Sea Views

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What really happens when a life is on the line hundreds of miles offshore, and what actually makes the difference between rescue and recovery? 
In this episode of Sea Views, host Julia Gosling (former HM Coastguard press office in UK) sits down with Matt Baer, retired US Coast Guard Captain and now Director of Emergency Response at Gallagher Marine Systems, for a straight-talking comparison of UK vs US search and rescue, the reality of offshore response, and the technology that is changing outcomes at sea. From AMVER and vessel-to-vessel assistance to EPIRBs, personal locator beacons, AIS, infrared, and drones, this conversation goes deep into what works, what fails, and what both professionals and recreational boaters still get wrong.  
In this episode you will learn: 
- How UK vs US maritime search and rescue is structured, from assets to response posture
- Why “People, Environment, Property, Economy” guides every major maritime incident 
- How offshore rescues work when the nearest help may be another merchant vessel 
- Why AMVER and trade routes can make the difference in mid-ocean cases 
- What EPIRBs and personal locator beacons can do to take the search out of search and rescue 
- Why beacon registration details matter and how missing info slows response - How AIS, infrared, and aerial surveillance improve detection and reduce uncertainty 
- Where drones are helping today, and where limitations still exist 
- Matt’s hardest days, including the reality of next-of-kin notifications 
- The rescues that made it all worth it, including the Golden Ray case and industry collaboration
Host: Julia Gosling | Sea Views Podcast  Guest: Matt Baer | Director of Emergency Response, Gallagher Marine Systems (Retired US Coast Guard)  Gallagher Marine Systems: www.gallaghermarine.com  
Supported by: CHIRP Maritime & The Seafarers’ Charity www.chirp.co.uk |www.theseafarerscharity.org 
#SeaViews #MaritimeSafety #SearchAndRescue #USCoastGuard #EmergencyResponse #EPIRB #PersonalLocatorBeacon #MarineSafety #Yachting #Seafarers

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
by Ahoy Communications Ltd

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🚨 What really happens when yacht crew report incidents, and how many lives has CHIRP already helped save?

In this episode of Sea Views, host Julia Gosling sits down with Paul Shepherd, Chair of the CHIRP Superyacht Board, to unpack how confidential incident reporting is reshaping safety culture across the superyacht industry. From near misses and falls from height to lithium battery fires, manning levels and harassment on board, this is a straight talking look at what is really happening at sea and what must change.

Paul explains how CHIRP’s Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme works in practice, why anonymity is non negotiable, and how reports are turned into practical safety lessons that captains, management companies and crew can use immediately. He also digs into the regulatory gap between private and commercial superyachts, and why minimum safe manning is no longer enough for today’s dual season, high intensity programs.

✅ In this episode you will learn:
How CHIRP’s confidential superyacht reporting system actually works from first contact to published lesson
Why near misses are "accidents that did not happen" and how they can prevent the next fatality
The real risk behind work aloft on wet, sloping decks and why flags are now pushing back
Emerging technical dangers, including engine start battery explosions and lithium ion battery fires
How crew welfare, hours of rest, manning levels and cabin conditions link directly to safety on board
Where harassment and abuse fit into the safety picture and how CHIRP and ISWAN work together
Why the regulatory divide between private and commercial superyachts is no longer defensible
What a "minimum operational safe manning" model could look like for busy charter and dual season yachts
How captains, managers and owners can use honest reporting as a mark of professionalism, not weakness
Paul’s direct appeal to yacht crew worldwide to share their own stories and help drive industry change

💬 Join the conversation:
Do you have a near miss story or a lesson learned that others could benefit from, even if it happened years ago? You can message us about what you believe most needs to change in superyacht safety culture and reporting.

