Anglo-Eastern

Day of the Seafarer may have passed, but its theme of “Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks” is part of everyday life at sea. With that in mind, we’re sharing the perspectives of seafarers who live by this every day.

We begin with Hershel, a cadet at the start of her career at sea. She shares what it is like to learn the ropes on board, building confidence and finding her place in life at sea.

Read her story in the carousel below.

Discover more about WeCare and how we support our people here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wZZFY0

At the recent Container Ship Safety Forum (CSSF) members meeting in Athens, Swapnodeep Mondal (Swapan), our Group MD of Operations & Shared Services and second chairman of the CSSF management board, presented the 2025 CSSF Performance Report – which showed improvements in lost-time and total recordable case frequencies alongside a third consecutive annual rise in fire and navigational incident frequency across member fleets.

Reflecting on the findings, Swapan reminded the industry that the oldest problems still matter most: engine room and machinery-space fires remain the single largest category of incidents, well ahead of cargo fires. Equipment integrity, preventive maintenance, fire detection and crew preparedness remain the foundation of safe operations. He also flagged lithium-ion batteries – particularly the undeclared box hidden inside everyday cargo – as an emerging, often invisible risk, and cautioned that AI and automation are valuable decision-support tools but not a substitute for competent crews, effective procedures and a strong safety culture.

As Swapan highlighted, the challenge for the next decade is to maintain excellence in the fundamentals while building resilience against increasingly complex, fast-moving and technology-driven risks – an area where collaboration through forums such as the CSSF has an important role to play.

Swapan also shared his perspectives with Seatrade Maritime News and Splash. Read the full interviews here:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wZKbT0
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wZKcR0

Our colleagues Dietmar Wertanzl (MD, Anglo-Eastern Leisure Management Inc.) and Frits van der Werff (VP Commercial, Cruise and Leisure Division) recently spent time onboard Douglas Mawson, an expedition cruise operated by Aurora Expeditions, catching up with our crew and gaining a refreshed experience for life at sea.

The visit wouldn't have been complete without a small courtesy from the galley. Swapping suits for aprons, Dietmar served a shrimp linguine while Frits prepared a penne arrabbiata in the crew mess. The verdict from the crew? Plates cleaned, smiles all round.

Such precious moments serve as profound reminders of what sits at the heart of our cruise and leisure management offering: people, partnership and a genuine connection to the ships and crews we support. We remain dedicated to bringing deep technical expertise and hospitality experience together for owners and operators across the expedition, lifestyle and ultra-luxury segments.

A heartfelt thank you to Aurora Expeditions for the continued trust and partnership, and to the entire crew of Douglas Mawson for their hospitality and the work they do every day to keep guests safe and looked after at sea.

In June, MV Graceous, a capesize bulk carrier managed by Anglo‑Eastern for Teh‑Hu Cargocean, became the largest vessel to enter the inner harbour at Visakhapatnam Port, India.

Carrying over 100,000 MT of coal, the vessel was safely guided to berth EQ-1 through close coordination between Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA)’s team and our seafarers led by Capt Anurag Puniya and CE Abhirup Dalai.

This milestone underscores the value of close collaboration with our stakeholders, and reflects our team’s strength in managing complex vessel operations across diverse port environments.
At Anglo‑Eastern, we have long been committed to delivering safe, efficient and high-quality ship management solutions worldwide.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Teh‑Hu Cargocean for their continued trust, to VPA for their support, and to our dedicated seafarers and shore-based team whose meticulous ex*****on made this milestone possible. May MV Graceous continue her journey with safe sailing and following seas!

As the offshore wind segment continues to expand, workforce planning is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation.

Barrie Finlayson, General Manager of Anglo-Eastern's Glasgow Office, explores how workforce expectations are evolving across the offshore wind segment – from rising demand for specialist skills and changing rotation preferences, to the growing importance of retention and long-term workforce planning.

Drawing on Anglo-Eastern's crewing experience, Barrie shares observations on the trends shaping today's offshore labour market as projects scale and competition for experienced personnel intensifies.

Barrie highlights the workforce dynamics influencing offshore wind operations today, and the considerations that are likely to shape the sector's talent pipeline in the years ahead. For owners, maritime professionals and aspiring seafarers, these developments will play an important part in supporting the sector's continued growth.

Read more here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wN4D50

If you’re interested in joining our ships, apply through https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wN5V80

Giving back to the community is something we actively encourage at Anglo-Eastern, and supporting the people who keep world trade moving sits close to our purpose. When three of our colleagues signed up to run for The Mission to Seafarers, we were glad to offer our support and sponsorship.

