Full Ahead : the podcast about ships and shipping

Episódios

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  Inside Harland & Wolff: A brighter future for Belfast's shipbuilder? 16.09.2026 37min

  Join us as we step inside the legendary Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast for a behind-the-scenes look at a place where some of the world’s most famous ships were built.We meet the apprentices learning the skills of the futureand hear from Navantia’s Head of HR and Culture Kat Thorn how the company is gearing for shipbuilding to come back to Belfast.Also with Margaritaville at Sea’s flagship ‘Beachcomber’ due to arrive soon for repair, refurbishment and revitalisation, it's hoped the project will reinforce the city’s position as an increasingly important destination for cruise ship makeovers.What does the future hold for this historic yard?Can a new generation help put Belfast back at the beating heart of shipbuilding?Come aboard for a fascinating look at the people, skills andplans behind the next chapter of the city's maritime story.Thanks to Navantia.The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company.
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  Why Merchant Navy Day still matters 03.09.2026 29min

  September 3 is Merchant Navy Day a chance to remember the seafarers who lost their lives at sea during wartime and celebrate the thousands who continue to keep the world moving today.The Red Ensign, or “Red Duster”, will be flying across the country as people come together to mark the day.In this episode of The Full Ahead Podcast, we’re joined by Ed Clark from The Seafarers’ Charity to find out what the charity does, the challenges facing seafarers today and how it supports people across the maritime world.And, of course, why Merchant Navy Day remains so important.So wear something red, fly the Red Duster — and join us for a special Full Ahead Podcast.
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  The ships that refuse to die and how Warrenpoint is making a mark on the Irish Sea 20.08.2026 40min

  🎙️ There’s more to repairing ships than simply getting them back to sea! 🌊In this edition we get the inside story from Dunston Ship Repairs Ltd about the painstaking preservation work that means the historic Arctic Corsair trawler is now proudly on display in Hull. 🛳️ Alistair Eagles also steps aboard the world’s last seagoing paddlesteamer to find out how this remarkable vessel continues to bring pleasure to thousands of people every year.⚓ Plus, we head to Warrenpoint Port to explore the port’s activities, its distinctive role on the Irish Sea and how it has carved out a niche for traffic well beyond.It’s a packed edition of Full Ahead, proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.You don’t have to be a ship expert to love a good story. 🎙️ Come aboard Full Ahead — follow us on Spotify and discover the people, places and stories behind the ships that keep the world moving. ⚓🌊#FullAhead #Podcast #Shipping #Maritime #Ships #Ferries #Ports #ShipRepair #Hull #Warrenpoint #StenaLine
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  Behind the scenes on Stena Embla: What’s next for life at sea? 06.08.2026 28min

  🚢 We’re back afloat for this episode of the podcast and asking when it comes to recruitment, what the future of the maritime industry may look like?We were recently invited aboard the Irish Sea ferry Stena Embla which links Birkenhead and Belfast while the ship was alongside on the Wirral for a rare maintenance and rest day.With the industry changing we enjoyed conversations with some of the people helping to shape it:⚓ Swopping the deck for a desk: Kathryn Gallagher reflects on her personal journey from life at sea to buildinga career on shore.⚓ Building the future: Scarlett Black, Stena Line's Talent Acquisition Lead, explains why a fresh approach torecruitment could help tackle the industry's skills challenge.⚓ Booming Birkenhead: With significant recent investment in Birkenhead we hear from Stena’s Regional Port Development Manager Christian Grossie about the jobof meeting changing traffic demand.⚓ The view from the bridge: We also speak to Captain Wojciech Haptar who has commanded Stena Embla since she entered service five years ago and shares an insight into life on the Irish Sea on a ship with a distinctive "green bridge."🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.
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  Inside Fleetwood Nautical Campus ⚓ 23.07.2026 37min

  Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch a career as a Merchant Navy Officer or Maritime Apprentice? For this episode of the Full Ahead Podcast Alistair and Nigel go on-location to Fleetwood Nautical Campus (FNC) widely regarded as one of the UK’s top nautical institutions.With a rich seagoing history dating back to 1892, the campus continues to set the benchmark for maritime education. We visited their open day to meet cadets preparing for life at sea and the specialist instructors training them. In this episode:from the bridge to the training pool, we go inside Fleetwood's state-of-the-art facilities'engine or deck?' We hear from cadets from both!and we hear from the man at the top Neil Atkinson who attended in 1989 and following a 22-year career at sea returned as Head of Campus in 2013.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube!The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.
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  The Åland Islands: Europe's Maritime Meeting Place 09.07.2026 44min

