-house, enabling closer collaboration between maritime experts and technologists, and accelerating the development of digital and AI-enabled tools for maritime risk intelligence.

They also discuss the future of vessel inspections. With thousands of ships inspected each year, RightShip is exploring how digital data from vessels could complement or replace parts of traditional inspections, reducing time onboard while improving insight sharing across the industry.

The discussion concludes on the role of industry standards and seafarer welfare, including how frameworks like RISQ are helping raise safety baselines and why improving transparency around crew welfare is becoming a growing focus for charterers and ship operators alike.

Chapters

00:00 Steen Lund’s maritime journey and career path
08:55 What RightShip is today and why it exists
16:10 Transforming from services to a technology platform
20:23 Bringing product development in-house
27:30 Managing internal and customer adoption of new technology
31:30 The future of vessel inspections and digital verification
36:20 RISQ and raising safety standards across shipping
45:40 Measuring and improving seafarer welfare
57:17 Permira investment and RightShip’s growth strategy
01:01:20 What’s next for RightShip and maritime AI

Links:

Join the priority list to get full acess to the Digital Ship summit agenda: https://thedigitalship.com/summit/

Chapters

00:00 – Opening and the week in maritime

Conflict around the Gulf intensifies, with merchant ships hit and security risks rising.

02:00 – Crew mobility disruption

Flight disruptions and soaring travel costs complicate crew changes across Middle East hubs.

04:00 – Seafarers’ perspective in the news

Connectivity at sea is allowing seafarers to share frontline experiences during crises.

07:00 – Tanker markets surge

VLCC rates spike dramatically as geopolitical risk and supply constraints collide.

12:00 – The economics of tanker deployment

Why shipping supply is relatively fixed and how positioning vessels affects the market.

15:00 – Tribute: David Dearsley

Remembering the architect of key global seafarer welfare frameworks and the Maritime Labour Convention.

30:00 – Class societies enter the software race

The Korean Registry launches a new software hub, signalling deeper digital competition.

43:00 – Maritime venture capital

Mare Liberum’s new fund backs technologies supporting free trade and maritime security.

53:00 – Climate experiments at sea

Geoengineering ideas, ballast water lessons, and the unintended consequences of regulation.

57:30 – Wrap-up

This episode is supported by Fortec.

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The conversation begins with the human reality at sea. Estimates suggest 50–60,000 seafarers are currently aboard ships stranded in the region, highlighting once again how maritime workers often find themselves caught in geopolitical crossfire. Nick explains why merchant vessels are particularly exposed: unlike naval ships, they have no defensive capability against drones or missile attacks, making even routine transits through the strait fraught with risk.

From there, the discussion turns to markets. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil and gas exports, and the disruption has already sent energy prices sharply higher. Shipping markets have reacted even faster, with VLCC tanker rates reportedly jumping from recent highs of $132k per day to well over $400k per day, illustrating how geopolitical shocks can rapidly reshape maritime economics.

The hosts also explore the broader ripple effects: war-risk insurance disappearing overnight, container ships potentially stranded inside Gulf hubs, and crew-change logistics thrown into chaos as major aviation hubs close. The episode closes by examining how crises like this often become inflection points, accelerating investment in maritime security, risk intelligence and new technologies across the industry.

Chapters

01:09 Strait of Hormuz closure and ships trapped in the Gulf

07:45 Seafarers caught in the conflict zone

12:36 War-risk insurance collapses

16:10 Energy markets and inflation ripple effects

22:30 Supply chain disruption and container impacts

24:20 Crew-change crisis and aviation hubs

27:18 Maritime security risks and ISPS response

44:57 New maritime risk intelligence tools

47:33 Emerging digital roles in shipping companies

Links

The Mission to Seafarers: https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/our-app

The main discussion tackles a bold question: Is agentic AI the beginning of the end for SaaS? Raal introduces the argument that language-based AI agents could replace traditional user interfaces, challenging the CRUD foundation of most SaaS tools. Nick explores the business model implications, from the rise of pay-per-use AI agents to the possible return of software you “buy once.” Together, they weigh whether brands, UX, and trust might still give SaaS an edge, especially in conservative industries like shipping.

They also dig into how maritime software vendors should evolve, introducing the concept of Agent-Computer Interfaces (ACIs) and the importance of deep domain knowledge and process transformation over just new tech.

Nick then highlights a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling that may force ports to include Scope 3 emissions from visiting ships in their sustainability reporting. He explains why this precedent could reshape port planning and carbon accounting.

To wrap up, they spotlight two safety tech breakthroughs: Kaiko Systems, which helped TMS Cardiff Gas cut SIRE observations by 34%, and Zelim, whose AI-powered man-overboard detection system achieved 96.8% accuracy in trials. They also celebrate Scorpio Tankers' installation of the first centrifugal carbon capture system, and a circular economy pilot turning captured CO₂ into concrete ingredients.

