The Wavemakers Podcast

From Seafarer to Maritime Entrepreneur with Capt. Rami Al Breiki

• BetterSea • Season 2 • Episode 3

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In this episode of The Wavemakers Podcast, we’re joined by Captain Rami Al Breiki—a seafarer turned an entrepreneur, with a deep passion for maritime innovation and decarbonization. 

Captain Rami opens up about his early seafarer career on LNG carriers, to embracing new challenges, turning to entrepreneurship, paving a way for others and shaping the future of the UAE maritime industry through transformative initiatives like Blue Pass. 

Captain Rami shares how his years at sea shaped his values of discipline, trust, and teamwork, principles that fuel his entrepreneurial approach at NeoNautica today. The conversation touches upon his work with maritime youth through YoungShip organization, his vision for the future of maritime, and why he sees himself as a versatile, adaptable force—ready to take on whatever comes next!

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[Music] hello and welcome to another episode of The Wavemakers Podcast where we focus on the people in the maritime industry these are the leaders who are shaping the future of shipping at the intersection of digital transformation and decarbonization. My guest today is a Captain turned serial entrepreneur and he's definitely an advocate for for Innovation and decarbonized future and it is my pleasure to welcome Captain Rami Al Breiki. Thank you for being my guest Absolute pleasure.Usually we we represent people by their titles... I would love you to share who are you. First of all humbled by this lovely introduction yeah as the as the title suggests I come from a seafaring professional backgroun, was very fortunate to go through these different paths of careers, starting from the maritime industry. I started early as a cadet on LNG carriers, climbed up and did the usual promotion pathway to to take command and then while sailing, as well on offshore supply, offshore support vessels. So that was a total of 10 years of sailing times and sea time. Then I realized there's more to life than that because once once you hit a certain maturity level you would want to get a change of scenery perhaps. So I've decided that I want to get some kind of a entrepreneurial journey but I didn't know much about that. The experience that I faced on the ship was a bit different, compared to what office and corporate life is all about. There was the share of paperwork towards the end of it, but no, it was more about uh it's more about protecting the asset that you are and whatever, it's the cargo or... or the vessel, or the safety of the people on itself after leaving that. I did that career shift I joined uh a business banking job did a couple of years on that and then investment, real estate investment finance, corporate banking total of four years. [It] Was pretty much my MBA. Mhm. Because I I decided - 
if I get an MBA, for me, someone like me learns hands-on. I would just benefit by hanging it on a wall or something, but I said - let's, let's do that. And I've done it in late 2019, I quit that job and started my own company. It was marine services and consulting activities, there were some, you know, S&P and chartering brokerage as well. A year after that, I mean that was in 2020, it was a a bit of a tough year to start as an entrepreneur, because you need the networking which was not happening. Yes... But then again, the shipping industry was, you know, benefiting from certain things - there there was a bit of a spike into the dry bulk and container shipping, so I did quite well. Enough for for me to expand into ship management, which was covering the both Technical and Commercial, and then in 2022... I decided to start something that has holds a, you know, dear kind of position in my heart. So I I co-founded a company called NeoNautica. And what NeoNautica does... [It] is a a platform; a platform that, you know, incubates certain Innovations, certain technology advancements and proudly approaching certain patented technology that have proven their... their their, their successful uh trajectory from a prototype, now entering into certain you know technology readiness level advancements... There are certain things that we've explored and big things are coming, hopefully, as we spent the past two and a half to three years doing a lot of discussions with with certain creators, let's say, so we've created this ecosystem for them to take the not only to take their their product to market, but also you know, further advance it
and with what we did was to create this kind of an ecosystem, that each creator benefits from, a certain aspect of the other creators' Innovative solution. So that was that was something that kept me busy. We also embarked on a journey with the  platform called Blue Pass, which is a a digital platform in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. I'll talk about it later, but this is me in a nutshell. I was part, and I'm still is, I was a chairman of a organization... non-government organization called YoungShip. It is... it's a it's an organization that does its, you know, fair pledges and fights for for the Youth Development and empowering them and giving them the chance to to interact. It helped me very greatly in my career as an entrepreneur, so I joined as a member, board member and then chairman. So it was recently, there was another reelection ,so I'm still a board member and through that we've started also being having a seat on the UAE National Maritime team. So this is in a nutshell .