📣 How to report to CHIRP:
If you are yacht crew and want to share a safety concern, incident or near miss confidentially, visit the CHIRP Maritime website or app. Reports can be made by phone, email or online, and your identity is fully protected at every stage.
🌐 Website: https://chirp.co.uk/maritime/
📧 Email: [email protected]
☎️ Phone (UK): +44 20 4534 2881

🎙️ Host: Julia Gosling | Sea Views Podcast
👤 Guest: Paul Shepherd | Chair, CHIRP Superyacht Board

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
by Ahoy Communications Ltd

Send us a text
Bulk Carriers: The Hidden Work Horses of The Sea
In this episode of Sea Views, hosts Julia Gosling and Adam Parnell speak with Matt Shirley (CEO, Safe Harbours Australia) and Marco Blanco (CFO, Safe Harbours Australia) - veteran maritime pilots leading a consultancy that’s reshaping the standards of bridge team management and port safety worldwide.
What we cover:
Why bulk carriers are the “workhorses of the sea” and how Australia became their global hub
How Safe Harbours Australia trains bridge teams for high-stakes decision-making
What the Ships of Shame era taught the world about maritime accountability
How communication and leadership directly impact safety culture
Why treating crews as assets and not commodities drives operational excellence
About Safe Harbours Australia

With over 140 years of combined commercial shipping experience and 70 years as qualified marine pilots, Safe Harbours Australia delivers independent consultancy, peer reviews, operational assessments, and advanced Bridge Team Management Training. Their expertise covers pilotage safety systems, simulator facilitation, incident investigation, and autonomous shipping design.

🔗 www.safeharbours.com.au

Hosts

Julia Gosling, Host, Sea Views  https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaahoy/

Adam Parnell, Director, CHIRP Maritime  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-parnell-chirp/

Guests

Matt Shirley, CEO, Safe Harbours Australia  https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-shirley-0435a8206/

Marco Blanco, CFO, Safe Harbours Australia  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-blanco-837b4a192/

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
by Ahoy Communications Ltd

Send us a text
Shadow Fleet Exposed: Risks to Environment, Trade and Seafarers 
In this episode of Sea Views, we uncover the murky world of the Shadow Fleet - hundreds of aging tankers trading sanctioned oil under layers of secrecy and deception. With falsified registries, spoofed signals, and uninsured operations, these vessels operate beyond the reach of international law, posing enormous risks to the environment, global security, and above all, the seafarers who crew them.
Joining us is Michelle Wiese Bockmann, Senior Maritime Intelligence Analyst at Windward, who explains how the Shadow Fleet has expanded since the Russia–Ukraine conflict, why these ships are a looming environmental and humanitarian crisis, and how technology is beginning to shine a light on their hidden movements.
At the heart of this issue are people - thousands of crew working in unsafe and unregulated conditions. 
NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
by Ahoy Communications Ltd

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Guests:
Captain Brendan O’Shannassy – Superyacht Captain and maritime safety advocate
Laura Beard – Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)
“Mental health is health. It’s just the same.”  Brendan O’Shannassy

Hosts:
Julia Gosling – Host, Sea Views Podcast
Adam Parnell – Director, CHIRP Maritime
Episode Summary:
In this powerful and practical episode of Sea Views, we explore the vital topic of mental health and welfare in the yacht crew sector.
Julia and Adam are joined by returning guest Captain Brendan O’Shannassy and ISWAN’s Laura Beard to discuss the unique pressures faced by superyacht crew, and how industry-wide change can make life at sea safer and more sustainable for everyone on board.
“There’s no judgment on YachtCrewHelp - we’re here for any crew, at any rank.” Laura Beard
Brendan reflects on leadership, fatigue, and the silent strain of command, while Laura shares insights from ISWAN’s helpline Yacht Crew Help, including why many yacht crew don’t initially see themselves as seafarers—and what’s being done to change that.
Key Topics:
What defines the large yacht sector and who’s working in it
How mental health is deeply linked to crew safety and performance
Why perception of the “glamorous” yacht lifestyle often hides the challenges
Common issues reported to YachtCrewHelp and how the service responds
The importance of psychological safety, empathy, and leadership onboard
Awareness campaigns and support for crew at all ranks, from junior to captain
Resources Mentioned:
YachtCrewHelp (ISWAN): www.iswan.org.uk/yachtcrewhelp/
A free, 24/7 confidential helpline for all yacht crew, worldwide.

Edited by powwowpodcasts.com
NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
by Ahoy Communications Ltd