From there, they dive into a legal shocker — a WhatsApp exchange that ended up forming a binding contract worth £248,000. The conversation unpacks how chat messages and even emojis can be legally enforceable, raising major risks for broking, crewing, and commercial negotiations that increasingly happen off-email.

The focus then shifts to Pemira’s minority investment in Rightship. Nick and Raal examine why private equity interest in maritime is rarely just about capital, and what Pemira’s technology and M&A expertise could mean for consolidation in vessel quality and chartering intelligence. They also discuss Rightship’s new Fleet Focus product, which uses AI to turn port state control and inspection data into actionable insights for owners and operators.

The discussion expands into maritime training, benchmarking, and the challenge of proving ROI. They highlight how AI can ease the heavy lift of analysing inspection data, why experiential learning often goes uncaptured, and what competency management can reveal about operator quality.

Nick then pitches three “Alpha School-inspired” business ideas for maritime: personalised onboarding bots for new crew, a compressed “one-hour Blue MBA,” and tools to capture retiring seafarers’ expertise before it walks out the door. Raal weighs the pros and cons of each, sparking a lively debate on knowledge drain, learning culture, and experiential risk management.

Finally, they reflect on London International Shipping Week, reveal their decision to continue Undocked beyond the first 12 episodes, and remind listeners to clear their “debt” by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show.

The conversation shifts to seafarer representation in corporate leadership, sparked by Splash’s new Seafarers Report. Nick and Raal explore ideas like putting active seafarers on company boards, sending executives to sea annually, and building more authentic two-way engagement. They share examples from across the industry, including Bjorn Højgaard’s recent time onboard and BSM’s mixed-seniority innovation retreats, as well as reflections on culture, transparency, and why long voyages reveal the “real” shipboard experience more than CEO photo-ops.

They then discuss the OSM Thome merger, Tommy Olofsen’s new leadership role, and the growing shift among PE-backed ship managers toward diversified service portfolios as technical management alone reaches its scaling limits.

Finally, Raal introduces the episode’s big idea: digital twins of people, not ships. From startups like Vivien and Expertwin to Zoom’s CEO imagining AI replicas attending meetings, they unpack the ethics, risks, and potential benefits of capturing organisational knowledge. Nick wrestles with the tension: while knowledge retention and process capture could genuinely strengthen maritime businesses, AI “clones” risk destroying autonomy, degrading decision-making, and blurring personal IP.

The pair debate creativity vs. infinite-game decision-making, authenticity, AI-generated “likeness marketplaces,” and the slippery slope between helpful augmentation and Black Mirror-style identity capture.

Episiode Partner

This episode is brought to you by OrbitMI. In shipping, fuel is money — and OrbitMI helps you use less of it. Built for the Connected Maritime Era, Orbit’s AI-powered optimisation tools improve routing, speed management, and emissions performance to deliver smarter voyages, stronger margins, and greener operations.
Learn more at orbitmi.com/connected-maritime-era

The conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of digital workflows, exploring how tools like Sedna transform communication, collaboration, and decision-making for shipping companies. Bill reflects on lessons from scaling a technology business in a conservative industry, the importance of user-centred design, and why integration remains one of the hardest problems to solve.

They also examine industry consolidation, from private equity investments to M&A strategies and debate whether bigger platforms can deliver more value, or risk becoming too complex for end users. Bill stresses the need for maritime tech companies to stay focused on solving real problems rather than chasing trends, and highlights why AI and automation will be foundational in the next wave of shipping software.

Finally, Nick, Raal, and Bill consider the future of maritime software, discussing the cultural and organisational shifts needed for adoption, the role of patient capital, and what long-term success looks like in a cyclical and fragmented market.

Episode Partner

Staying compliant in today’s maritime industry is harder than ever. CII, EU ETS, FuelEU; the list keeps growing. That’s where OrbitMI comes in. Their Orbit Reporter solution automates regulatory reporting, ensures data accuracy, and keeps you ahead of the curve. No more errors, no more stress, just connected compliance. Recognised as one of the 150 Most Innovative Companies in Maritime for four years running, OrbitMI is trusted by shipowners worldwide. 

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Podcast

01:25 Recent Developments in Maritime E-Learning

07:59 Understanding the Greek Maritime Market

12:42 AI in Recruitment: A Surprising Study

23:23 Innovative Uses of Tethered Drones

28:02 Rethinking Maritime Inspections with Technology

33:24 The Rise of Robotic Ships in Offshore Services

This episode is brought to you by KVH. Delivering resilient connectivity, data, and insights to keep maritime operations connected, informed, and moving, wherever you are. Learn more at kvh.com.

They then turn to STAR Information Systems’ acquisition of Sharecat, exploring the importance of clean, enriched data for maintenance and asset management, and why “garbage in, garbage out” matters more than ever in a post-AI world. Polestar’s move into marine insurance with Clearwater Dynamics prompts a discussion on risk visibility, while Xeneta’s purchase of eeSea sparks a deep dive into enforced transparency, supply chain resilience, and why schedule reliability data is becoming as critical as freight rates.