Just a nutshell, right? Yeah. And I think now it is also clear to many how your background is truly that intersection of all these three core pillars that I try to cover with the podcast. It sounds that initially you were taking a traditional path into shipping and then somehow you're trying to find your print, right, to... to bring that inner self and shape the industry to it. nd as you're doing all these different initiatives and venturing, what is your vision for the world that you would love to create in, let's say 2030 or 40, whichever you prefer? That's a very... It's a very broad question, but I'm... I always think of myself as a... as a never finished product. So I always, whenever I feel like I've done this or done that, I'm just inevitably think that there's more, and just try to keep it together throughout the journey. Because it's... You know when you're an entrepreneur and you're you're doing certain things, the start is a bit difficult, you're wearing every hat, then things take a certain turn and then you... you try to keep up with the pace and scaling up and so learning is is a great thing to keep in mind. Keep...keep improving. I hope by the next, let's say, 10 years, the things that we worked comes to fruition, hopefully. We are on a good track. Maybe personal note... maybe I would think family would deserve more time, so I'll try my best to do that, as well. Yeah. But I can't I can't have enough of it, let's see, let's see. You tried to deviate from Maritime, but then came back to it? Yeah, yeah... the thing that, would you know... When I decided to stop that career, at least for the time being, I don't know... I don't ... I don't really have any plans to go back but it was because of family. Mhm. My first son was born when I was away, I couldn't be there, so then you realize that the more you are out there, the more things you miss out. Maybe back in the the those days... There was no StarLink or you know this satellite internet, so we only had to rely on what we can get as a signal when you're at Port. So it wasn't something that made it easy as as a career, despite I mean, a part from all the other challenges... but yeah that was that was a very important thing that I had to make a as a decision, like I had to consider it. Many of us got a glimpse of how it feels to be somewhat isolated in 2020 but this is something that seafarrers faced for a very long period, right? And while some of us still felt the cushions of a home during that period, that was one, two, three months, but still it was not complete isolation, as it is at sea, right? So I believe that we still can't fully empathize with how it feels, unless you're out there, then probably all these feelings now come back into doing what you do and working with youth and all these moments create who you are as a leader, which is impactful then for for future. And what is it now that inspires you the most, like what are the things that you, when you do it? As you said, we wear many hats as entrepreneurs - 
what is the one that makes you spark that passion and maybe fills the cup for the rest that? Maybe bureaucracy that you like less? Honestly it's... there... there's few things that keep me motivated. Certain challenges that... that you know, it's like picks your brain sometimes, like how to go about this or how... This is what makes it interesting, because you're on a... Like you, when you have your own business, you're on the driver's seat you're not like just an employee, so you really have to think and you be quick on your feet sometimes. So that's what you makes it fun to me, at least .
