Tag: Interviews

Blue Planet Shipping announced that the entire crew of MV Afros has been vaccinated onboard with the USA/EU approved single dose Johnson & Jonhson vaccine. On the occasion, SAFETY4SEA contacted Mrs. Ioanna Vernardou, DPA / CSO, Blue Planet Shipping Safety Quality Environmental Department, to learn more about the vaccination process and spread the message across.

Capt. Hans Hederström, Chalmers University of Technology, Professor of the Practice, Dept. of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, highlights that the maritime industry needs to quit perception that human is the creator of problems and focus instead on ways to empower human skills.

Nigel Koh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SOL-X Pte. Ltd., a Behavioral Based Safety company, outlines the key safety challenges of human factors and ways to mitigate risks onboard.

Roberto Coustas, Co-Founder and CEO, DeepSea, discusses the opportunities that AI-based vessel optimisation presents for the decarbonisation of fleets and the wider shipping industry.

Capt John Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of The Nautical Institute, makes an assessment of COVID-19 impact on shipping, highlighting that crew change remains a challenging issue.

In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Mr Guy Platten, Secretary General of ICS, refers to the current industry’s challenges due to COVID-19 and how the pandemic impacts seafarers, highlighting that they have always been the heart of shipping. During this ongoing crisis, we must first steer seafarers safely through the remainder of the pandemic, Mr Platten stated, highlighting that vaccinations against Covid-19 should start for all seafarers soonest possible as they are experiencing fatigue and distress after such extended periods at sea.

Mr. Ian Bramson, Global Head of Cyber Security, ABS Group of Companies Inc., highlights the importance of putting cyber security at the center of our attention, noting that the fact alone that IMO made cybersecurity part of the safety management audit underscores its importance for the industry. Living in a digital world, cyberattacks are more frequent, more severe, and more far reaching than ever. Continuing digitization is the biggest challenge because digitization and cybersecurity go hand in hand, he states.

Mrs Maria Kapsopoulou works as a Chief Officer on board crude oil tankers, in Maran Tankers Management of Angelicoussis Shipping Group. Mrs Kapsopoulou has been in this company since she was a cadet and currently she is attending a master degree program in International Maritime Business at Solent University of Southampton.

In an exclusive interview, Capt. Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention, The Standard Club, introduces Standard Club’s series of Masters’ Guides which are a compilation of the experience and expertise of their Loss Prevention professionals and industry experts, focusing on best practices for enhanced safety at sea.

One of the key challenges for greater gender diversity in shipping is all about perception, says Mrs Alison Taylor, Europe Crew Training Manager at Svitzer, in an exclusive interview to SAETY4SEA. Mrs Taylor explains how her organization supports diversity and inclusion which are currently key areas of development for the whole maritime industry and equally for the towage sector, which has started to look closer at diversity and how it can positively impact the lives of female seafarers both onboard and ashore.