In the latest episode of "Maritime Means...", we talk with Pauline Van Ostaeyen, Co-Founder of logistics enablement platform Dockflow. We explore the origins of the platform, how it simplifies day-to-day operations for Freight Forwarding professionals, the complexities of digitalization in Maritime, the start-up scene of Antwerp, and more.

In the latest episode of "Maritime Means...", we sit down with Nick Chubb, Founder and Managing Director at Thetius, a research and technology advisory firm in the maritime industry. We dig deep into the potential of AI on ships, but also shoreside; how voyage optimization depends on multiple factors like contracts; and how automation can make merchant mariners working conditions better. And we talk about the current state of piracy in the high seas.

In this very special episode we welcome Spire's own Peter Mabson, CSO of Spire Maritime. Peter is an industry veteran, having started out as a physicist and satellite engineer and eventually founding AIS tracking pioneer company ExactEarth, and we go down memory lane on the history of vessel tracking and AIS data. Peter also deep dives into all the current use cases using vessel tracking data and the complex subject of dark shipping, and how Spire's most recent offering, RFGL, can help bring light into dark activities in the open seas.

In this episode, we sit down with Rotterdam-based and Teqplay CEO & co-founder Léon Gommans. Léon is a passionate defender of transparency and collaboration in the maritime industry, having worked in maritime for the last 10 years. He deep dives into the topics of data quality, machine learning, port call optimization and the intricacies of communicating data in a usable way for the different stakeholders in that process, as well as the process of resisting change in the industry and how to improve it.

In this episode of "Maritime Means...", Blythe is joined by SHIPNEXT CEO Alexander Varvarenko. Alexander has worked in the transport industry for the last 23 years and, after facing numerous challenges within the industry, founded SHIPNEXT to optimize Cargo-to-Ship matching, Shipping solution-search, and Freight, and in this episode we dive into the hot topic of emissions, CII and voyage optimization.

In this episode of "Maritime Means...", Blythe is joined by maritime industry expert and Maritime Professor Lauren Beagen. Lauren is an attorney and legal consultant specialised in translating Federal Maritime Commission regulation and breaking down supply chain silos. Lauren talks about detention and demurrage, the Jones Act, and some of the legal issues the maritime industry is facing today.

In this episode of "Maritime Means...", Blythe is joined by award-winning, data-driven journalist Chris Cook.  Chris is a University of Oxford grad, currently serving as senior reporter for the Financial Times, where he recently co-authored a story that exposed Russia secretly taking grain from occupied Ukraine. Chris talks about using satellite AIS data and photographic imagery to bring light into dark shipping practices in his stories.

In this episode of "Maritime Means...", Blythe is joined by Lori Ann LaRocco. She is an American journalist, senior editor of guests at CNBC, maritime trade columnist for FreightWaves, author of six books, and most importantly, a mom of three. Today, Blythe and Lori will talk about her start in the maritime industry, current issues plaguing trade in present times, the future of trade, and the intricacies of trade in mass media.

In this episode, we invite John Konrad, founder and CEO of gCaptain and author of the book “Fire on The Horizon.” He is certified to captain the world's largest ships, has sailed from ports all over the world, and has built some of the world's most advanced ships and handled billion-dollar offshore construction projects in some of the world's harshest maritime conditions. Today, John discusses the need to trade critical daily products and services to keep our industries running and create jobs.

In this episode of Maritime Means, Blythe is joined by Chris Aversano. Chris is a product manager at Q88, a Veson company that is an information management and software solution for the global maritime transportation industry. He also hosts the podcast “The Last Dinosaur” about maritime shipping in the digital age. Today, Blythe and Chris discuss bringing the historic maritime industry into the modern age through technology, collaboration, and podcasting.

In this episode of "Maritime Means...", Blythe is joined by Sal Mercogliano. Sal is a former merchant mariner and firefighter, and current chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science at Campbell University in North Carolina. He is also a maritime historian, faculty athletic rep, and the host of “What is Going on With Shipping?” on YouTube. Today, Blythe and Sal will talk about how to understand different maritime jobs, the history of marine disasters, environmental aspects of the industry, and the history of the world of shipping.

In this episode, we have invited Nidhi Gupta, the co-founder of Portcast, a logistics technology start-up in Singapore backed by leading VCs, which uses machine learning and real-time external data to make global supply chains dynamic and predictive. Today, Nidhi guides entrepreneurs in learning to utilize AI to make logistics more effective and data-driven.