Yeah. But of course, developing your... your network,  meeting new people every day, finding you know. you know, building bridges that you never thought that you will, not to compromise on certain values, but also making sure that as... As a you know an entrepreneur you're you're adding and you know reciprocating the same value. So you like to tap into certain things that you never considered in your, in your intellect. So that that makes it interesting and honestly speaking coming from the uh seafarrer background it's a bit of a different ball game, because there it's about trusting the process, not to cut any corners, because it's all about, you know, making sure that everything is safe so you have to abide by a lot of checklists. Let's say, to the transit from that mentality to this corporate fast-paced mentality... it's a bit interesting for me. It was, it was always something that provoked me to to do this step and I enjoy every bit of it mhm Are there any um disciplines or behaviours that you learned as a seafarrer, that you now find extremely useful? The discipline, attitude itself is is important. Mhm. Not to take anything lightly. Most of the things, of course, you know, out of the certain scopes that you can, you know, you know take it easily, but out there you're always...  Your situational awareness is always hyped up. So you're always making sure that everything, you know, whether you're in a marine engineering background or or deck officer, the same applies across the board. Because everything is about safety. Everything is about making sure like the whole ecosystem on that ship functions pract... and and it's actually practical. One of the things also is is the people skills. Yeah... because you are, I mean, the tankers that I sailed with we had 30, 25 to 30+ crew members and they all come from a different background, from a different school of thought, generationally even from the juniors to the seniors, so... and you're stuck out there for at least six months, sometimes a year. So that you have to create this and develop this bond every time you sign on a ship with these people who are, once you meet them, they are just random people, but then you develop this kind of strong bond and you know how to navigate through the cultural differences and and thoughts; so that I think that one of the things that actually help me nowadays. You have to learn how to work as a team right and overcome any boundaries and develop that trust and trust each other with your lives? Trust is... yeah that's that's a very good point because it's... yeah it's all about trust there. Of course we work under an umbrella of one company, but then every day you are doing something that is somehow dangerous, so you have to be clear in your communication and trust what's been conveyed to you and how people are carrying out and they are they actually doing things the way they should. So trust is a very important thing. Mhm. Now that we are on a vessel in the story, I will take a fun twist to it. Okay. If you were a vessel, which vessel would you be and why? If I were a vessel... That's a very nice question. I didn't sail on one, but I think of myself as a multi-purpose vessel. The general cargo multi-purpose MPP. I've learned that to be flexible, adapt. Adaptability is is one of the biggest things I think I have as a... as a points of strength. Always doing different things at the same time, I call it multitasking, but sometimes it's almost like juggling things around. But no, it is. I think yeah that's how I think I could be. Always, you know, usually multi-purpose vessels don't have fixed trades, so it's always shifting around from this trade to that trade, sometimes carrying vehicles, and then machineries and then certain dry bulk or whatever, so yeah. That's been, has been my journey, so yeah I guess that I fit that description. Interestingly, founders that I've interviewed gave me similar answers. Oh! So they all identify themselves with ships that don't have fixed routes and that are in a spot market and juggling, cuz uh maybe it does take a special brain setup to be an entrepreneur but it is what we do and I guess we do it because we enjoy it. Yeah I mean there's like if you're content with with your with your job or career that's good .I mean I'm not against it. I'm not here  preaching for people to go and start a business - 
it's not for the fainthearted, not at all. So if you enjoy the daily things that life can throw at you and you love the more of it and yeah... And if you enjoy sailing with uncertainties and being splashed left right and center, then then this is the chair to be in and it is it is steer the best that you can. And when it when it comes to working with youth, what would you aim to to pass on to them? What... what is something that you say - okay if I manage to give them this grain to take forward, what would that be? I don't want to sound old, I'd like to think that I'm young too, but yeah I am a millennial. Let's say, okay so there's gen Z, Gen X whatever, so I think as an advantage, Millennials have been exposed to different eras. We've... we've seen the industrial era, then suddenly we saw the shift into the internet bubble and then now the digital and information era. So we got literally got our hands dirty when we were kids playing outside, climbing a tree, getting into fights, so these things that we did as as you know; but the newer generations are a bit... I mean their chances of of the interactions with with the the you know physical outside outgoing world is a bit lessened. I see it in my kids even. In their age I was like always outside yeah but they are watching screens now, so we try to do that. But back to the same point, what I would advise them? Maybe to work on their people's skills. Mhm. We've done things, as as you know, I think Millennials... I don't know if