A Desire to Impact Positively the Shipping Industry

Hailing from a family of highly qualified professionals, Capt Shawn Sequeira, a Master Mariner, was recently bestowed with the ‘20 under 40’ Award by Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, only one of two Indians amongst the 20 awardees. Shawn serves as the Commercial Operations Manager of Triton Navigation a company based in Netherland and a part of the Sumitomo Group. Shawn’s responsibilities include managing the Company’s fleet of Tankers, Car Carriers and Bulk Carriers and is a part of various other projects within the organization pertaining to sustainability and alternate fuels.

Apart from being passionate not only about his work but the growth of the shipping industry as a whole, Shawn loves to spend time with his family, to which he has had a recent addition and friends as well.

In conversation with Mr Padmesh Prabhune, Consulting Editor, Marex Media, Capt Sequeira shares his thoughts on winning the award and his wanting to impact positively the shipping industry. He also shares his views on gender equality or lack thereof in the industry and a few other topics close to his heart.

Your first emotion when you were given the award…

In one word….Elation! To expound… I was overwhelmed with gratitude and deeply humbled to learn that my peers had found me deserving of the Top 20 under 40 young maritime leaders award. I was even more excited when I learnt that the award would be presented to me at an event to be held in that was organized by Seatrade in partnership with Youngship.

On having an edge over the other contenders…

I wouldn’t exactly say I have or had an edge over the other contenders for the award. Each of the nominees brought something worthwhile to the table and were therefore nominated for the award. Having said that if I had to venture a guess as to why my name was picked out of the hat, I would wager that it was my contribution to various horizontals and verticals of our industry where I have tried to bring innovation, creativity and a fresh perspective to the field that perhaps made me stand out. I have always felt that the human element  is the most vital element in our industry especially since we have personnel at sea and ashore and hence my consistent efforts towards improving not only their quality of lives while at work but other factors such as safety as well. It is this consistency that I believe will always allow me to hold my head up high and lay down peacefully at the end of a grueling day at work.

On being the youngest and only one of two Indians amongst the 20 award winners to receive this honour…

India is a country comprising of many overachievers. The competition is therefore always tough. The very fact that I’ve somehow managed to stand out despite the high bar set by my fellow countrymen makes me work even harder to be the best version of myself and in turn help our industry in any way I can. The award serves as a reminder of my capabilities, and fuels my drive to continue to make a positive impact in the shipping industry. It inspires me to reach even greater heights, push boundaries, and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the industry and to make every Indian be proud of being called Indians.

Winning secret…

Self motivated, persistence and a never say die attitude has helped me a lot. My mantra is try and try till you succeed, if you still fail, try again.

On effective Human Resources (HR) Policies for Seafarers…

Seafarers are the most important assets of the shipping industry. We risk losing competent seafarers due to boredom, long periods away from family, no clarity in career path and most importantly alternate career choices.

In the recent years, vessel inspections have become more stringent and frequency of inspections have increased, these include SIRE, Flag state inspections, CDI, Rightship, Class Inspections, Internal audits  and PSC’s. This has caused an increase in workload; thus, making the job more demanding.

With companies making internet easily available to seafarers onboard; while this is excellent for seafarers to keep constantly in touch with their families, its quickly also becoming a root cause of social isolation onboard as seafarers keep to themselves after their work hours. Seniors should make efforts to engage the crew in social activities, so that crew bond amongst each other. Thus, ensuring good teamwork onboard that helps enhance the smooth communication between inter-department.

To ensure seafarers are not overworked, companies will need to have effective HR policies in place, such as:

• Give adequate recognition for their work
• Assure timely sign on and sign off
• Proper guidance to progress in their career
• Develop good communication between shore and sea staff
• Appreciate and retain seafarers who have had a good tenure onboard

On the current challenges the shipping industry is facing…

Crewing, Cyber security threats and Technological Disruptions are major challenges.

• Crewing is a huge challenge and retaining competent crew and officers onboard adds to it. Besides this, we are faced with an increasing challenge with regards to the mental health of our seafarers onboard and off board as well. Covid has compounded this area of concern and there was a sharp rise in seafarers facing depression, loneliness and psychological issues, and these need to be addressed.
• Cyber Threats pose a significant challenge as well. Operators clicking on malicious links or falling victim to social engineering can inadvertently leave the system open to cyber attacks.
• Technological Disruptions Technology is ever changing. Companies must adapt to new technologies, invest in training and infrastructure in order to keep with the competition. All while managing the potential impact on employment.