Nick and Raal also dissect the fast-changing satcoms market, where Project Kuiper’s arrival has already forced Starlink into a price rethink. They consider what happens when bandwidth at sea becomes a commodity, and whether Elon Musk’s dominance will hold against Jeff Bezos’ Amazon-backed play.

To wrap up, they spotlight a first-of-its-kind green ammonia bunkering operation in China. With early tests showing up to 95% emissions reduction, they weigh the fuel’s promise against its challenges and scalability.

They then turn to OrbitMI’s back-to-back acquisitions of Auqub and Galeforce, exploring why pairing agentic AI software with a traditional weather routing advisory business could be a smart hybrid play. The discussion unpacks how human expertise and automated platforms can coexist, and why trust and verification matter more in AI-driven systems than in traditional SaaS.

A major cyberattack on Iran’s shipping industry prompts a conversation on satcom vulnerabilities, IT/OT segregation, and why drills and resilience testing need to become the norm. From there, Nick and Raal dive into the human side of maritime, discussing seafarer isolation in the digital age, the double-edged sword of connectivity, and the undervalued role of emotional intelligence in crew management and leadership.

Looking ahead to London International Shipping Week, they share what’s on their agendas — from the Thetius Top 150 launch to panels on digitalisation, AI, and decarbonisation. They also highlight Marine Media Enterprises’ new Donate & Train initiative, blending e-learning with charitable giving.

To wrap up, a light-hearted debate over Elon Musk’s latest venture — “Macro Hard,” an AI-driven challenger to Microsoft — sparks reflections on branding, competition, and whether the tech billionaire can really pull it off.

Download the Thetius "Beyond the Hype" Report here.

Bjorn shares his journey from seafarer to CEO. He reflects on how experience at sea has influenced his leadership style, from building trust and accountability to balancing empathy with operational discipline. The discussion examines how the role of the ship manager is evolving from a service provider to a strategic partner in decarbonisation, digitalisation, and talent development.

They dive into how AI and digital tools are transforming fleet operations, helping teams move from reactive management to predictive decision-making. Bjorn explains Anglo-Eastern’s approach to digital transformation, using technology to empower people, strengthen safety, and simplify complex workflows rather than replace human judgment.

The conversation also tackles the future of crewing, from tackling global talent shortages to redefining training and career development. Bjorn highlights how culture and purpose are key to attracting the next generation of seafarers and how leaders can align people, process, and technology for sustainable performance.

Bjorn's book, Balance: Beyond Binary, can be purchased on Amazon.

Episode Partner

This episode was brought to you by Sedna, the intelligent email platform built for the shipping industry. Sedna turns high-volume communication into structured, shared workflows, helping teams reduce noise, maintain compliance, and make faster, better-informed decisions.

Discover how Sedna is transforming maritime communication at sedna.com.

Chapters

04:05 M&A Activity in the Shipping Industry

04:56 V Group's Acquisition of Njord

11:03 The Role of Ship Managers in Decarbonisation

15:40 Innovative Solutions for Fuel Efficiency

22:25 The Importance of Data in Shipping

33:00 The Evolving Role of Class Societies and Ship Managers

33:19 Navigating Conflicts in Maritime Technology

40:09 Understanding the Dark Fleet and Sanctions

47:57 Emerging Solutions: Maritime Transparency Index

50:52 IMO's Digitalisation Strategy: A New Era

This video was brought to you by Accelleron. Accurate reporting, less stress, and more time to focus on what really matters: operating ships. Find out more at https://accelleron.com/

The conversation then shifts to Orbit MI’s unexpected acquisition of stealth-mode AI startup Auqub, and what it signals about the arrival of agentic AI in maritime. Nick explains how the move resembles a Silicon Valley-style “acquihire” and suggests this may be the first clear play for AI agents capable of action, not just insight.

Next, they explore the concept of the superworker—a human-AI hybrid role evolving through four stages of automation. Drawing on Josh Bersin’s framework and new academic research, they discuss the creative lift AI can bring, the hidden risks of homogeneity, and the tension between productivity gains and organisational change.

Rounding out the episode, they swap AI coaching hacks, analogue oblique strategies, and some friendly disagreement over how politely one should speak to their GPT.

• 01:30 Hapag-Lloyd and Zim’s $4.1bn deal

• 03:30 Defining distraction: BIMCO guidance and device risks

• 05:30 The Karen Høj collision and tablet use

• 14:40 Cognitive overload, multitasking myths, and Swiss cheese

• 17:30 Connectivity, alarms, and unintended consequences

• 29:45 Cruise industry “red zone” bridge culture

• 35:30 Zodiac’s in-house e-learning hire

• 41:00 The economics of content creation and AI

• 48:30 Data-driven training and operational feedback loops

• 55:00 Human error, system design, and why humans still matter
  

Episode Shownotes

Nick and Raal unpack recent guidance from BIMCO on distraction-causing devices, grounding the conversation in two high-profile cases: the MAIB report into the Karen Høj collision and the US Coast Guard findings on the Ever Forward grounding. In both, device use featured as a contributory factor. The point is not moral failure, but cognitive limits. Multitasking degrades performance. Refocusing takes time. Situational awareness is fragile.

