Episode 126: Maritime Digitalization Year in Review 2025 with Evan Efstathiou
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Release Date: 12/16/2025
The Last Dinosaur Vault | Archive No. 4 | Capt. Matthew Glass, Houston Pilots | Technology, Safety and the Changing Job of the Maritime Pilot
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
In this edition of The Last Dinosaur Vault, we revisit my conversation with of the Ships are getting larger. Decarbonization rules are changing how engines operate. Digital tools are becoming part of everyday pilotage. Yet when a vessel enters port, someone still has to safely get it from sea to berth. Matt and I discuss how those changes are affecting pilots on the Houston Ship Channel, including engine power limitations, digitalization, vessel traffic, port infrastructure and the increasingly important role of data in safe navigation. We also get into the human side of maritime: social...
info_outline
Episode 143: Jon Gahagan, Sentinel Asset Protection | Rethinking Maritime Access Control
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Episode 143: Jon Gahagan, Sentinel Asset Protection | Rethinking Maritime Access Control What if one of shipping's next opportunities for digitalization is hiding in plain sight? , founder of and winner of Posidonia competition, joins Chris to discuss how a simple question about remotely monitoring a ship's gangway evolved into a much broader conversation about crew workload, security, digital access control and maritime domain awareness. They also get into the realities of building hardware for ships, proving ROI, overcoming resistance to change, raising capital and learning from...
info_outline
Episode 142: Matthew Costello, Voyager: Pivoting, AI and Building Maritime Tech That Actually Works
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
, Voyager Portal: Pivoting, AI and Building Maritime Tech That Actually Works What happens when the original idea isn't the one that ultimately builds the business? Matthew Costello, Founder and CEO of , joins r to talk candidly about building a maritime technology company, the pivots that shaped Voyager, and why listening to customers sometimes means admitting you got it wrong. Matthew and Chris discuss Voyager's move deeper into demurrage, rebuilding a product when the first approach didn't work, the growing role of AI, and why he believes this may be one of the best times yet to build...
info_outline
The Last Dinosaur Vault | Archive No. 3 | Kenji Togasaki, IINO Lines | Investing in Maritime Innovation
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
What does innovation look like from inside a traditional shipping company? This week, we're heading back into the Vault for my conversation with Kenji Togasaki, Senior Vice President at IINO Lines. Kenji brings a unique perspective. He spent years in chemical tanker chartering and corporate planning before moving into innovation. Today, IINO Lines is not only adopting new technology, but investing in the maritime innovation ecosystem through venture funds including TMV, The Dock and Motion Ventures. We talk about why IINO took that approach, the challenge of bringing new technology into an...
info_outline
The Last Dinosaur Vault | Archive No. 2 | Osher Perry, ShipIn Systems | AI, Safety and the Future of Shipboard Operations
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
FROM THE VAULT #2: OSHER PERRY ON MARITIME AI, SHIP SAFETY & DIGITAL SHIPPING How are AI and visual analytics changing ship safety and maritime operations? Originally released in January 2023, this conversation with , founder and CEO of , explored maritime AI before it became quite the industry buzzword it is today. We talk about using AI and visual analytics to give seafarers better tools, improve shipboard safety, connect ship and shore, and make vessel operations more efficient. We also get into crew acceptance of new technology, maritime tech investment, and why AI only matters if it...
info_outline
The Last Dinosaur Vault | Archive No. 1 | Bill Dobie – SEDNA
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
– The Last Dinosaur Vault | Archive #1 Originally Released: May 2023 Welcome to the first edition of The Last Dinosaur Vault, a special summer series revisiting conversations that have stood the test of time. Originally recorded in May 2023, this conversation with Bill Dobie, Founder and CEO of SEDNA, explored one of shipping's biggest challenges: getting the right information to the right people at the right time. Long before AI dominated industry conversations, Bill shared his perspective on communication, collaboration, and building digital workflows that enable better operational...
info_outline
Episode 141 | Beyond the AI Hype: Emma Collier on AI, Leadership & Maritime's Next Transformation
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Episode 141: Beyond the AI Hype: Emma Collier on AI, Leadership & Maritime's Next Transformation Topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Maritime Innovation, Digital Transformation, Shipping Technology, Leadership, Change Management, Posidonia 2026, Further Ventures, Maritime Strategy Artificial intelligence is dominating the conversation across maritime, but how do we move beyond pilots, hype, and headlines to create lasting change? In this episode, Chris sits down with Founder of to explore the future of AI in shipping, digital transformation, leadership, and innovation. Together...