Following the Anglo-Eastern team's engagements at the Mission to Seafarers Japan Race in 2023 and 2025, the team – Martin Rowe (Vice President, Business Development), Lucas Daels (Director, Business Integration) and Thanos Sotiris (Digital Solutions Manager) – took on the inaugural Maritime Mountain Race in Le Bouveret, Switzerland on 27 June, joining teams from fellow shipping companies across the industry.

The Anglo-Eastern team tackled a scenic yet demanding 16 km trail through the Swiss mountains. Despite record temperatures on the race day, they pushed themselves to the limit for the meaningful cause, and have so far achieved over 160% of their fundraising goal, funds that would make a difference to the lives of seafarers and their families supported by the event.

Behind that successful result sat weeks of quiet effort – the team juggled family commitments and put in hours of training. It all came together on the day.

Congratulations to Martin, Lucas and Thanos on a strong representation for Anglo-Eastern, and to The Mission to Seafarers and every team who took part, well done on a fantastic collective effort for a cause that matters to all of us in shipping.

If you would like to support this meaningful cause, donations are still open: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wLdDg0

At sea, the world can feel a long way off. That is why this summer, we have been working to make sure our seafarers do not have to miss one of the biggest events. We have extended live coverage of the World Cup to more than 470 vessels across our managed fleet, giving crews around the world the chance to gather in their spare time and enjoy the tournament together as it unfolds.

Broadcasts to ships are not new for us. We have provided our ships with access for previous major sporting events. What is different this time is the reach – with over 470 vessels now equipped with LEO connectivity, and the partnerships with content providers that hold the streaming licence, we have been able to take the same idea and extend it to a much larger share of the fleet. Strong collaboration with our client partners has helped accelerate the rollout, and we are grateful for their support in making this possible.

Behind the scenes, it is a connectivity story enabled by the shared effort. Onboard, it is something more human: a shared meal, a screen in the mess room, and a group of colleagues cheering on their team between watches.

"The football enthusiasts among us especially appreciate being able to cheer for our favourite teams live. It has made this tournament more memorable for everyone." Feedback from the ships has been warm and enthusiastic. Crews have described gathering in mess and recreation rooms during rest hours to watch matches together, with setup on their onboard equipment quick and streaming quality strong. Many have said the screenings lifted morale, strengthened camaraderie and gave everyone a shared moment to look forward to between watches.

Across our global network, our colleagues and seafarers came together to mark this year's Day of the Seafarer in their own ways.

In Mumbai, more than 200 seafarers gathered at our flagship Anglo-Eastern Maritime Training Centre (AEMTC Mumbai) for an afternoon of recognition and fellowship. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, colleagues observed a moment of silence in honour of the seafarers who lost their lives amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. This was followed by a small cake-cutting ceremony with seafarer trainees.

These moments matter. Seafaring is demanding work, often carried out in uncertain and difficult conditions, far from home. The professionalism, resilience and commitment it takes rarely gets acknowledged, but it is felt in everything that it reaches.

To every seafarer: thank you. Your safety and well-being will always be at the heart of what we do, and we remain committed to supporting you, every step of the way.

Marking the Day of the Seafarer, Carsten Ostenfeldt (our Chief Operating Officer) and Helal Jafri (General Manager of our Houston office) visited Crystal Trinity – a managed vessel owned by Kumiai Navigation – during her call in Houston on 25 June. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to spend time on board and connect directly with the crew.

Earlier this month, Carsten also joined Federal Franklin, our managed vessel owned by Fednav, for an overnight stay, allowing for in-depth conversations with our seafarers and a closer look at daily life at sea.

Across both vessels, what stood out was the strong sense of teamwork, motivated crews, and attentive leadership. Masters and Chief Engineers demonstrated genuine care for our people, while seafarers across all ranks maintained a professional, positive and engaged onboard environment.

Moments like these reinforce the importance of staying close to our ships and our people. They reflect a belief central to Anglo-Eastern: when we take care of our people, they in turn take care of our ships, our clients, and each other.

We extend our sincere thanks to Kumiai Navigation and Fednav for the continued trust they have placed in us, and to the crews of Crystal Trinity and Federal Franklin for their warm hospitality. We wish you continued strength and calm seas.

This month's top five capture life at sea across our fleet — a dolphin caught mid-leap above the water, striking views from two of our managed bulk carriers, an exciting treasure hunt to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer, and a glimpse of our crew members focused at work.

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