you're the same, but yeah Millennials... We are like... We got The Sweet Spot. We faced the Boomers, we learned few things with them and then we met the...  the newer generations and we saw what what happens and we saw all the transitions from newspapers magazines now to to social media, we've seen it all. So I guess with that we've learned how to change and adapt so there... adapt the newer and the youth also have to work on their adaptability, their flexibility, it's not always my way or the highway, so you have to be flexible, accommodate certain needs, so that you get your own. So it's about that. Not that I'm saying that they're selfish but and and very um unpopular opinion they might be a bit entitled in certain things and people can see that and they don't see it the way people like we can relate to a boomer more than them. We see them we understand what what they where they coming from uh they've seen only industrial so the newergenerations when they are now you know either into college graduating or coming into the the workforce, there... there's a gap that needs to be bridged. So I guess digital literacy is also important, but I think they're doing well with that. Mhm but it's it's always growing, so they they have to keep learning. they have to improve themselves. I guess that's applies across the board. I read something, not sure where, but it said that Millennials are the last generation that knows what world before digital world, what it looked like and how that experience of life was, and it caught me off guard, because same, I thought to myself - Oh I'm old, but but it it was an interesting one. And then we are this generation in between. The... the Bridgers. We built bridge between... a lot of social movement also came from this this generation. Yes, yes, and yesterday I think one of my guests... She was... She works also with students, so she was referring to how it feels to also be that bridge between how they see the world and think of innovation and then how they react and also how they're perceived by by older Generations that have like lived and felt the world and was on the vessel and how they leave them space to also learn and be humbled by experience and let's see what what is there to to witness. What natural selection will be! Yeah, yeah. I also know that you are an advocate for decarbonization and that you're also quite active in that area... Why so? I mean it's not just a trend. I guess it's it's what if must.. Everyone must, you know, address this topic at some point in their life. Either either they're just a normal person who's doing their 9 to 5... 
It already became part of everyone's lives, so when it comes to business not to capitalize on it but to actually find tangible solutions and see what what you can do. I'm... I'm not claiming that I'm doing to actually as the podcast suggests, a Wavemaker, but like, everyone plays a role. So as I explained before like what we do with NeoNautica is explore these opportunities. People who come with a certain perspective and we try to connect the dots and do go beyond from a commercial perspective. A but more on the Blue Pass if you have seen what we have communicated to the world that the the UAE leadership and the government is has been doing a lot of tremendous work into this topic. People have seen it highlighted that Amplified was in Expo 2020 but it was 2021, so that is what has been announced and then, with with the ministry itself that that we partnered with, the goal of the platform is to create this digitized uh experience for for the private sector benefiting from certain incentives that the government and key players in the public sector are doing, are offering so there's what the marketplace is all about. So they list themselves, they interact with each each other seamless interaction, offering certain incentives and offsets and there's what what the digitized live data extraction of of traffic of the vessels so that started in the maritime industry and now we're going into the land, rail and aviation. Integrating full supply chain? yeah So suddenly it's growing arms and legs. Wow! Let's see how it goes, bu yeah, I mean what what I what motivates me more is like I'm proud to say that I come from the maritime industry; because in my opinion and I don't know if someone can refute this uh I guess it's it has shown and uh comparing to other sectors it has shown tangible, significant and and very genuine uh steps towards achieving that. The IMO has set 2030 40% but if you see what has been done for example, let's say LNG fuel dual fuel engines - 
it's becoming a norm now in the shipping industry. Yeah this is and you're talking about a massive industry, it's a backbone of every economy and the the vessels are you know not easy things to retrofit or even nebuilds you know, with with the with you know just newbuilt with this new things and new fuels or future fuels and hoping for the best is not an easy decision; comparing to let's say Aviation... Aviation contributes to I think 2.8 I guess percent, comparing to what the maritime is only to 2.5, but look at what has been achieved in maritime comparing to aviation. So that's what makes me motivated, because I'm in a from this sector we can do a lot and everyone is supporting. Even the ones who are not for commercial reasons they are open and receptive to to new ideas and they they even consider trying few new solutions or even listen to what has been achieved. So yes, altogether it's it is a very ancient industry. There has been a great part of it which is legacy and and there's a a heavy lean on that, but it has a reason like... like they... What we do as legacies is because of the isolation out there you still need to reserve, or resort to, sorry, to to certain old practices but then again, when it comes to to advancement when it comes to new implementations ...
