We hear about the political tension and uncertainty surrounding the IMO negotiations, the interim strategies for the maritime industry and the benefits and challenges of the FuelEU regulation.

We also look at the pooling process for emissions reduction, and the importance of fuel quality and certification.

00:00 Introduction: The Urgency of Reducing GSG Emissions

00:09 The Delayed Deal: Impact on Global Shipping Emissions

01:02 Inside the Negotiations: Political Tensions and Outcomes

02:41 Fuel EU Maritime: A New Hope for Decarbonisation

05:40 Pooling Process: Challenges and Opportunities

10:50 Fuel Quality Concerns: Risks and Implications

13:44 Looking Forward: Future Challenges and Regional Regulations

16:07 Conclusion: The Path Ahead for Maritime Decarbonisation

Discussions include the Pre Renewal Report, and the strategic initiatives that have fostered diversification and growth. Managing Directors Paul Jennings and Jeremy Grose, Chief Financial Officer Nick Jelley, Chief Claims Officer Sam Kendall-Marsden, Chief Underwriting Officer Thya Kathiravel, and Chief of Specialty Sectors Nick Wolfe provide insights into financial stability, claims performance, and broader forces influencing the shipping industry.

Emphasis is placed on maintaining service excellence, supporting members, and adapting to market conditions, ensuring NorthStandard remains resilient and well positioned for the future.

00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Year

01:25 Key Messages and Financial Performance

03:03 Strategic Developments and Diversification

04:22 Claims Performance and Market Conditions

08:36 Future Focus and Challenges Ahead

10:46 Conclusion

In this episode of NorthStandard's 'Alongside' podcast, hosted by Danielle Jalowiecka, we dive into how these changes are impacting one of the ocean's most iconic creatures—the Southern Rock Lobster.

With insights from Matt Wassnig, CEO of Seafood Industry Victoria, Mia Bredenburg from Sunderland Marine, and Dr. Sam Twiname from the University of Tasmania, the episode delves into how the lobster industry is adapting to these challenges.

The discussion highlights the importance of sustainable fishing practices, robust scientific research, and strong collaboration among industry stakeholders to ensure the resilience and innovation of the sector. Through their experiences, we learn valuable lessons that extend beyond just the local industry to the broader marine industry worldwide

Highlights

00:50 The Southern Rock Lobster: An Iconic Species

03:01 Economic and Social Impact of Rock Lobster Fishing

04:46 Challenges and Adaptations in the Fishing Industry

07:35 Scientific Research and Climate Change Effects

10:39 Collaboration Between Industry and Science

16:25 Future Opportunities and Industry Resilience

18:27 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

00:26 Meet the Guests: Paul Jennings and Nick Jelley

00:58 Jeremy Grose's Adventure Race

02:09 Impact of the Baltimore Harbour Incident

04:12 Global Geopolitics and Shipping

05:58 Annual Results Overview

12:16 Financial Stability and Future Vision

13:11 Strategic Goals and Initiatives

16:10 Investing in People and Future Projects

The conversation explores the types of cyber attacks common in the sector, the challenges in detecting and reporting them, and the vulnerabilities at different stages of AI development.

They look at how AI can assist human analysts in managing cyber security and the importance of industry-wide communication and training to bolster cyber resilience. The episode also addresses the costs of cyber incidents and the need for improved information sharing across the maritime industry.

00:38 Prevalence and Types of Cyber Attacks in Shipping

02:28 AI's Role in Cyber Defence

04:32 Vulnerabilities of AI to Cyber Attacks

06:02 Cyber Risks in the Maritime Industry

08:17 Cost Impacts of Cyber Attacks

10:14 Improving Cyber Resilience through Information Sharing

15:25 Ensuring Cyber Security in Autonomous Vessels

18:51 Top Tips for Cyber Awareness and Communication

The conversation explores AI's potential to optimise vessel efficiency, enhance safety protocols, support the energy transition, and improve regulatory compliance.

Additionally, they address industry hesitancy towards AI adoption, workforce implications, and the importance of integrating human learning with AI. Professor Sobey also highlights ongoing initiatives to democratise AI through no-code approaches and the role of educational efforts in preparing future engineers for a data-driven industry.

00:43 Understanding Artificial Intelligence

02:35 AI in Ship Design and Manufacturing

05:00 AI's Role in Emission Detection and Enforcement

07:48 The Future of Autonomous Shipping

10:09 Overcoming Hesitancy and Embracing AI

14:37 Scaling Up AI in the Industry

18:25 Human-Machine Learning in AI

They explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating new technologies, the importance of data quality and standardisation and the role of regulation in driving industry-wide change.