From there, the discussion broadens to alarm overload, connectivity creep, and the operational implications of always-on vessels. What begins as welfare connectivity can blur into safety risk if boundaries are unclear. Proposed mitigations, sterile bridge periods, alert hierarchies, role-based communications, and explicit challenge culture, are examined alongside examples from cruise shipping’s “red zone” bridge protocols.

The second half shifts to training. A job advert from a Ship Operator  for a senior in-house e-learning content creator sparks debate about whether shipping is entering a new phase: lower production costs, AI-enabled media, and the possibility of dynamic, data-driven learning loops. The real opportunity lies not in content volume, but in linking operational data to behavioural change.

The episode closes on a reframing of “human error.” If 90% of incidents are attributed to people, how many accidents are prevented by human judgement, intervention, and care? The challenge for leaders is designing systems that support humans at their best—minimising distraction, maximising performance.

This episode is brought to you by Fortec UK.

Fortec’s DNV-approved N-Line maritime monitors are engineered for lifecycle continuity, enabling seamless upgrades without costly console redesigns. With flexible dimming options and IEC 60945 compliance, they support dependable performance across demanding bridge environments. Learn more at: https://www.fortec.uk

The discussion then turns to ABS’s acquisition of MetaShip from Orca Informatics, a move that could redefine maritime training through simulation and serious games. Raal explains the difference between gamification and immersive learning, while Nick argues that simulation should supplement, not replace, traditional sea time. Together, they dissect why cadet berth shortages remain a structural problem and why the industry must balance realism, safety, and cost in next-generation training.

Next, they dive into the autonomy revolution, starting with the MS Lumiere’s world-first dock-to-dock autonomous voyage in the Netherlands and Evergreen’s Evermax crossing the Pacific without human input. They debate what “manned autonomy” really means, how crew skills might erode under automation, and the human factors lessons learned from aviation.

From there, the conversation expands to shipyard robotics, as Samsung Heavy Industries partners with Rainbow Robotics to bring humanoid and quadruped robots into welding, painting, and inspection tasks. Nick and Raal discuss the implications of humanoid robots like Figure 3, capable of learning by watching humans, and question whether society is ready for a future where AI could replace up to half of global manual labour.

Finally, they reflect on the rise of AI-generated “work slop” meaningless machine output that mimics productivity but adds no value. Citing MIT Media Lab research showing 95% of companies have seen no measurable ROI from AI, they debate how automation may be both the problem and the solution.

The episode closes on a lighter note as Undocked crosses 1,000 monthly streams, thanks to growing listener engagement and debate.

Episode Partner

This episode was brought to you by Sedna, the intelligent email platform built for the shipping industry. Sedna helps commercial and operational teams cut through high-volume communication, turning emails into structured, auditable workflows that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across fleets and offices.

Discover how Sedna is transforming maritime communication at sedna.com

Key links:

Thetius - Rightship Report

Figure 03 Trailer on YouTube

The conversation turns to the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review, highlighting a record low in vessel losses but rising anxiety around geopolitical risks, including the recent sinking of the Magic Seas. They discuss the sharp rise in war risk premiums, the growing impact of the “dark fleet,” and the need for holistic responses to global shipping pressures.

Rounding out the episode, they revisit nuclear-powered shipping, examining the financial and regulatory barriers to small modular reactors, and draw parallels with challenges in carbon capture and waste logistics. From inboxes to innovation pathways, this is a wide-ranging look at the forces reshaping the maritime sector.

Links:

• theDock 30 under 30
• Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2025
• Has shipping painted itself into a CO2 corner?

• 00:00 Introduction and Spotify Wrapped Success
• 03:59 Pricing Models in Maritime Technology
• 17:00 Vendor Lock-In and Long-Term Resilience
• 24:57 The Role of IT in Maritime Transformation
• 26:35 Procurement Software and ESG Reporting
• 35:35 Understanding Emissions Calculations in Shipping
• 37:03 The Complexity of Procurement in Shipping
• 38:49 Innovations in Delivery: Drones and Logistics
• 40:44 The Future of 3D Printing in Shipping41:30 ESG and Its Impact on Shipping Practices
• 43:43 The Cooling Interest in ESG Investments
• 45:15 Port Initiatives for Decarbonization
• 46:45 The Role of Technology in Shipping Efficiency
• 51:06 Wind-Assisted Propulsion: A New Era in Shipping
• 59:13 Industry Initiatives for Wind Propulsion Adoption
• 01:01:55 Eco-Anxiety Among Seafarers and Its Implications

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Accelleron. Running ships is complex enough, managing emissions compliance shouldn’t make it harder. Loreka 360 Emissions Desk handles data checks, documentation, forecasting, and verification, powered by intelligent software and guided by experts who’ve worked at sea. Learn more at accelleron.com/emissions-desk.

