In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris sit down with Manish Singh to explore his journey through the maritime industry, from a third-generation seafaring background to leadership roles shaping some of the sector’s most influential businesses. They discuss the transformative changes driven by digitalization and decarbonization, and the role of private equity in providing not just capital but also strategic direction for maritime growth.

The conversation unpacks what it takes to build successful maritime technology companies, the challenges of integration, and why a clear and compelling purpose is essential for long-term success. Manish emphasizes the importance of convergence and collaboration across the industry, while also sharing insights on how AI is becoming foundational to maritime operations and decision-making.

Looking more broadly, they reflect on the cyclical nature of the maritime market, the need to embrace volatility in planning, and why patient capital is vital for fostering resilience and sustainable growth in an industry defined by long investment horizons.

Learn more about Manish:

Manish Singh on LinkedIn

Maris Investments website

In this “LISW Hangover Edition,” Nick Chubb and Raal Harris reflect on a packed London International Shipping Week. Fresh from the gala dinners and 350+ events spread across the city, they share what stood out most in conversations with industry leaders.

Three themes dominate their recap. First is artificial intelligence — so pervasive it cropped up in almost every panel, regardless of the official topic. Second is alternative fuels and propulsion, from the UK’s emerging role as a hub for wind power exports to ongoing debates around LNG, methanol, ammonia, and the pathway to nuclear. Third is the geopolitical mood, where optimism and pessimism seemed equally strong, and where global fragmentation of regulation looms large.

They also discuss creative event formats like “Strictly Decarb,” where hardware, operational excellence, and business model innovation competed head-to-head — showing that shipping has plenty of practical levers to pull on decarbonisation today. Nick highlights the first meaningful UK funding commitment of £1.1 billion toward emission reduction technologies, while Raal emphasises the need to include vendors much earlier in the innovation process.

The conversation then turns to certainty in regulation. With MEPC’s decisive October vote approaching, both note IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez’s high-conviction leadership and its role in giving the industry something to galvanise around. They also cover unintended consequences of EU ETS, the risk of fragmented standards, and the urgent need for globally aligned approaches.

Finally, Nick and Raal preview a series of in-depth interviews recorded in the run up to LISW with leaders including Bjorn Horgaad (Anglo-Eastern), Bill Dobie (Sedna), Torsten Pedersen (Seaspan), Manish Singh (Maris Investments), and Heather Combs (Ripple Operations). From philosophy and leadership to AI adoption, business transformation, M&A, and crewing tech, these conversations promise to open new perspectives in the weeks ahead.

In this episode, Nick Chubb and Raal Harris open with breaking news: SpaceX has spent $17 billion acquiring spectrum to power its next-generation Starlink direct-to-cell service. They explore what this means for mobile connectivity at sea, the race to eliminate dead zones, and why direct-to-handset satellite services could reshape how crews stay connected.

From there, they dive into a legal shocker — a WhatsApp exchange that ended up forming a binding contract worth £248,000. The conversation unpacks how chat messages and even emojis can be legally enforceable, raising major risks for broking, crewing, and commercial negotiations that increasingly happen off-email.

The focus then shifts to Pemira’s minority investment in Rightship. Nick and Raal examine why private equity interest in maritime is rarely just about capital, and what Pemira’s technology and M&A expertise could mean for consolidation in vessel quality and chartering intelligence. They also discuss Rightship’s new Fleet Focus product, which uses AI to turn port state control and inspection data into actionable insights for owners and operators.

The discussion expands into maritime training, benchmarking, and the challenge of proving ROI. They highlight how AI can ease the heavy lift of analysing inspection data, why experiential learning often goes uncaptured, and what competency management can reveal about operator quality.

Nick then pitches three “Alpha School-inspired” business ideas for maritime: personalised onboarding bots for new crew, a compressed “one-hour Blue MBA,” and tools to capture retiring seafarers’ expertise before it walks out the door. Raal weighs the pros and cons of each, sparking a lively debate on knowledge drain, learning culture, and experiential risk management.

Finally, they reflect on London International Shipping Week, reveal their decision to continue Undocked beyond the first 12 episodes, and remind listeners to clear their “debt” by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show.