Nick emphasises a strategic approach to innovation and the potential of generative AI to revolutionise shoreside operations.

00:32 Thetius: Digitalisation and Decarbonisation

01:57 Challenges and Opportunities in Maritime Technology

03:36 Historical Perspective on Technological Transformation

05:34 Adopting New Technologies in Maritime

08:23 Investment and Policy in Decarbonization

11:38 The Role of Regulation and Culture in Innovation

18:06 Generative AI: Transforming Maritime Operations

19:57 The Importance of Data Quality

The discussion addresses the misconception that technology alone will shape the future, emphasising that values and adaptability are critical. Topics covered include the vulnerabilities of the shipping industry to technological advances, the implications of cyber threats, the shift from optimisation to resilience in business practices, the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, and the transition to low and zero-carbon fuels.

The conversation also highlights the importance of focusing on the human element within the industry, particularly seafarers' needs and the broader environmental impacts of shipping. The episode concludes by advising ship owners on investing in sustainable, adaptable assets in an uncertain technological landscape.

00:34 The Role of Technology in Shipping

01:19 Values Over Technology

03:59 Challenges of Globalisation and Cybersecurity

10:38 AI in the Maritime Industry

14:00 Transition to Low Carbon Fuels

16:45 Future of Seafaring Careers

20:45 Blind Spots and Opportunities

23:13 Advice for Ship Owners

They discuss the renewal period, recent company achievements, and key global issues affecting the maritime industry. The conversation covers NorthStandard's performance, including claims volatility, geopolitical impacts and future innovations.

Special attention is given to the dual leadership experience of Grose and Jennings, and their focus on maintaining NorthStandard's industry relevance amid changing global conditions.

00:31 Meet the Managing Directors

01:33 Renewal Insights

05:09 Claims and Business Impact

06:45 Global Industry Issues

09:26 Achievements and Innovations

11:23 Future Outlook and Key Focus Areas

18:10 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

The episode explores best practices, the impact of global events, the importance of social cohesion, evolving challenges, and future improvements in crew welfare, including the role of technology and communication advancements.

01:09 Understanding Crew Welfare

02:18 Best Practices for Crew Welfare

04:33 Challenges in High-Risk Areas

05:44 Key Issues Affecting Seafarers

08:37 Modern Day Challenges

13:51 Future of Crew Welfare

00:13 Understanding the Jones Act

00:42 Key Issues and Implications

02:19 Detailed Discussion on Cabotage

02:59 Offshore Activities and the Jones Act

05:47 Waivers and Exceptions

07:21 Enforcement and Penalties

09:19 Challenges for Shipping Companies

13:22 Offshore Activities and Foreign Vessels

17:28 Jones Act and Injury Remedies

21:50 General Maritime Law and Additional Remedies

This episode of Alongside is an edited version of a longer conversation featuring Emma Jones and Gina Venezia. Therefore some answers are less detailed than they were originally.

Aquaculture involves the farming of fish, shrimps, seaweed and molluscs and has been practiced for thousands of years. But as it becomes a more vital part of the world’s farming sector, there are many challenges as well as opportunities. We hear from Gareth Butterfield, Commercial Director at ReelData Incorporated and Allan Lyons, Risk Management Surveyor with Sunderland Marine (which is part of NorthStandard) about those challenges, particularly the impact of climate change, pressures from legislation and the development of new technologies.

00:00 Introduction to Aquaculture

00:53 Growth and Evolution of Aquaculture

02:43 Challenges and Criticisms in Aquaculture

04:56 Focus on Salmon Farming

08:15 Land-Based Aquaculture

16:24 Technological Innovations in Aquaculture

19:31 Future of Aquaculture and Insurance Challenges

22:54 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

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Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Future Thinking Mini Series

00:45 Meet Peter Jameson: Maritime Decarbonization Expert

01:56 Defining Sustainability in the Maritime Industry

04:37 Current State of Sustainability in Shipping

07:15 Geopolitical Influences on Maritime Decarbonization

12:47 Navigating Trade Disruptions and Future Fuels

16:41 Top Tips for Companies to Enhance Sustainability

19:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Future Thinking Series

00:21 Guest Introduction: Mikal Boe of CorePower

00:49 The Role of Nuclear in Maritime Decarbonisation

01:54 Challenges and Technological Developments

05:44 Commercial Viability and Cost Analysis

11:21 Public Perception and Regulatory Landscape

21:20 Future of Nuclear-Powered Ships

25:39 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Future Thinking Miniseries