  Discover why the Åland Islands have become one of northern Europe's most important maritime meeting places.Alistair travels to Mariehamn for Maritime Day, where shipping professionals, industry leaders and enthusiasts gather to network, share ideas and celebrate the maritime sector.From the charity 5K run supporting Mercy Ships to interviews with leading names in shipping, this episode captures the atmosphere of one of the Baltic's biggest maritime events.Featuring guests from Godby Shipping, DFDS, Viking Line and event organiser Ålands Sjöfart, plus a conversation with the Speaker of the Åland Parliament, you'll hear how this unique island community combines a rich maritime heritage with a forward-looking shipping industry.The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company.The islands:Stena Line
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  Hey Tugboat, the Bristol Channel's First Female Tug Captain | Full Ahead Podcast 18.06.2026 30min

  Rhiannon Pritchard made history as the Bristol Channel's first female tug captain — and she's helping shine a spotlight on one of the maritime industry's most important yet often overlooked roles.Through her hugely popular Hey Tugboat social media channels, Rhiannon has attracted thousands of followers by sharing life at the helm of a Svitzer tug. She offers a skipper's-eye view of ship handling and the vessels that keep maritime traffic moving safely and efficiently.In this episode of The Full Ahead Podcast, Rhiannon discusses her career journey so far, her life as a tug captain, the realities of working on the water, and how social media is helping introduce a whole new audience to the world of maritime operations.If you're fascinated by ships, ports and the people who keep global trade moving, this is an episode not to miss!Follow Hey Tugboat on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company.
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  Seawork Southampton 2026: Inside Europe’s Biggest Commercial Marine Show 12.06.2026 44min

  “We haven’t built the perfect boat.”That’s the verdict from Alan Goodchild of Goodchild Marine,speaking to Full Ahead at Seawork.Billed as Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine andworkboat exhibition, Seawork brings together hundreds of organisations from across the maritime sector. From unmanned vessels and cutting-edge safety technology to maritime charities and scientific organisations such as theBritish Antarctic Survey, there was plenty to explore.During our visit, we stepped aboard a brand-new pilot boat,took a tour of a powerful harbour tug, and heard about the University of Southampton’s ambitions to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia.As this special episode reveals, innovation, skills andsustainability are shaping the future of the maritime industry.The Full Ahead Podcast: Proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.
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  On the Bridge: Chief Officer Harvey Finney, CalMac | Season 2 05.06.2026 6min

  We hope you enjoyed our trip aboard CalMac's newest ferry in the first epsiode of the second series!The MV Isle of Islay, An t-Eilean Ìle in Gaelic serves Islay and was launched in 2024, the first of two ferries being built in Turkey to service the route.Chief Officer Harvey Finney was among the team who brought the ship home to Scotland during what was to prove an eventful journey!In this bonus interview with Alistair which we recorded on the ship's bridge during a crossing to Islay, he explains about the emergency that helped the crew put the ferry through its' paces, what it is like to take on a 'new build' and his ambitions, one year after we first interviewed him for the Full Ahead Podcast.The podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.
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  Aboard CalMac's new Isle of Islay ferry I Season 2 05.06.2026 35min

  Welcome to our second series of the podcast about ships and shipping!We've a bumper season lined up for you - be sure to subscribe now and check out our YouTube channel too for videos about the podcasts too.We kick off the second season of the podcast with a trip aboard Caledonian MacBrayne's newest ferry, the Isle of Islay.Not only this but we reunite with the very first guest from the podcast who is now Chief Officer aboard the first of class ferry.Harvey Finney showed us around the ship and we had a good chat with passengers and crew during a return crossing to Islay from Kennacraig.*You can also hear Harvey share details of what was an eventful delivery voyage with Alistair in a special bonus edition of the podcast which is also now available.Our thanks to CalMac for looking after us on board and be sure to look out for Scottish Island Adventures a fascinating podcast about the stories, spirit and soul of the west coast islands.Season two of The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.
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  Mike Louagie – maritime photographer (ships, ferries & ferry shipping summit) | Full Ahead Ep 15 03.04.2026 31min