To to achieve these those targets it's the most I think the the strongest approach is has been shown in the maritime industry. mm With governments also setting up the platforms and the infrastructure for that decarbonized shipping

world... it does show the level of progress. And you said that it is a traditional industry, etc and I personally believe that it has been changing dramatically in the past 5 to 7 years because of all these reasons and it's also it's not just retrofit the ship or build a new engine... it's also all these different parts: how it affects the full supply chain right and the massive infrastructure everywhere. That is the ripple effect and it's also why certain things take time, because one needs to affect all the stakeholders on the value chain and okay you can make a new ship and use a different engine, but are you going to have fuel available where you need it and how is that going to go, but that technology is also being scaled up. And and I have had experience with scaling chemical processes and you think okay everything is on track and suddenly things are not and it takes so much time to figure out why. It's not as easy always to understand why things take time but good things take time, too, also with food right? Good meals are cooked 100%. It's a steep learning curve for for everyone involved in this industry, but we see that everyone is actually doing something. I mean you face the obstacles and some certain pitfalls but then again uh at least from from a UAE perspective, the government is very supportive. There's a lot of platforms and forums where people meet and talk about you know, tangible solutions not just what's the topic of today decarbonization everyone just runs their mouths. No. Everyone is showing and showcasing what they do what they're actually doing. Mhm. What is the tangible and practical solutions that they have implemented so that's, it's... that's encouraging for me. Is there any particular technology that you are personally curious about, that maybe it's not even mature yet but then you find yourself googling about it? Well there are things that we have examined in NeoNautica and I don't want to say them now because they're still they're still not really out there yet but AI has been also very thought-provoking. I mean I'm I'm still a student into this but yeah it's it's... it's amazing what what things can be done. Automation and robots also is is a bit like... if I was talking about this 10 years ago people would think that this guy is talking about what is it like now it's really happening, things are actually taking over. Yes. So if you don't get on that gravy train from any perspective, it will be hard to catch up later. It holds a value to be an early adopter even of a test because of the learnings so once you take that path along uh the way of development then at a certain point you can decide this is for me, this is not, these are the limitations and have knowledge and make an informed decision. At least that's my take on it, as opposed to trying to avoid it and hope that... Can't.It just can't. It's not but... Noways, it's becoming part of everything you do like everything literally everything and to me at least it became a very essential tool in so many things. I do and it at least I can say it saves me a lot of time. Mhm. You don't don't take it as it is of course, you have to, but at least you don't start start from scratch with certain things that you do. So why not capitalize on that? And not only capitalize on that, be part of it? Mhm. Learn what you can do to implement it into your your your own business. Do you have any questions for me? I would like to hear also your take on on what could be a good advice to the youth? 
Mhm. I know that we come from the same generation but yeah from from a women's perspective is also important we we we try to uh do our best to to help with the initiatives that empowered women into the the maritime sector itself or or in general. So maybe I would like to hear something from your side? Yes. I would love them to not be afraid of trying something so even if it doesn't seem as logical whatever they have passion for um that they just try to do it and try to reach out to a certain person right because even this is a simple message and an intention that you put out and then it happens, so I would love them to be brave and to pursue their passion. What I think I am still not as good as is to be a good listener sometimes you know I found self entering uh different organizations and you see room for improvement and for implementation of new technologies and you go there and you want to do everything tomorrow and maybe I was not listening enough why certain things were the way they were, or why certain Technologies were implemented or not implemented so as youth is now excited about new technologies and everything and maybe also to take a step back to talk to the people who have come from a different world and understood why, and why not, and then from that place of understanding and respect and start uh slowly shaping it in a way that maybe they would love to see it become. That's true. They can, they might get caught up with like new technology, everything is new, the world is changing, but just why not try to reinvent the wheels in certain topic? Yeah. See what people has been achieving and maybe learn from those experiences? Yeah Yes I think I'm still a student of