00:25 Guest Introduction: Ros Blazejczyk from Solis Marine

00:39 Solis Marine: Background and Services

01:46 Ammonia as a Future Fuel for Shipping

03:31 Challenges of Retrofitting vs. New Builds

07:01 Energy Density and Fuel Storage Issues

09:38 Hybrid Systems and Future-Proofing Designs

11:39 Safety Considerations in Ship Design

15:42 Regulatory Challenges and Cost Implications

20:06 Retrofitting Ships for Decarbonization

22:27 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Future Thinking Miniseries

00:18 Guest Introduction: Steena Taiger Ivo from BIMCO

01:08 BIMCO's Role in Maritime Decarbonisation

03:30 Challenges with CII Regulations

08:08 Data Collection and Energy Efficiency Clauses

12:11 Fuel EU Maritime Regulation

21:26 Future Clauses and Industry Needs

24:46 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Future Thinking

00:28 Meet James Forsdyke: Background and Role

00:42 The Maritime Decarbonisation Hub: Structure and Goals

02:50 Impact of IMO's Greenhouse Gas Strategy

05:01 Addressing Risk and Safety in Future Fuels

07:12 Human-Centric Safety in Maritime

12:40 Learning from Other Industries

15:31 Collaborative Efforts for Safety Standards

17:26 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:43 Discussing the Baltimore Bridge Incident

02:59 Financial Results and Achievements

04:31 Specialty and Blue Water Business Performance

05:10 Global Context and Future Objectives

06:12 Building NorthStandard's Culture

11:09 Sustainability and Customer Experience

13:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Please note: this episode was recorded on May 16th 2024.

The operation to remove the oil from the FSO Safer was sanctioned by the United Nations and took place to prevent a major environmental disaster. It meant months of planning, as well as negotiations with the local Houthi leaders, to ensure the transfer could take place safely.

A team from SMIT Salvage, part of Boskalis, led the operation. We hear from Operations Manager Paul Van ‘t Hof and Robert Meijer, who is Manager of Projects, who were both in Yemen as the transfer took place. We are also joined by Joseph Divis, Underwriting Director, Offshore & Renewables at NorthStandard, to look at how NorthStandard helped ensure this operation could take place.

Highlights:

01:52 North Standard's Role and Relationship with Smit Salvage

03:03 Challenges and Complexities of the FSO Safer Project

04:45 Security Concerns in a War Zone

06:01 Multi-Agency Coordination and Approval

09:27 Personal Reflections and Safety Measures

13:30 Technical Aspects of the Oil Transfer Operation

15:00 Execution and Completion of the Operation

18:42 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

In this episode, NorthStandard Managing Directors Jeremy Grose and Paul Jennings talk about the recent merger, review some of the achievements from NorthStandard’s first year (including recent renewal results) and look ahead to the next year and beyond. 

Highlights:

00:40 Reflecting on NorthStandard's First Year

03:14 Key Milestones and Achievements

04:18 Renewal Results and Financial Outlook

05:14 Industry Reactions and Challenges

09:44 Adapting to Global Events

12:20 Geographical Expansion and New Initiatives

14:55 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

17:09 Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Vision

Please note: this episode was recorded just a few days before the P&I renewal date of 20 February 2024.

SynMax is a Houston-based satellite analytics and intelligence company which uses its latest technology to track vessels that turn off the Automatic Identification System (AIS). 

Mike and Brendan discuss the challenges facing authorities in tracking and countering efforts by vessels to avoid detection. 

Highlights:

00:33 Challenges in Sanctions Enforcement

02:26 Evolving Tactics in Maritime Sanctions

03:47 State-Level Spoofing and Advanced Evasion Techniques

06:15 Government vs. Commercial Capabilities

09:00 Future Technological Developments

09:44 Red Flags in Sanctions Breaking

11:19 Collaboration Between Governments and Industry

They discuss the objectives of the Oil Price Cap, its achievements so far and implications for the shipping industry. 

They also talk about changes to the attestation process planned to take effect on February 19th 2024.

Highlights:

01:12 Understanding the Oil Price Cap

02:17 Impact and Success of the Oil Price Cap

04:08 Future Changes and Compliance

05:06 New Attestation Process Explained

10:18 Addressing the Parallel Fleet

14:29 Compliance Advisory and Final Thoughts

David served in the White House under Donald Trump as the State Department's sanctions chief between 2018 and 2020, and was responsible for managing 25 sanctions programs including Iran, Russia, China and Venezuela. 