  In this episode of Full Ahead, we’re joined by master maritime photographer Mike Louagie, whose striking images capture the power, scale, and atmosphere of ships and ferries around the world.Mike shares the stories behind his work, from life aboard vessels to documenting the maritime industry at key moments, including his experience at the Ferry Shipping Summit and beyond.We also talk about what it takes to photograph the sea professionally — the challenges, the unpredictability, and the unique perspective required to capture life at sea in motion.A fan of ferries in particular, he is part of the team behind the Ferry Shipping Summit and also produces the weekly Ferry Shipping News.In our conversation he offers some good advice for anyone wanting to break into a particular industry and reveals how he managed to capture some of his most awe-inspiring shots.To see more of his work follow Mike on LinkedIn and Instagram
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  How air bubbles cut ship drag and boost fuel efficiency | Full Ahead Ep 14 22.03.2026 38min

  We explore how air bubbles are being used to reduce ship drag and improve fuel efficiency in modern shipping.Known as air lubrication systems, this technology is helping vessels cut emissions and improve performance at sea.We break down the science behind hull resistance — and why it matters for the future of sustainable maritime transport.Does the size of bubble matter!?Armada Technologies, a partner of Liverpool John Moores University's Global Centre for Maritime Innovation, has just signed an agreement with TUI Cruises to install revolutionary tech on the 99,000 tonne Mein Schiff 6.It's already working aboard Kool Husky, a 160,000 cubic meter tanker owned by CoolCo, which is currently gathering performance data at sea.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRwuyodEdAs&t=50sAlistair and Nigel have been speaking to Alex Routledge, CEO of Armada Technologies,  about the challanges faced and hopes for the future - the technology has been shortlisted for the prestigious Earthshot Prize.
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  Stena Connecta & Norsepower rotor sails: wind power and the future of shipping | Full Ahead Ep 13 03.03.2026 45min

  We've been aboard the innovative Stena Connecta which is now in service on the Irish Sea.Stena's ‘New Max’ RoRo ship has 2,848 lane metres across its 147-metre length and the ship's profile is distinctive thanks to two 28×4 metre Norsepower Rotor Sails™ installed.They're designed to enhance energy efficiency and could deliver up to 9% fuel savings on the route between Belfast and Heysham.The distinctive profile of the ship is causing certainly causing interest but how does it work and what difference do rotor sails make?We've been talking to the the master and hearing from Norsepower, the company behind the sails. The company's head of research and development Ville Paakkari joined us from Helsinki to explain more about how the sails work and the company's future ambitions.Our thanks to Stena Line and Norsepower for taking part in this podcast.
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  What’s next for UK ports and shipping? Richard Ballantyne OBE explains | Full Ahead Ep 12 22.02.2026 38min

  Welcome from Alistair and Nigel to the February edition of The Full Ahead Podcast!As well as getting out to meet people from all walks of life we look forward to spending time with some the maritime industry's movers and shakers .Richard Ballantyne OBE is Chief Executive of the BritishPorts Association, the national membership body for over 400 ports, harbours and other marine facilities in the UK. From energy hubs to passenger terminals,fishing ports to those handling leisure craft, the BPA’s members account for86% of all UK port tonnage.With at least 125,000 people working in port operations it’sa major industry and one that’s undergoing change. The aftermath of Brexit, efforts to become more sustainable plus recruitment and influencing UK government policy and international committees are among a long list of issues that the BPA is involved in.Richard joined the association in 2007 before becoming ChiefExecutive in 2016 and as a Director of Maritime UK, a Trustee of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board charity and former Director of Port Skills and Safety Ltd, we were delighted to talk to him.In this episode we discuss:1.     An introduction to the work of the BPA2.     How to be heard; raising the awareness of theindustry in the minds of those whose decision directly affect it.3.     Is it getting harder for smaller ports? Are thebigger ports then just going to get bigger?4. How does he view the health of UK ports at themoment?5.   Who should pay for new infrastructure at ports?(A recurring theme at the Shipping Ferry Summit series recorded in Malmo.)6.  Shore power and how it may develop.7.  The challenges of recruitment and theopportunities on offer in ports around the UK.8. The legacy of Brexit, specifically the new port property built to enable smooth trade which is not in use, and how discussions are continuingto see how it could be used in the future.9.   The future!Thanks to Richard for talking to The Full Ahead Podcast.Subscribe now to hear the next edition first and if you would like to sponsor an edition, get in touch!And between episodes we are active on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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  50 Years at Sea: The Extraordinary Life of Tony Cowell | Full Ahead 25.01.2026 50min

