Episode 128: Bridge to Boardroom: Class Society Reality, Tech Adoption, and the Ship–Shore Gap

Guest: Capt. Ankur Arora, Global Market Leader, Commercial at Bureau Veritas Group

Episode Overview:
Capt. Ankur Arora has lived shipping from all sides. Years at sea, senior roles with shipowners, and now inside a leading class society. In this episode, he breaks down what changes when innovation stops being a slide deck and starts living onboard: design choices that affect daily work, the role of modeling and verification, how connectivity reshapes crew life, and why talent pipelines depend on telling the real story of seafaring.

Key Points:

Why he chose sea life (and what he learned fast): Early responsibility, rapid growth, and leadership lessons that carry forward well beyond the bridge.
The reality of going shoreside: Transitioning ashore means starting over; steep learning curves, intense competition, and rebuilding credibility.
Owner vs. class: different seat, same objective: Safe, compliant ships that stay on-hire and keep earning.
Design decisions matter more than most admit: Seafarer input during design is limited, yet small operational details can drive safety and efficiency.
Innovation vs. adoption: The tech landscape is crowded. Key to success is validation and operational fit matter more than trends.
Connectivity as an enabler, not a threat: Normal life at sea now includes connectivity; culture and leadership determine whether it helps or harms.
Vetting and inspections strengthened by digital tools: Technology improves preparation, risk visibility, and robustness all without cutting corners.