Rob Parkin, Business Development Manager at Bazeport, underscores the transformative impact of emerging connectivity technologies in the shipping industry. These advancements not only pave the way for increased digitalization but also present unique opportunities to optimize both operational efficiency and crew well-being.
Rob expresses gratitude for those who have played a positive role in shaping his career, emphasizing the significance of delegation and the assignment of accountability as fundamental elements of effective leadership and personnel management. In highlighting the often-misunderstood nature of the maritime industry, Rob stresses that it is either overlooked, taken for granted, or misrepresented. He advocates for a concerted effort to improve the industry’s public image, urging a genuine interest in the well-being of the crew.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Rob Parkin: After university I became a journalist, starting out at a local newspaper and then moving into music journalism for a national magazine. I didn’t know a thing about shipping until a chance meeting in Easter 1999 with a Polish friend who’s father was a seafaring Captain. This introduced me to the maritime industry and got me thinking how much we take shipping for granted. Shortly afterwards I applied to a job advert offering an “editorial role for a German-speaker” posted by an innovative company in Liverpool who specialised in making curated newspapers for ships (cruise guests and crew) and offering optimized email communications. I got the job and have worked in content and communications for ships ever since!
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
R.P.: The relationship between content and communications is inextricable, regardless of user and context, whether on land or at sea. The exciting new connectivity technologies being adopted by shipping operators offer enhanced opportunities for digitalization that can enhance operations and crew welfare. As bandwidths broaden and airtime further commoditizes, the data flow from shore-to-ship-to-shore is increasing exponentially. But per the maxim ‘not all content is equal’, it’s exciting to see how companies will manage the new flood of content for the power of good.
Like many service providers, Bazeport is very excited to be part of this new chapter in driving digital efficiencies. In Bazeport’s case, they’ve created a platform that enables managed content-sharing and playout for the benefit of crew welfare and staff engagement, whilst optimizing satcom connectivity. I find the proposition of enabling meaningful interactions very stimulating and motivating.
S4S: When you think of the word ‘successful’ who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
R.P.: Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web (WWW). Today in 2023 it’s very difficult to imagine life without the Web! His original idea in 1989 of creating a “collaborative space where you can communicate though sharing information” has literally changed humanity. It’s hard to overstate the profound impact the Web has had by democratizing information and knowledge, and empowering individuals to having better access to content. Inspirational stuff!
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
R.P.: I’m lucky to have worked for a few people who have positively shaped my career development and progress. In all cases, there has been a symbiosis in the relationship where my performance and success has helped their own career growth, whilst their support, trust and belief in me has underpinned my development. The art of delegation, and assigning accountability with responsibility, is in my opinion fundamental to good leadership and people management.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
R.P.: Best advice is to understand that making mistakes is essential to the process of ongoing development and learning. So don’t be afraid of failure – bounce back, become more resilient and learn from the process of “doing”. I can’t think of an instance of “worst advice” – probably because I’ve not been given any or just I ignored it!
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
R.P.: Being gregarious by nature, to this day I still believe in making the effort to introduce myself to as many new faces in a room as possible (whether at a conference, exhibition or event). Shipping remains as much a relationship-driven industry today as it ever did, and so networking and ‘bridge-building’ is for me time well spent.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
R.P.: “Believe in yourself and don’t delay in doing” is sound advice and very much endorses a ‘learning by doing’ philosophy. Even though we may not think we know where we are heading we all possess our own personal “career compass”. The challenge is to calibrate it and that can only be achieved by having an open mind trying things out and getting stuck in.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
R.P: The major impact the Covid pandemic has had on how we work has made the practice of “hybrid-working” far more accepted and common place. By using technology, having the ability to work from anywhere in an effective and productive manner has improved the quality of life (and performance) for so many, myself included. Ironically, having previously spent up to half my life travelling, I’d already learnt how to work effectively ‘on the road’, but Covid has helped normalize and legitimize remote-working.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
R.P.: It’s so important that we improve the industry’s profile and general public’s awareness about maritime activities overall. Our industry remains woefully misunderstood, taken for granted, under-represented or simply ignored. And given how our entire way of life is only possible because of shipping, that remains an ongoing sad state of affairs.
In terms of my specific field, it would be great if “crew welfare” attracted as much genuine investment from operators as it generates hours of discussion in conference panels and column inches in articles and publications!
S4S: What is your personal motto(s)?
R.P.: “You make your own luck“ and “Keep building bridges”!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
