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Bulk Carriers: The Hidden Work Horses of The Sea

In this episode of Sea Views, hosts Julia Gosling and Adam Parnell speak with Matt Shirley (CEO, Safe Harbours Australia) and Marco Blanco (CFO, Safe Harbours Australia) - veteran maritime pilots leading a consultancy that’s reshaping the standards of bridge team management and port safety worldwide.

What we cover:

Why bulk carriers are the “workhorses of the sea” and how Australia became their global hub

• How Safe Harbours Australia trains bridge teams for high-stakes decision-making
• What the Ships of Shame era taught the world about maritime accountability
• How communication and leadership directly impact safety culture
• Why treating crews as assets and not commodities drives operational excellence

About Safe Harbours Australia

With over 140 years of combined commercial shipping experience and 70 years as qualified marine pilots, Safe Harbours Australia delivers independent consultancy, peer reviews, operational assessments, and advanced Bridge Team Management Training. Their expertise covers pilotage safety systems, simulator facilitation, incident investigation, and autonomous shipping design.

🔗 www.safeharbours.com.au


Hosts

Julia Gosling, Host, Sea Views https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaahoy/

Adam Parnell, Director, CHIRP Maritime https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-parnell-chirp/

Guests

Matt Shirley, CEO, Safe Harbours Australia https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-shirley-0435a8206/

Marco Blanco, CFO, Safe Harbours Australia https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-blanco-837b4a192/

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube at CHIRP Maritime or The Seafarers' Charity channels.

CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.

by Ahoy Communications Ltd

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Shadow Fleet Exposed: Risks to Environment, Trade and Seafarers

In this episode of Sea Views, we uncover the murky world of the Shadow Fleet - hundreds of aging tankers trading sanctioned oil under layers of secrecy and deception. With falsified registries, spoofed signals, and uninsured operations, these vessels operate beyond the reach of international law, posing enormous risks to the environment, global security, and above all, the seafarers who crew them.

Joining us is Michelle Wiese Bockmann, Senior Maritime Intelligence Analyst at Windward, who explains how the Shadow Fleet has expanded since the Russia–Ukraine conflict, why these ships are a looming environmental and humanitarian crisis, and how technology is beginning to shine a light on their hidden movements.

At the heart of this issue are people - thousands of crew working in unsafe and unregulated conditions.

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube at CHIRP Maritime or The Seafarers' Charity channels.

CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.

by Ahoy Communications Ltd

Send us a text

Guests:

• Captain Brendan O’Shannassy – Superyacht Captain and maritime safety advocate
• Laura Beard – Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)

“Mental health is health. It’s just the same.” Brendan O’Shannassy

Hosts:

• Julia Gosling – Host, Sea Views Podcast
• Adam Parnell – Director, CHIRP Maritime

Episode Summary:

In this powerful and practical episode of Sea Views, we explore the vital topic of mental health and welfare in the yacht crew sector.
Julia and Adam are joined by returning guest Captain Brendan O’Shannassy and ISWAN’s Laura Beard to discuss the unique pressures faced by superyacht crew, and how industry-wide change can make life at sea safer and more sustainable for everyone on board.

“There’s no judgment on YachtCrewHelp - we’re here for any crew, at any rank.” Laura Beard

Brendan reflects on leadership, fatigue, and the silent strain of command, while Laura shares insights from ISWAN’s helpline Yacht Crew Help, including why many yacht crew don’t initially see themselves as seafarers—and what’s being done to change that.

Key Topics:

• What defines the large yacht sector and who’s working in it
• How mental health is deeply linked to crew safety and performance
• Why perception of the “glamorous” yacht lifestyle often hides the challenges
• Common issues reported to YachtCrewHelp and how the service responds
• The importance of psychological safety, empathy, and leadership onboard
• Awareness campaigns and support for crew at all ranks, from junior to captain

Resources Mentioned:

• YachtCrewHelp (ISWAN): www.iswan.org.uk/yachtcrewhelp/
  A free, 24/7 confidential helpline for all yacht crew, worldwide.

Edited by powwowpodcasts.com

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube at CHIRP Maritime or The Seafarers' Charity channels.

CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.

by Ahoy Communications Ltd