The conversation then turns to Lomar shipping’s strategic pilot with AI start up Signal Fusion designed to aid predictive behavioural intelligence in maritime operations. They discuss how this could be an enabler for a human factors approach and whether AI could play a role in safety and decision-making, and why engaging crews is critical to safer operations. 

Chapters

01:39 Global Shipping Landscape and Geopolitical Volatility

09:44 Impact of Tariffs and Uncertainty on Shipping

14:25 The Future of NATO and Global Trade

17:27 Energy Security and Nuclear Shipping Innovations

25:29 Battery-Powered Ships and Their Potential

28:21 Decarbonisation in Australia: A Pioneer Approach

31:49 Navigating Risks in Battery Technology

34:28 Human Factors in Maritime Operations

40:22 AI and Human Performance in Shipping

53:43 Engagement and Feedback in Maritime Safety

Heather shares her journey from tech-enabled services and edtech into maritime, describing how she was drawn to the sector’s blend of global impact and deep-rooted community. She explains how Ripple, formed through the merger of Marine Learning Systems, Adonis HR, Marine CFO, and ShipAdmin is building an end-to-end HR platform for maritime, connecting recruitment, scheduling, training, compliance, and payroll through one integrated data hub.

The discussion dives into the complexity of crewing, from the exponential combinations of multinational teams on cruise ships to the intricate web of labour laws, union agreements, and training requirements that make crew management one of the hardest problems in shipping. Heather explains why integration, not replacement, is key moving from spreadsheets and siloed systems to connected platforms that improve efficiency without breaking what already works.

Nick and Raal also explore the people side of transformation, including Ripple’s challenge of uniting four legacy brands under a single culture and mission. Heather reflects on the importance of empathy, communication, and shared vision in creating a cohesive global team, and how satellite connectivity and crew wellbeing technology like Starlink are reshaping what it means to work at sea.

Looking ahead, Heather discusses the roadmap toward Ripple’s next-generation cloud platform, due to launch its first clients in 2026, and the long-term opportunity to expand into adjacent markets such as offshore, ferry, and commercial shipping. She also shares her optimism about AI’s role in maritime, her lessons from working with private equity, and the book that changed her view on the intersection of governance and innovation.

The episode closes on a personal note, with Heather’s guiding philosophy: say yes - to new industries, new opportunities, and even the challenges that make you nervous.

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Three themes dominate their recap. First is artificial intelligence — so pervasive it cropped up in almost every panel, regardless of the official topic. Second is alternative fuels and propulsion, from the UK’s emerging role as a hub for wind power exports to ongoing debates around LNG, methanol, ammonia, and the pathway to nuclear. Third is the geopolitical mood, where optimism and pessimism seemed equally strong, and where global fragmentation of regulation looms large.

They also discuss creative event formats like “Strictly Decarb,” where hardware, operational excellence, and business model innovation competed head-to-head — showing that shipping has plenty of practical levers to pull on decarbonisation today. Nick highlights the first meaningful UK funding commitment of £1.1 billion toward emission reduction technologies, while Raal emphasises the need to include vendors much earlier in the innovation process.

The conversation then turns to certainty in regulation. With MEPC’s decisive October vote approaching, both note IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez’s high-conviction leadership and its role in giving the industry something to galvanise around. They also cover unintended consequences of EU ETS, the risk of fragmented standards, and the urgent need for globally aligned approaches.

Finally, Nick and Raal preview a series of in-depth interviews recorded in the run up to LISW with leaders including Bjorn Horgaad (Anglo-Eastern), Bill Dobie (Sedna), Torsten Pedersen (Seaspan), Manish Singh (Maris Investments), and Heather Combs (Ripple Operations). From philosophy and leadership to AI adoption, business transformation, M&A, and crewing tech, these conversations promise to open new perspectives in the weeks ahead.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tabitha Logan and Her Journey

04:39 Cetus Maritime: Mergers and Acquisitions Overview

18:02 The Importance of Digital Integration in M&A

30:47 Navigating Diverse Roles in Maritime Operations

36:02 Bridging Silos: The Importance of Collaboration

39:08 Sustainability in Shipping: A Progressive Outlook

41:06 The Captain's Table: Fostering Innovation in Maritime

48:08 Identifying Winning Solutions: Trends and Insights

53:05 Balancing Innovation and Operations in Shipping

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Torsten shares his unconventional path from Danish village life to early CFO roles at Maersk, describing how global exposure shaped his leadership philosophy and his belief that the best ideas come from listening. He reflects on how those formative experiences informed his approach to lean, values-driven leadership at Seaspan, where simplicity, discipline, and collaboration underpin everything from safety to growth strategy.