  In this special feature-length edition of Full Ahead, we meet a man whose remarkable career has taken him from fishing boats and the harsh realities of life at sea to the bridge of a passenger ferry — and the crew of a lifeboat.Tony Cowell first went to sea at just three years old. Following his father and grandfather, he became a Fleetwood fisherman and spent years working in one of the most demanding jobs on the coast.Then an injury forced a change of direction.Tony went on to become captain of the ferry linking Fleetwood and Knott End, a vital service he commanded for 21 years. He's also a former coxswain of Fleetwood lifeboat and, although he's now hung up his ferry captain's hat, he continues to serve his community as chair of the RNLI in Fleetwood.His story is one of seafaring, family, danger, resilience and a lifetime spent helping to keep people moving and safe on the water.Alistair and Nigel also look ahead to some of the stories making waves across the maritime world, while exploring more nautical words and phrases that have found their way into everyday language.From fishermen and ferry captains to lifeboat crews and the people keeping Britain's coastal communities connected, Full Ahead brings you the stories behind the maritime world.Have a guest you'd like us to meet? Or would you be interested in sponsoring an episode? Get in touch — we'd love to hear from you.Enjoy the podcast, and please subscribe, share and leave us a comment.
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  Behind the Scenes of Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS 23.12.2025 34min

  The UK's coastguard and rescue teams respond to everything from emergencies in the middle of the Atlantic to dramatic cliff-top rescues — and a new Channel 5 documentary series gives viewers a front-row seat.Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS follows the lifesaving work of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, capturing the experiences of helicopter crews, investigators, surveyors and counter-pollution officers as they respond to some of the UK's most challenging maritime emergencies.Journalist and producer Andy Smythe has been there to film many of these extraordinary stories.In this episode of Full Ahead, Andy joins Alistair and Nigel to reveal what happens behind the cameras, the variety of incidents the production team encountered and what it's really like to document people working to save lives around Britain's coastline.From collisions and daring sea rescues to the challenges faced by the teams responding to emergencies, this is a fascinating insight into the people behind one of Britain's most important — and often unseen — emergency services.If you're looking for something gripping to watch over the festive season, Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS is currently airing on Channel 5.And if you're enjoying Full Ahead, follow the podcast on Spotify so you don't miss our upcoming episodes in 2026.You can also find Full Ahead on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.Check out our Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and LinkedIn pages too!Show notes:To watch all episodes
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  Two Ports, Two Stories: From Portsmouth to Lancaster 17.12.2025 24min

  We're back in the UK after our trip to the Ferry Shipping Summit in Sweden, where we recorded five special episodes of Full Ahead.This time, we're looking at two very different UK ports — Portsmouth International Port and the Port of Lancaster — and discovering how both are adapting to the future.While in Malmö, Alistair and Nigel spoke to Andrew Williamson, Head of Cruise and Ferry at Portsmouth International Port. With the port approaching its 50th anniversary, Andrew explains how Portsmouth has developed into an important ferry and cruise hub, its close relationship with the local community, and how investment and innovation are shaping its future.We then head north to Lancashire and the Port of Lancaster, where Matthew Burdekin, Deputy Harbour Master, takes us through the remarkable history of a port that has been operating since 1750.Despite its long history, Lancaster is looking firmly towards the future. Matthew explains why its riverside, tidal location makes it well placed to handle a wide range of cargoes, how ships navigate their way into the port and what opportunities lie ahead.Along the way, we explore some fascinating questions:Who takes the financial risk when a ferry terminal is developed — the port or the ferry company?Who actually owns Portsmouth's port?How can the maritime industry attract the next generation?How does a modern ship reach Lancaster's tidal riverside port?And how does a port with almost 300 years of history prepare for the future?Thanks to Andrew and Matthew for joining us.00:00 Setting the scene with Alistair and Nigel03:00 Andrew Williamson on the development of Portsmouth as a ferry hub04:00 Ports or ferry companies — who takes the risk?05:00 Who owns Portsmouth International Port?07:00 Attracting people to careers in maritime08:00 Matthew Burdekin takes us back to the history of Lancaster's port15:00 West Quay and Lancaster's ambitions for the future19:00 How ships reach this riverside, tidal port22:00 Looking back — and ahead to the next Full AheadFull Ahead brings you the people, places and stories behind the maritime world.If you're enjoying the podcast, follow Full Ahead on Spotify and share the episode with someone who loves ships, ports or the sea.
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  The Full Ahead Podcast at the Ferry Shipping Summit 2025 Episode 5 21.11.2025 56min