info_outline
Episode 140: Maritime Digitalization: What We Still Haven't Learned
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Episode 140: Maritime Digitalization: What We Still Haven't Learned For more than four decades, has helped shape maritime technology, from his early days in the Italian Navy and NATO to leadership roles at SpecTec, ShipNet, and In this episode, he shares hard-earned lessons on digitalization, data quality, AI, and why shipping's greatest challenge has never been technology—it's been changing the way people work. In This Episode ✅ Giampiero's journey from the Italian Navy to maritime software pioneer ✅ Why shipping continues to struggle with change management ✅ Lessons from the...
info_outline
Episode 139: From Data Collection to Decision Making with Christian Treu
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Episode 139: From Data Collection to Decision Making with Digital transformation in shipping has moved beyond simply collecting data. The challenge now is turning that information into trusted, actionable intelligence that improves performance, efficiency, and decision-making. In this episode of The Last Dinosaur, Chris Aversano sits down with Christian Treu of Danelec, a company, to discuss the evolution of maritime technology, the growing sophistication of AI conversations, and why execution remains more important than strategy. Christian shares insights from his journey through...
info_outline
Episode 138: Weather, Risk & Maritime Decision Making with Amy Buhl of Weathernews
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
Episode 138: Weather, Risk & Maritime Decision Making with Amy Buhl of Weathernews Guest: l, Service Operations Leader at Episode Overview Weather impacts every voyage, every day, yet it often operates quietly in the background of maritime decision-making. In this episode of The Last Dinosaur, Chris sits down with Amy Buhl, Service Operations Leader at Weathernews, to discuss how weather intelligence, vessel operations, connectivity, vessel performance, and voyage optimization are becoming increasingly interconnected. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Amy explains how voyage...
info_outlineGuest: Evan Efstathiou, CEO of Burmester & Vogel and Founder of SkySail Advisors
Episode Overview:
For the fourth year in a row, Evan joins The Last Dinosaur to unpack the big storylines in maritime tech. From AI hype vs. reality and sector consolidation, to decarbonization, hardware innovation, and the next wave of corporate venture investing, this episode is your annual “state of the union” for digital shipping. Chris and Evan revisit last year’s predictions, look at what played out in 2025, and lay out what to watch closely in 2026.
Key Points:
- AI Moves From Hype to “Show Me the Money”:
AI has shifted from novelty add-on to table stakes. Vendors can’t just say “AI” anymore—customers want real productivity gains and measurable ROI, not marketing gimmicks. - Roll-Ups, Acqui-Hires, and the Looming “Big Five” Question:
2025 saw continued M&A among larger players and classic roll-ups plus AI acqui-hires. Evan talks about Kpler, Marcura, Sedna and others—and what it might look like if some of the “big five” platform players eventually combine. - Decarbonization Tech Is Here to Stay (Even If Policy Pauses):
Despite IMO’s slower tempo, tools for ETS, FuelEU and emissions accounting are now baked into contracts and day-to-day operations. Tech and digital remain the “low-hanging fruit” for compliance, risk reduction, and cost savings. - VC & Corporate Venture Capital Double Down on Maritime:
Dedicated maritime funds and shipowner-backed CVC arms are becoming core capital sources for seed and early-stage innovation, especially where AI, optimization and decarb intersect. - Hardware + Software Stacks Gain Momentum:
From robotic hull cleaning to onboard sensor platforms and wind-assisted propulsion, Evan highlights how digital twins and AI-enhanced analytics are making hardware projects more bankable and easier to scale across fleets. - The Future of Work: Smaller Teams, Bigger Tools:
Claims departments, chartering desks, and brokers aren’t going away—but their toolkits are changing. The real future is smaller, highly experienced teams amplified by AI, not full automation replacing human judgment and relationships. - 2026: The Year of the AI Shakeout:
With spending at “epic levels” for AI - boards, investors, and customers will all be asking the same thing: did it pay off? Evan predicts 2026 will be a defining year where resilient, commercially viable AI products pull ahead and weaker offerings fall away.
Learn More:
If you enjoy this episode, go back to our earlier Year in Review with Evan:
- Episode 94 – “Maritime Digitalization Year in Review 2024 with Evan Efstathiou”
Tune in Now:
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms.
Music by: Peg and The Rejected – “King of SKA”
Artwork by: GA Design
Produced by: Chris Aversano
Support Our Podcast:
If you’ve found value in this episode, please:
- Follow the show and rate us ★★★★★
- Share the episode with a colleague or friend
- Support via Buy Me a Coffee if you’d like to help keep the pod going
💼 Advertising:
If you would like to advertise with us, please contact Digital Ship.