Mike and David discuss what a second Trump term might look like for the shipping industry.

Highlights:

00:15 Meet David Payman: Sanctions Expert

00:48 Sanctions Under the Trump Administration

02:33 Impact of Sanctions on Iran

05:00 Perceptions of the Shipping Industry

07:17 Changes Under the Current Administration

08:22 What to Expect from a Second Trump Administration

11:49 Guidance for the Shipping Industry

Mike Salthouse is joined by John Thompson, a former British Army officer who led Security Planning for the Olympic Delivery Authority in the run up to the London Olympics. He is also the co-founder of Ambrey, the largest provider of maritime security services globally. 

Highlights:

01:21 Global Shipping Security Concerns in 2024

04:20 Aerial Threats and Maritime Security

07:53 Ship Owners' Preparedness and Response

14:20 The Resurgence of Somali Piracy

17:55 Emerging Global Maritime Threats

The operation to remove the oil from the FSO Safer was sanctioned by the United Nations and took place to prevent a major environmental disaster. It meant months of planning, as well as negotiations with the local Houthi leaders, to ensure the transfer could take place safely.

A team from SMIT Salvage, part of Boskalis, led the operation. We hear from Operations Manager Paul Van ‘t Hof and Robert Meijer, who is Manager of Projects, who were both in Yemen as the transfer took place. We are also joined by Joseph Divis, Underwriting Director, Offshore & Renewables at NorthStandard, to look at how NorthStandard helped ensure this operation could take place.

Highlights:

01:52 North Standard's Role and Relationship with Smit Salvage

03:03 Challenges and Complexities of the FSO Safer Project

04:45 Security Concerns in a War Zone

06:01 Multi-Agency Coordination and Approval

09:27 Personal Reflections and Safety Measures

13:30 Technical Aspects of the Oil Transfer Operation

15:00 Execution and Completion of the Operation

18:42 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

The Strike and Delay Class at NorthStandard insures shipowners and charterers against lost income or profit caused by delays arising from 30 different risks.

These include typical P&I and H&M risks, but more relevant for today, the class specialises in force majeure risks - in other words those that are outside the control of companies.

That means things such as disease, extreme weather, war, terrorism, labour unrest, strikes, civil disturbance, protest, revolution and supply chain disruption.

We talk to Columb Strack, who works with a team looking at some of these risks.

He is Head of Global Cargo Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which provides forward-looking actionable intelligence and risk quantification on political and security risks affecting marine and other sectors.

Also on the show is Nick Rowe, Head of the Strike & Delay Class of NorthStandard to explain how the company supports its members with regards these areas of risk.

Highlights:

00:31 Understanding Risk and Insurance Solutions

01:16 Expert Insights: Predicting Geopolitical Risks

02:42 Impact of the Pandemic and Ukraine War

08:04 Focus on Ukraine: Maritime Implications

12:54 Middle East and Gulf Region: Geopolitical Risks

16:59 Europe: Strike Actions and Economic Challenges

19:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To discuss this, Kait Borsay is joined by Nicky Cariglia, who has a background in marine biology and has spent the last ten years focussed on environmental emergency response, attending more than 30 oil spills and vessel groundings, where she has offered technical guidance.

Also on this episode is Sam Kendall-Marsden, the global head of claims for The Standard Club, who has spearheaded the club’s response to several major marine casualties, including the sinking of the cruise ship Concordia off the Italian coast in 2012.

This podcast coincides with the publication of Standard Club’s first Sustainability Impact Paper, entitled ‘Planet | People | Performance’. The report breaks down Standard Club’s strategy into two key impact indicators. The first focuses on how the club will work with its members to help create more sustainable services and practices, while the second indicator details how it plans to make its own operation more sustainable.

You can read the full report here: https://www.standard-club.com/knowledge-news/sustainability-impact-paper-people-planet-performance-4674/

Highlights:

00:52 Meet the Experts: Nikki Cariglia and Sam Kendall-Marsden

01:27 Understanding ESG Principles

02:29 Applying ESG in Real-Life Scenarios

04:51 Insurance Perspective on Shipping Disasters

09:23 Challenges and Innovations in Casualty Response

15:21 Future Directions and Final Thoughts

22:47 Conclusion and Next Steps

We hear from Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation - an NGO whose mission is to help the international shipping sector eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions. She outlines how the targets are useful but challenging. Professor Loo is joined by David Roberts, Managing Director of Standard Club Asia, who gives us insight from the maritime industry and explores how the issue impacts insurance.

