In our special column, we are glad to host an interview with Mr. Aslak Ross, Head of Marine Standards & DPA at Maersk who wishes shipping industry would become carbon neutral soonest possible, explaining what Maersk is doing towards that end. Mr. Ross has always been fascinated by how ships could be designed and operated better and enjoys working in a team that strives to make a difference in many ways.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Aslak Ross: I have always been interested in mechanics and physics etc. During my childhood, I met a lot of marine engineers working at sea and ashore, and it was in the end an easy choice to apply for apprenticeship with Maersk to study marine engineer and I was lucky to be accepted. I would argue that my field of experience is ‘ship operation’. I have always been fascinated by how ships could be designed and operated better as well as how the crew on board the single ship could best possibly work as a team towards the goals of the company.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
A.R.: Making a difference. If my team gets it right, we can make a significant difference for our many seafarers keeping them safe, simplifying their daily job, improve efficiency, reduce our environmental footprint and help create an engaging workplace for thousands of colleagues.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why ?
A.R.: There have been many persons who have taught me different things. However, if I were to think of one person/situation where I had a real eye opener, I would think of a captain I once sailed with when I was a junior officer. While we were preparing the monthly report on board, I was listing all the different things the different persons had done. He stopped me mid-sentence and said ‘no Aslak, WE did this together’ – that was really the moment where teamwork came to life for me.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
A.R.: When I was younger, I was dreaming of crossing the Atlantic in a sailing boat. Someone thought that I could not do that do – implying I did not have the skills. At that time, I thought it was really poor support, however, I am sure it also played in to motivate me to get my officers degree. Think it served as both good and bad advice. By the way, it is still on my bucket list.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
A.R.: When I decided that I also needed to first study navigational officer and later master mariner on top of my marine engineers’ degree. I use that every day in my job as it gives me a much broader perspective on ship operation and how we can improve the way we work.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
A.R.: The power of data and analytics – I think there is a huge potential to improve our industry further by utilizing data insights beyond what we do today. We have some ongoing projects in Maersk where we want to use data and analytics to improve safety, efficiency and operational performance in our fleet. I am very much looking forward working with these deeper insights in the future.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
A.R.: I would like to see our industry become carbon neutral soonest possible. The current work we are doing in Maersk shows the potential, if we can get stakeholders across the ‘energy value chain’ on board.
In addition, it is high time that authorities and regulators make an effort into simplifying the rules, regulations and administrative requirements laid on the shipping industry rather than the opposite. Our industry and especially our seafarers are overwhelmed with regulatory requirements which are often not adding value or at least not smart. Also, an area where digitalization could make a significant impact in the right direction.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
A.R.: ’Enable Safe Business’
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
