In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris return from CrewConnect Global in Manila, reflecting on the strange, dreamlike week of long-haul travel, jet lag, and big maritime conversations. Nick opens with a gripe: the rising narrative that Gen Z has no attention span and needs TikTok-style micro-training. They challenge the myth, arguing it’s patronising, inaccurate, and dangerous for a safety-critical industry, especially when young seafarers are delivering some of the most impressive, high-quality presentations in the sector, including a standout IMEC cadet-led cyber-risk session.

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

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In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris sit down with Torsten Pedersen, Chief Operating Officer of Seaspan Corporation, to explore what it takes to lead transformation inside the world’s largest independent container ship owner.

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.

In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris are joined by Heather Combs, CEO of Ripple Operations, to explore how technology, people, and purpose are converging in the evolution of maritime HR and crew management.

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.

Episode Partner

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In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris unpack the findings of a new Thetius–RightShip report that reveals a major disconnect between shipowners and charterers on ESG performance. While around 70% of shipowners say they go above baseline compliance in safety, sustainability, and crew welfare, only 27% of charterers offer any commercial reward for doing so. They explore the implications for the market, discuss the launch of the Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence, and debate how a universal standard for “what good looks like” could help close the gap.

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

In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris are joined by Laurence Odfjell, Chairman of Odfjell SE, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, decarbonisation, and what it really takes to drive change in shipping.

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.

Episode Partner: OrbitMI

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In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris catch up after a hectic few weeks of travel to unpack the latest shifts shaping the maritime industry. Nick shares insights from the Kaleris APAC Customer Summit in Singapore, where terminal operators and carriers came together to discuss collaboration in the container ecosystem. They explore the challenges of just-in-time arrival, berth optimisation, and why the container sector — despite being the backbone of global trade — still struggles with basic communication between terminals and carriers.

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

This episode is brought to you by OrbitMI. In shipping, fuel is money, and OrbitMI helps you use less of it. Their optimisation solutions improve routing, speed management, and emissions performance, helping operators cut costs while staying compliant and sustainable.

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In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris are joined by Bjorn Højgaard, CEO of Anglo-Eastern, to explore how leadership, technology, and people are shaping the next era of ship management.

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.

In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris are joined by Bill Dobie, Founder and CEO of Sedna, to discuss the changing shape of maritime software and the forces driving consolidation across the industry. Bill shares his journey from building solutions to streamline shipping communications to leading one of the sector’s most recognisable digital platforms.

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

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