  At this year’s Ferry Shipping Summit in Malmo the theme was ‘Cutting-Edge Ferries Future Ready Ports' and in this final, bumper episode recorded in Sweden we look to the future.One of the recurring themes was ‘digital’ while Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can be adopted to smooth the journey for freight and passengers was another common discussion point.In this episode we hear from Henrik Lindqvist of Orbyt Global AB, Kadri Haufe of Nortal and Maddy Bosch of Brock Solutions who explain how tech is making transport smoother.Anders Orgard of OSK Design talks about the future of ferry design and construction.With next year's summit to be held in Greece we also hear the views of the CEO's of Patras and Kavala ports, Panagiotis Anastasopoulos and Dr Angelos Vlachos.And how an interest in Irish Sea ferry operations led Gary Andrews to a career in shipping.Our thanks to the organisers of the Ferry Shipping Summit for enabling us to attend.We hope you enjoy the podcast and if you would like to hear more stories of ships and shipping and would be interested in sponsoring an episode or short series in 2026, get in touch.Show notes:⁠2025 summit downloads⁠⁠2026 Shipping Ferry Summit details⁠Podcast contents:1-4 minutes setting the scene4-10 minutes Henriq Blomquist of Orbyt Global who specialise in maritime connectivity and navigation talks about developments aboard ships now and the future. 10-15 minutes Canadian based Brock Consulting are already working in Europe as Maddy Bosch told us:15-20 minutes In Tallin the port there has already adopted new ways of working as Kadri Haufe of Nortal explains. 23 - 34 minutes ship designers like Anders Ogard of OSK Design are keeping a close eye on developments onshore to make sure the ferries of the future offer exactly what passengers and crew need.34-43 minutes Gary Andrews of DFDS has been a lifelong ferry supporter. How does he view the future?44-50 minutes the CEO's of Kavala and Patras ports Dr Angelos Vlachos and Panagiotis Anastasopoulos share their views on collaborations with ferry operators and hopes for the future.
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  The Full Ahead Podcast at the Ferry Shipping Summit 2025 Episode 4 20.11.2025 23min

  This year’s Ferry Shipping Summit in Malmo brought together a diverse range of ferry and port operators from across Europe.Eight executives responsible for some of the biggest ferry companies around gave their thoughts on the industry, its challenges and opportunities.In episode 1 of this series we heard the view of the man in charge of Brittany Ferries in the English Channel market but in this podcast we’ll hear the views from northern and southern Europe.Brian Thorsted of Fjord Lines in Norway and Juan Pablo Molina of Balearia offer their insight into two very different markets.Brian tells us how he's confident for the coming years while Juan Pablo explains why Balearia's fleet is set to grow with three additional ships joining an existing fleet of 35.And we hear how the Port of Kiel has undergone a transformation to make it among the most green in Europe.We hope you enjoy the podcast and if you would like to hear more stories of ships and shipping and would be interested in sponsoring an episode or short series in 2026, get in touch.Show notes:⁠2025 summit downloads⁠⁠2026 Shipping Ferry Summit details⁠Podcast contents:1-3 minutes setting the scene with Nigel and Alistair3-9 minutes We meet Brian Thorsted CEO of ⁠Fjord Lines⁠10-16 minutes Hear from Juan Pablo Molina Technical Director for Balearia.17-23 minutes The Port of Kiel received the summit's Port of the Year award. Lisa Serodnik Kiel’s environmental manager told us more about their transition to a port now able to offer electrical power to four ferries and three cruise ships at once. 
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  The Full Ahead Podcast at the Ferry Shipping Summit 2025 Episode 3 19.11.2025 37min

  Although the Ferry Shipping Summit took place in Malmo we were delighted to be able to see another Swedish port at work.Ystad is the country's southernmost port with links to the Danish island of Bornholm and Świnoujście in Poland.In this edition we hear from the man who is aiming to continue the development of this medium sized port by encouraging more freight and passenger traffic through it.We also got an 'access all areas tour' of PolFerries latest Ro Pax vessel Varsovia, met the captain and company CEO as well as the designer who we learned was the same one behind Stena's new arrival on the Irish Sea.And as we continue to shine a spotlight on the variety of jobs in the maritime world we learned what a ship broker does.We hope you enjoy the podcast and if you would like to hear more stories of ships and shipping and would be interested in sponsoring an episode or short series in 2026, get in touch.Show notes:2025 summit downloads2026 Shipping Ferry Summit detailsPodcast contents:1-3 minutes setting the scene3-7 minutes We meet Bjorn Bostrum port director at Ystad 8-15 minutes  Chief Executive of Polish Baltic Shipping Company Piotr Redmerski 16-21 minutes Roberto Prever from NAOS Ship and Boat Design on board the Varsovia, the ship he designed21-25 minutes We tour the Varsovia.26-30 minutes The life and times of a ship broker, Olof Berndtsson shares his story.30-32 minutes Looking ahead to episode 4.