July 11, 2025
By Nick Behan
Robert leads V.Ships, one of the world’s largest independent ship management companies and part of the global maritime services group, V.Group. With a background in international business and performance transformation, he brings a commercially astute and digitally progressive approach to one of the most complex and highly regulated sectors in global transport. In this conversation, Robert shares insights on the strategic role of ship managers, the accelerating influence of AI, and the critical need to rebuild maritime’s leadership pipeline. Speaking from a uniquely global vantage point, he reflects on the human capital, geopolitical and sustainability shifts shaping the future of commercial shipping.
Reflecting on your time in maritime transportation and logistics, what’s been the most transformative change you’ve witnessed, and how has it shaped the way the sector operates today?
What has always fascinated me about shipping is the industry’s centrality to keeping the wheels of the global economy turning. Shipping accounts for 85% of international trade and is critical to energy security and the industrial base of most countries.
The increasing incidence of armed conflict, protectionist policies, and the regulations and costs imposed by the green energy transition have caused unprecedented turmoil in shipping supply chains in recent years. When considering capital allocation and asset replacement strategies that will shape the global fleet for the next 20 years, the crystal ball looks particularly murky. We live in interesting times and shipping is not for the faint of heart.
Now, as ever, shipping demands agility, expert timing, and strategic partnerships. This cannot be achieved without a high-performing team, and a steady supply of first-class young shipping talent.
I suggest, therefore, that the premium on top-quality leadership and building a winning culture has never been higher in shipping. Steel is no longer enough.
What do you see as the most pressing sustainability challenge in your area of the sector, and how is your organisation responding to it, either through innovation, policy, or operations?
I’m very focused on doing what is possible and economical in the short term and I am therefore focused on energy efficiency. Compared to the adoption of alternative fuels and carbon capture technologies, the pay-back period of energy efficiency measures makes it a clear winner. Much must be done to completely decarbonise shipping over several decades but aggressively driving energy efficiency must be done first.
There is significant variation in energy efficiency performance from the best to the worst. If the ‘rest of the industry’ just emulates ‘the leaders’, much can be gained in the next couple of years.
Recognising that in the case of energy efficiency, there is no trade-off between what is good for the planet and what is good for business, V.Ships is a leader in driving adoption of best practices across the fragmented shipping sector, thereby assisting uptake of technologies and solutions that are proven commercially and practically viable.
How do you balance commercial performance with the long-term imperative to become a more sustainable business, and where do you feel the biggest trade-offs or opportunities lie?
I don’t believe there is a trade-off. The premium for energy-efficiency has forever been raised, and the opportunity lies before us to develop technical and commercial solutions that solve problems for our customers.
Our V.ERDE decarbonisation programme is where sustainability and commercialisation come together, providing a range of solutions to the maritime industry with dedicated, research-backed solutions to future-proof shipping and meet the needs of the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.
Working alongside our shipowner customers, both managed and third-party, we empower them with tailored technical solutions, ensuring both existing and future vessels meet sustainability goals while maintaining operational excellence.
Where is AI already changing the game in your organisation (or the sector more broadly), and what excites or concerns you most about what’s coming next?
V. has been working with AI for the past five years, developing our own cutting-edge, artificial intelligence powered risk prediction platform, Sentinel AI.
Sentinel AI is fully integrated within our existing ship management ERP platform, ShipSure. It powerfully predicts and manages vessel risk events, enabling precise prioritisation that dramatically reduces safety exposure and technical downtime.
This mature AI technology, used daily across all V. managed vessels, identifies issues important to the smooth running of our ships, and then gives the Master, Fleet Manager, or Superintendent the tools to correct those issues.
Sentinel AI represents true AI in action - it doesn't just analyse the past but predicts the future.
Looking ahead to 2030, what single shift do you think will most define the future of maritime transportation, and why?
We will see a shift towards outsourcing of ship management. With only 16% of vessels currently under third-party management, many owners lack the scale, technology, and global heft to efficiently navigate the interconnected challenges of crew sourcing, procurement at scale, and decarbonisation and digitalisation, and are looking to partners to provide solutions.
We will see a more integrated approach between owners and managers. Tier One ship managers have the scale, expertise, resources, and global networks needed to address shipping’s challenges effectively.
With dedicated departments focused on regulatory compliance, technological innovation, and operational excellence, the right partner can offer vessel owners a proven alternative to managing these complex requirements in-house.
The real question isn’t whether to outsource, but how quickly owners will adapt to the new reality and tilt the scale between challenge and opportunity in their favour. Those who act now, leveraging specialist expertise, integrated digital systems, and economies of scale, will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly complex world.