Highlights:

00:11 The Push for Decarbonisation in Maritime Industry

00:49 Expert Insights: David Roberts and Professor Lynn Loo

02:38 Challenges and Strategies in Decarbonization

04:34 Regulatory Targets and Industry Readiness

07:43 The Role of Alternative Fuels

14:51 Insurance Implications of Alternative Fuels

18:26 Realistic Targets and Future Outlook

28:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

With these challenges there are also opportunities, as we hear from two of the industry’s leading companies to explore this. 

Stuart Keeble is a chartered civil engineer who is a commercial manager at Boskalis, a leading global dredging contractor and marine services provider to the offshore energy market.

Also on this episode is Fabian Hippe, Managing Director of Menck, a specialist in pile driving technology and services for oil and gas, wind and civil engineering projects around the world.

They discuss how it is not just supply of equipment and materials that is a challenge but the availability of staff and skills. But they also paint a positive picture for the renewables market, as demand for win increases in all parts of the world. We here how maximising this opportunity is key and what are the best ways to do that.

Highlights:

01:17 Impact of Global Events on the Maritime Sector

03:35 Challenges in Wind Farm Development

05:21 Technological and Logistical Considerations

06:50 Global Market and Future Prospects

14:46 Realistic Achievements and Industry Needs

In this episode of ‘Alongside’, we look at the threat of cyber-attacks in the maritime industry. As the sector becomes more and more reliant on connected technology, we ask how much of a threat is there and what needs to be done to counter those threats. Our host Kait Borsay is joined by Daniel Ng, CEO of Cyber Owl, a company which helps asset operators in the maritime and critical national infrastructure sectors manage cyber risks and ensure cyber compliance. We also hear from Georgie Furness-Smith, Senior Cyber Underwriter and Head of Maritime Cyber at AXIS Capital.

Highlights:

00:55 Understanding Cyber Attacks: Expert Insights

03:49 Real-World Examples of Cyber Attacks

08:08 Insurance Perspectives on Cyber Threats

12:44 The Importance of Information Sharing

14:11 Cybersecurity Standards and Future Predictions

21:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our host Kait Borsay talks to Patrick Browne, founder of Flightdeck Safety Initiatives (FSi), and Jim Guidry from Kirby Corporation, the largest tank barge operator in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, along all three U.S. Coasts.

Jim is a member of Standard Club and sits on the Standard Club Safety and Loss Advisory Committee, bringing together senior technical and marine managers from the club’s membership to share knowledge and experience.

Highlights:

01:13 Understanding Sterile Cockpit in Aviation

02:45 Sterile Wheelhouse in Maritime Operations

04:24 Implementing Sterile Wheelhouse at Kirby Corporation

06:09 Challenges and Adaptations in Maritime Safety

11:51 Human Factors and Communication in Safety

Highlights:

01:37 Understanding the North Atlantic Right Whale

03:20 Challenges Facing Right Whales

04:18 Efforts to Mitigate Vessel Strikes

06:27 CSL's Environmental Initiatives

08:21 Conservation Measures and Future Strategies

13:58 Coexistence and Future Outlook

Highlights:

00:23 Meet Our Guests: Nick Potter and Saunak Rai

01:51 Decarbonisation Targets and the Role of Shipping

03:00 Exploring Alternative Fuels

05:57 Challenges in Adopting New Fuels

08:24 Collaboration for a Greener Future

14:08 Future of Shipping: Looking Ahead to 2050

Highlights:

00:45 Meet the Experts: Sam Kendall Marsden and Richard Jansen

01:03 Initial Response to a Casualty

02:10 Role of Salvage Services

02:51 Critical Decisions in Early Response

04:57 Case Study: Costa Concordia

08:29 Impact on Claims Process

14:52 Technology in Emergency Response

16:58 Managing Media and Messaging

20:16 Future of Major Shipping Casualties

Highlights:

01:28 Navigating the Northwest Passage: Challenges and Geography

02:29 Impact of Climate Change on Ice Conditions

03:06 Fed Nav's Arctic Operations and Evolution

04:18 Benefits and Risks of the Northwest Passage

06:00 Understanding the Polar Code

09:59 Technology's Role in Arctic Navigation

11:07 Historic Journey: First Cargo Ship Without Icebreaker Escort

13:17 Future of the Northwest Passage