The conversation dives deep into ESG, digitalisation, and decarbonisation, with Torsten explaining why Seaspan resists making long-range sustainability promises for 2050 in favour of practical five-year cycles and measurable progress. He outlines the company’s philosophy of embedding sustainability into everyday operations rather than treating it as a separate goal, focusing on being better next week than last week.

Nick and Raal explore how Seaspan’s “integrated operating model” allows it to scale profitably while staying lean, empowering local teams, and maintaining customer trust in an industry where most clients already own and operate ships themselves. Torsten describes how the company’s culture of ownership and accountability has been formalised over time and how those values now guide recruitment, decision-making, and transformation.

From change management and culture-building to the human side of digital transformation, Torsten shares candid reflections on leadership: why overcomplicating safety systems can make people less safe, how collaboration drives innovation, and why some change programs fail simply because the underlying idea is bad. The discussion also touches on connectivity and crew welfare, with Starlink and OneWeb reshaping shipboard communication, bringing new opportunities and new challenges for cohesion at sea.

Torsten closes with advice for leaders facing transformation: Start with the end in mind. Don’t try to save the world all at once. Be curious about everything but disciplined about what you pursue.

This episode is brought to you by Sedna — the intelligent email platform built for the shipping industry. Sedna helps commercial and operational teams cut through high-volume communication, turning emails into structured, auditable workflows that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across fleets and offices.

Episode PartnerDiscover how Sedna is transforming maritime communication at sedna.com.

Nick's article in Splash

Links:

• Captain Alexandros Lignos' post on the realities of being at sea
• Sam Chambers' Chart on Seafarer Safety

• MSC Yellow Festival

They explore the concept of collaborative autonomy, drawing parallels between smart cities and maritime tech. Nick introduces VDES as the next evolution of AIS, enabling real-time sharing of vessel passage plans and opening the door to richer operational awareness, alongside new risks.

The discussion shifts to maritime’s data dilemma, from cybersecurity threats at ports to the cultural and commercial barriers to data sharing. Nick shares lessons from Thetius’ benchmarking work and how structure and clarity can unlock collaboration.

To close, they preview London International Shipping Week, where both are hosting events. Nick’s launching the Thetius 150, while Raal’s leading “Strictly Decarb.” They offer tips for navigating the packed LISW calendar, and avoiding London traffic.

The conversation then shifts to the high costs of maritime data collection and why so many companies are “drowning in data but starved of insight.” From Microsoft’s quiet removal of enterprise volume discounts to the dangers of software renewal inertia, they highlight lessons for both buyers and vendors on pricing models, procurement strategy, and avoiding hidden cost drags.

Ammonia takes centre stage with Japan delivering the world’s first commercial dual-fuel ammonia engine. Nick and Raal explore the Just Transition Task Force’s work on global training standards, the urgent need to prepare crews, and how simulation technology, from full bridge setups to cloud-based VR like Kilo Solutions’ VASCO, is reshaping maritime learning. They debate the slow pace of STCW reform, the role of class and flag, and why outcome-focused training matters more than classroom hours.

To wrap up, they touch on ChatGPT’s new $300k+ content strategist role, sparking reflections on why human creativity remains vital even in an AI-driven age. They also tease upcoming guest interviews that will soon join the Undocked feed.

Laurence reflects on his journey from architect and winemaker to shipowner, sharing how design thinking, pragmatism, and a deep respect for nature have shaped both his leadership style and Odfjell’s approach to sustainability. The discussion unpacks how a company founded in 1914 became one of the world’s leading chemical tanker operators — and how a culture of innovation and shared values continues to underpin its progress today.

The conversation turns to climate action and regulatory uncertainty following the recent deferral of the IMO’s Net Zero framework. Laurence shares his frustration with the postponement but argues that progress must continue regardless, underpinned by three principles: well-to-wake thinking, efficiency first, and fuel flexibility. He highlights Odfjell’s remarkable 54% reduction in carbon intensity since 2008 — achieved through operational discipline and smart investment rather than sacrifice.

They also explore the company’s near net-zero voyage of the Bow Olympus, a chemical tanker fitted with suction sails and powered by certified B100 biofuel. The voyage proved both the technical and economic viability of running ships on sustainable fuel, achieving near-zero emissions at just a 15% cost premium. Laurence credits the initiative to the company’s collaborative culture and a “common bottom line” where those making operational decisions are also accountable for the financial outcomes.

From there, the discussion moves into AI and innovation, as Laurence explains how artificial intelligence is already optimising weather routing and operational planning. He offers advice for maritime tech innovators: identify real problems, quantify the benefit, and build trust through data.