patience... I'm, I'm not really a patient person right, but, and I think that youth can identify with that usually, but sometimes it's a good trait to have. Yeah Pushes you sometimes. Yeah yeah it does. From a women's perspective, I think it's good times. I think the world is becoming more open to accommodating us in that equal way, but I personally... I think I shared this also sometimes before, somehow I was I was I'm an only child, so at home my dad would always ask me certain relevant topics at the dinner table and like he would value my opinion, so I never grew up to think that I can't share it, or so I always felt comfortable also in some of this like... energy sector, shipping sector and maybe it's it comes from within. Feeling that, okay this is where I belong and not maybe caring of the percentage, distribution and then not feeling that I'm a minority, so in that sense, other girls who are curious about these industries, but maybe not 
sure if that's for them - be encouraged to try So definitely yeah yeah I agree they they... Not to put them out themselves out there but there's a lot of things in this industry that is beyond just sailing. Yeah so I agree with you. What do you think would be surprising or if you have some fun story to share? I like music, so I I tried my hand with the guitar. I'm still an amateur but still like it is fun how this instrument helps your mind, you know, because you're your not only gives you this disconnect of of things that you know distort your thoughts, but it gives you this well-balanced thought of of doing two things at the same time; and then do watching how the the strings react to it and what you actually produce out of it...So this is something that... People have to find something out of you know what keeps them busy every day just to to uh mhm you know give give themselves a moment to to reflect and then to do what they like. Enjoy it but also watch their mind develop, so I guess that's fun fact about me maybe at least. Do you learn it from YouTube or you have class? I picked it up at sea.Some of the seafarrers, they always have their own guitars with them so not that you don't have like you have a lot of time free time on on board, but you have some of these moments like you run out of books to read or movies to watch, so I pick up something and that's where how I was introduced to it. I'm guilty to say that I've lately it's been collecting dust because I'm too busy, but now this is a moment for me to remember like I should pick it up again and brush up on on my skills. I always wanted to play a guitar and somehow I thought I'm not talented for that but I always admire people who take it up and and learn. It's excruciating at the beginning cuz it's always painful to hold the strings and all and he gets frustrated like the whole time. Yeah? So also teaches you how to be patient, to wait for the result, it's not about how knowing the chords, or or knowing the transitions of of of any kind of uh arrangements but it's also holding the cord firmly and then it's really really horrible pain but keeping you know your mind focused and wait... Trusting the process. So that you know that's how it it helps. For me, it would be orchids. I I love growing orchids. Okay. But that is what you were explaining about the guitar reminded me of that process, because sometimes you don't think anything is happening and you kind of have to feel what they need. Like sometimes they need fertiliser, sometimes more light, sometimes you just need to talk to them and then suddenly one root starts growing or a stem and then again they take their time...So you don't know if it will be 1 month, 6 months, whatever... So you just have to trust the process and then they reward you with a flower at some point.That's interesting. I mean I found myself like I've received Gifts of flowers or whatever, found myself with a lot of dead ones but it's true, because sometimes it's too much water or too less water, too less sunlight or you don't you never know. I have to then give you like tips on how to take care but that's like.. I was horrible at it and then I said - okay I really want to work on this in my life and it's actually... People throw them but they need this time to be calm and stable and somehow when they feel safe - like, okay this , 
is where I am and I'm safe here then they like start growing and to me it's also a lesson of life actually - that sometimes... Yeah. You can't rush things, you can't rush the process and you have to keep doing and you have to tune in with the things you do and then eventually you see the result, but it's when you actually give up on the result right, you just repeat things every single day and Trust the process, the intention and do your best. So that's interesting. Well I will thank you for being my guest today and I hope that people learned something new about you about entrepreneurship about some simple things that actually drive us and from where we actually then drive the change Why I call it wavemakers... sometimes is not a particular thing but it's actually all these small efforts and the persistance and I do think that it takes courage to to change and to drive that change uh and to advocate for it, so that's why wavemakers. I wish you all the success and thank you for hosting me. This was very, very enjoyable.
Thank you.Thank you and that's it! [Music]

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