On the current scenario in terms of demand/supply, charter rates…

About 90% of the world trade is carried out by sea, as it the most efficient way of moving large quantities of cargo over long distances. Thus, making the shipping industry essential for large proportion of global trade. However, the Russia-Ukraine war has had a massive impact on global oil supply chains and rippling effects on various aspects of the shipping industry, including the tanker and bulk carrier market.

Russia, a leading oil and gas exporter, now faces severe trade restrictions due to the war, resulting in shifts in trading patterns that has led to a surge in ton-mile demand. Daily rates for smaller-size tankers, which are key for regional oil trading in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions, have dramatically increased.

With the on-going war there is a shift in regional oil trade patterns, where some countries are seeking alternative suppliers or diversifying their supply sources. Subsequently, impacting the demand for tankers, particularly since new trade routes have been established and existing ones disrupted. The tonne/mile cost has definitely seen an appreciable increase since the war erupted.

Russia and Ukraine are prominent players in agrifood markets, including animal feed. Together, they account for 53 per cent of global trade in sunflower oil and seeds, and 27 per cent of wheat. A total of 36 countries import more than 50 per cent of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine alone. Ukraine exported around 50 million tons of grain in 2021. Before the war, estimates projected a growth of 3 per cent in global sea exports of grain. This shrank by 3.8 per cent in 2022. Global shipments of fertilizer and its inputs such as potash also dropped by 7 per cent in 2022. Reduced grain exports from Ukraine are partly offset by increased shipments from other suppliers. This has led to an increase in costs for agro based products.

Thus, leading to increase in oil exports and demand from other OPEC countries that has led to changes in trade patterns, thereby affecting charter rates.

Positive impact you can make in shipping…

Being a Master Mariner with over 20 years of experience in Commercial Operations, Maritime Business Development, Port/Tanker Terminal, Bunker Procurement, Maritime Education, Maritime security risk evaluation, Port cost management, Efficiency, and also promoting seafarer’s welfare has given me an extensive and broad based sailing experience. It is this experience coupled with my innate desire to learn and stay updated which I hope will allow me to continue to assist the industry to constant evolve in order to face the unique challenges of the seas.

I am passionate about developing the maritime sector across the world and I have the good fortune of being able to work closely with our key clients Aramco, BAPCO, ADNOC and KPI with whom we have done several fixtures.

• Sustainability — I am part of the Sumitomo group which is a front runner for alternative fuels projects, where the focus is on decarbonisation and reducing the carbon footprint/GHG emissions for a better future
• Business Development — I am a non-executive consultant with GFL Fuels, which is based out of Dubai and had been part of their business development team
• Training and Development — I am on the global advisory board and a non-executive director for Gamma Marine, helping promote maritime education in the Middle East and India
• Security — being closely associated and a key client of Ambrey, which is a global organization providing armed guards, remote security intelligence and piracy related information in the Arabian gulf, and Somalia region
• Give back to the industry — Presently in collaboration with ISWAN, International seafarer’s welfare organization, where I help them in business development and as a volunteer for helping seafarers stranded/kidnapped in the Arabian Gulf and Somalia region. At present, I am the Chairman of the Nautical Institute l, Netherlands branch, and also a member of the managing committee Institute of Chartered shipbrokers, Netherlands; and strongly advocate for mental health of seafarers at various shipping forums and has also been published in many shipping magazines globally.

Gender equality…

From time immemorial, maritime shipping has been considered a male-centric industry, this perception now needs to be changed. Gender bias must be navigated skillfully. Enlightening employees through captivating awareness campaigns, immersive training programs, and interactive workshops can help dismantle unconscious biases and foster gender-blind evaluations and decision-making. Facilitating networking events, fostering collaboration platforms, and nurturing professional associations can create a vibrant community that amplifies women’s voices and propels their career journeys. Shipping companies must chart a course towards equal opportunities.

Expressing gratitude…

I am grateful to all my peers for their continuous support, encouragement, and camaraderie. Their expertise, dedication, and collaboration have been invaluable throughout my journey in the shipping industry. This award is a testament to our collective efforts and the remarkable talent within our community.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our clients, partners, and various stakeholders from our industry. Your trust and confidence in my work have been instrumental in achieving this recognition. It is through our strong relationships and collaborative endeavors that we have been able to make a positive impact in the shipping sector.

To my colleagues at Triton Navigation, Sumitomo Group, thank you for being an exceptional team. Your hard work, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have played a significant role in this achievement. It’s a privilege to work alongside such talented individuals, and I’m grateful for the opportunities to learn from each other.

Your message…

I feel privileged to be part of a dynamic and ever-evolving shipping industry. This award serves as a reminder of the incredible potential we possess and transformative power we hold collectively. Let’s continue to push boundaries, embrace innovation, and shape the future of global logistics together.

Marex Media