Finally, the conversation broadens to diversity, inclusion, and leadership. Laurence shares how Odfjell is actively recruiting women to sea to strengthen its future talent pipeline, and why diversity of gender, age, and thought is not just a moral imperative but a business advantage. His closing message to the industry is simple: act now with the tools we already have, because every year of delay costs more than we realise.

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The discussion then broadens into digital stress, fragmented workflows, and tech fatigue. Drawing from ISWAN and broader workplace studies, Raal highlights how over-digitisation, poor UX, and under-supported rollouts are increasing workload, reducing wellbeing, and even pushing some seafarers to consider leaving the profession. Nick argues that many of these issues could be avoided if IT leaders spent more time observing how systems are actually used on board, especially by engineers carrying the heaviest reporting burden.

They also explore whether seafarers should understand more of the underlying data and system logic behind modern tools, much like navigators once have to deeply understand GPS after early incidents involving false positions.

The pair discuss the limits of innovation capacity, the risks of too-frequent standard updates, and why eight different software systems on a ship, each with different menus and interfaces, inevitably overwhelm crews.

From there, Nick brings two standout stories:

Steelcorr's AI-powered paint maintenance app, now rolling out with Ardmore, which uses smartphone photos to detect rust, predict biofouling, and optimise paint consumption, potentially saving money, time, and workload on one of the most labour-intensive deck tasks.

Olympic Subsea’s extraordinary 83% emissions reduction, achieved by combining batteries with advanced digital tools to run far fewer generators during dynamic positioning. While limited to offshore vessels, the result hints at what’s possible when digital optimisation, electrification, and real-time power management converge.

Episode Partner

This episode is brought to you by Sedna, the intelligent email platform built for the shipping industry. Sedna turns high-volume communication into structured, auditable workflows that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across fleets and offices. Learn more at sedna.com.

Chapters

05:50 Ship Owner of the Year

11:53 Technology Entrepreneur of the Year

17:44 Maritime Journalist of the Year

30:09 Mergers & Acquisition Deal of the Year

46:34 Decarbonisation Champion

57:15 Transformation of the Year

01:10:30 Gaffes of the Year: Industry Reflections

01:18:19 Wild Predictions for 2026

• 00:00 Introduction and early conversations

• 02:07 AI in maritime: key insights from the webinar

• 04:52 Why problem-first thinking matters

• 06:39 The role of champions in tech adoption

• 08:35 Navigating hype vs. reality in AI

• 10:36 Cynicism in maritime technology buying

• 12:18 AI’s economic impact and governance concerns

• 13:47 AI meets compliance: risks for shipping

• 15:25 Burnout, ethics, and the human cost of AI

• 16:41 Understanding AGI and its implications

• 19:46 The US–China race for AI dominance

• 21:34 Environmental concerns of AI infrastructure

• 23:45 The regulatory vacuum around AI

• 25:52 The age of, and pressure on AI developers

• 27:56 Polarised visions of AI’s future

• 27:57 The need for global AI governance

• 28:50 Generative UI: a new frontier

• 31:38 What AI means for maritime tech’s future

• 37:07 Real-time voice generation and personalised learning

• 39:54 The evolution of maritime software

• 42:25 Customisation vs. standardisation

• 44:17 The risks of software updates in high-risk operations

• 45:11 Vibe coding: democratised development

• 49:42 Quality and governance in AI-generated code

• 54:21 Maritime IT budgets: trends and insights

• 01:04:02 Celebrating 50 years of dynamic positioning

Links:

• ‘It’s going much too fast’: the inside story of the race to create the ultimate AI - The Guardian
• Thetius IT Cost and Performance Benchmarking Club (paywall)
• How Dynamic Positioning changed offshore operations forever - Kongsberg

This episode is brought to you by Sedna, the intelligent email platform built for the shipping industry. Sedna turns high-volume communication into structured, auditable workflows that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across fleets and offices.
Learn more at sedna.com

The conversation unpacks what it takes to build successful maritime technology companies, the challenges of integration, and why a clear and compelling purpose is essential for long-term success. Manish emphasizes the importance of convergence and collaboration across the industry, while also sharing insights on how AI is becoming foundational to maritime operations and decision-making.

Looking more broadly, they reflect on the cyclical nature of the maritime market, the need to embrace volatility in planning, and why patient capital is vital for fostering resilience and sustainable growth in an industry defined by long investment horizons.

Learn more about Manish:

Manish Singh on LinkedIn

Maris Investments website

The conversation then turns to AI and competence, as Nick recounts a lively debate he took part in at the Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress: Will artificial intelligence lead to less competence in the maritime industry? Together, they discuss what competence really means in a technology-augmented world, how AI can become an in-work enablement tool rather than a replacement, and why refusing to adapt could be the greater risk to future competence.

They also touch on AI’s organisational impact, from hiring freezes and shifting budgets to productivity expectations, and even Jeff Bezos’ vision for data centres in space. Raal connects these trends to the wider shifts in digital infrastructure, geopolitics, and sustainability, including how cloud capacity and satellite connectivity may reshape maritime operations.

From there, the discussion moves to training, storytelling, and transformation, as Raal reflects on his two-decade journey from Videotel to Ocean Technologies Group, and the launch of his new consultancy, Pitch Frame. The pair explore how brand, education, and enablement intersect, and why many groundbreaking maritime ideas fail not from poor technology, but from weak communication and internal alignment.

The episode closes with reflections from Maritime Cyprus, where uncertainty still surrounds future fuels and regulatory clarity. With the upcoming MEPC vote at the IMO, Nick and Raal debate whether the industry is ready to trade ambiguity for action — or risk losing momentum to regional fragmentation.

Episode Partner

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The conversation moves to Hafnia’s post–financial crisis founding, the non-negotiable importance of assembling a credible team early, and what changes when you build alongside professional investors.

Attention turns to growth, consolidation, and recent strategic moves, including the TORM stake, and counter-cyclical fleet investments. Skov discusses energy transition pragmatically, emphasising alignment with cargo owners, longer-term contracts, and learning through initiatives like Seascale Energy.

The episode closes with leadership and responsibility: managing volatility without paralysis, creating space for innovation inside large organisations, confronting the systemic risks of the dark fleet, and defending international regulation as the least-worst framework available in a fractured geopolitical world.

A rare conversation with one of shipping’s most consequential operators who has built scale through cycles, stayed disciplined when others chased narratives, and is clear-eyed about what actually works in shipping.

Chapters

• 02:21 Entering shipping and why it becomes a lifestyle

• 06:13 Cyclicality, spot markets, and competitive advantage

• 07:56 Founding Hafnia after TORM

• 09:31 Building a credible founding team for investors

• 13:36 Timing the cycle and learning capital discipline

• 20:47 Pooling, partnerships, and commercial scale

• 31:03 Culture, governance, and growing a global organisation

• 37:40 Buying ships at the bottom of the cycle

• 41:12 TORM stake and consolidation logic

• 44:06 Energy transition strategy and client alignment

• 57:07 Long-term thinking versus quarterly markets

• 1:01:38 Volatility, fleet age, and future supply

From there, the discussion broadens to transparency, data, and trust: why individual seafarers struggle to assess operator risk, how fragmented information limits accountability, and why even well-intentioned standards struggle to reach those most exposed. The conversation then pivots to the International Standards Organisation, illustrating how conformance standards quietly underpin global trade, from containers and currencies to unexpected examples like tea preparation.

The episode closes with a pragmatic look at modern shipping realities: USB sticks still moving critical vessel data, the absence of shared operational standards, and practical advice on navigating the 2026 maritime events calendar, including how to minimise chance, maximise learning, and extract real value from industry gatherings.

• 01:45 ITF data and the scale of seafarer abandonment
• 14:50 Flags of convenience and structural incentives
• 20:59 Why standards matter in global trade
• 26:18 ISO standards, from containers to tea
• 39:12 USB sticks, bay plans, and broken data exchange
• 43:00 Maritime events calendar for 2026

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Nick shares a secret squirrel message from an executive post corporate Microsoft Copilot rollout – $1.4 million spent, almost no usage, and a board satisfied by a graph trending “up and to the right.” Nick and Raal debate whether it’s genuine or sharply observed satire, which sets the tone for a wider discussion about AI adoption theatre versus measurable operational impact. 

Raal reflects on his own Copilot frustrations and the broader issue: boards mandating “AI adoption” without defining outcomes. They examine hallucinations, agentic AI, and the growing temptation to delegate higher-order decision-making to systems whose workings are increasingly opaque. The core tension: productivity claims versus verification and control.

The conversation then shifts to economics and disrupting business models as a LinkedIn post reveals a $50,000 monthly AI compute bill that sparks the deeper question, does AI break the SaaS model? If margins are eroded, scalability is undermined and the structural shift could reshape how maritime software is priced and sold.

From there, the lens widens. Jeff Bezos’ $6.2 billion AI-industrial venture, Project Prometheus, and Elon Musk’s consolidation of AI, satellites, and space-based data centres suggest that infrastructure control – not just applications – is becoming strategic. For maritime, the implications sit at the intersection of connectivity, compute, and geopolitics.

Finally, the discussion returns firmly to shipping. Wind propulsion formally enters the IMO’s draft safety framework, signalling institutional momentum. Meanwhile, the rise of fraudulent flag registries. As regulatory pressure increases, so too does the ingenuity of evasion.

Chapters:

• 01:21 The Copilot “digital transformation” satire

• 06:20 Copilot vs ChatGPT and measuring AI ROI

• 21:32 SaaS economics under AI compute pressure

• 22:47 Bezos’ Project Prometheus and industrial AI

• 31:55 Musk, space-based AI infrastructure, and valuation games

• 44:22 Wind propulsion enters IMO safety framework

• 52:38 Fraudulent flags and phantom registries