The Maritime Education Podcast
Captain Barry Sadler discusses maritime topics including recent changes to maritime practices, shipping incidents, new legislation, real life lessons from his ongoing pilotage career, hot MCA examination topics and maritime issues in general. With 40 years experience in the professional maritime field, Barry's take on various nautical and shipping matters is in depth and accurate with insightful views on all affairs maritime. If you work, watch or enjoy the sea his podcast will inform and entertain you.
Episodes
27 episodes
Unmanned Surface Vessel Port Bow!
The journey of autonomous ships has been marked by decades of technological innovation, cautious regulation, and bold experimentation. From early remote-controlled submarines to intelligent, oceangoing cargo ships, the evolution of MASS continu...
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Season 2024
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Episode 27
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27:54
The Critical 2025 Milestone in Ship-breaking
The Hong Kong Convention (HKC) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2009 to ensure that ships, when recycled at the end of their life, do not pose risks to human health, safety, or the environment. It was created in r...
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Season 2024
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Episode 26
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38:32
Suez - The Modern Crisis
The Suez Canal is a 193-kilometre (120-mile) artificial waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea at Port Said in the north to the Red Sea at Suez in the south. Completed in 1869, it allows ships to transit between Europe and Asia wit...
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Season 2024
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Episode 25
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28:32
Containership Fires - The Heat is ON.
Containership fires pose significant dangers due to the complex nature of cargo stowage, the vast quantities of goods onboard, and the difficulty of accessing and extinguishing fires deep within container stacks. These fires often involve hazar...
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Season 2024
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Episode 24
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37:04
Tunnel Talk - The Mighty(ish) Bow Thruster
A bow thruster is a transversal propulsion device installed in the forward (bow) section of a ship, allowing it to move laterally (sideways) without forward motion. It is especially valuable for low-speed manoeuvres such as berthing, unberthing...
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Season 2024
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Episode 23
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28:00
The Pilot as the Masters Aide - Beyond MPX
When a pilot steps on board, two experts meet—each with a distinct role and vital knowledge. But how well that knowledge is shared can mean the difference between a smooth berthing and a costly incident. Whether you're a seasoned master mariner...
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Season 2024
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Episode 22
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29:34
Is this the IMO's GHG Silver Bullet?
The global shipping industry is responsible for transporting over 80% of world trade by volume, but it also contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response to environmental concerns, the International Maritime Organizat...
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Season 2024
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Episode 21
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31:05
Transverse Thrust - Friend or Foe...?
A ship’s propeller is a marvel of marine engineering — a seemingly simple rotating device that plays a vital role in moving massive vessels across oceans. At its core, a ship's propeller converts rotational power from the ship’s engine into thr...
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Season 2024
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Episode 20
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25:33
The Colossal Climb: The Evolution of Containership Size from the 1980s to Today
In the world of global trade, few symbols capture the scale and efficiency of modern logistics like the containership. These vast floating warehouses are responsible for transporting 90% of the world’s goods, and over the past four decades, the...
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Season 2024
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Episode 19
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23:46
Lookout! You're Breaking the Rules
On March 10, 2025, a significant maritime collision occurred in the North Sea, approximately 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire, England. The Portuguese-flagged container ship MV Solong collided with the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Imm...
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Season 2024
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Episode 18
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25:15
The Med Joins the ECA Squad
The designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area (ECA), effective May 1, 2025, represents a significant advancement in reducing air pollution from maritime activities in the region. As of this date, all vessel...
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Season 2024
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Episode 17
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28:43
Vehicle Carrier Fires - Lithium is their Kryptonite!
The risk of fires on car carriers, particularly roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels, has become a growing concern in the maritime industry. Several recent incidents, including those involving Grimaldi Group vessels, have highlighted the unique cha...
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Season 2024
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Episode 16
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27:16
Captain's Dilemma - Paper Cargoes
The carriage of paper rolls at sea requires careful consideration to prevent cargo damage and ensure vessel stability. Paper rolls are highly sensitive to moisture, physical damage, and shifting during transit. Putting to sea in heavy weather c...
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Season 2024
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Episode 15
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23:48
When the UN Requires Maritime Investigation.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international treaty that establishes a comprehensive legal framework for all activities in the world's oceans. Often referred to as the "Constitution of the Oceans," it outline...
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Season 2024
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Episode 14
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25:39
Pilot Launch Coxswain
Boarding pilots 12 miles off Portsmouth in all kinds of weathers is a developed skill. Launch coxswains are directly responsible for the safety of all aboard their launch and ultimately have the unenviable job of coaxing in ships to board them....
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Season 2024
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Episode 13
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13:07
Electric Shock or Enclosed Space - both are lethal!
Enclosed space accidents on ships typically involve asphyxiation, toxic gas exposure, or falls due to lack of oxygen. These incidents occur in spaces like cargo holds, ballast tanks, fuel tanks, pump rooms, and void spaces. However a recent rep...
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Season 2024
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Episode 12
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18:34
The Trump Maritime Orders
In a series of recent executive actions, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited discussions surrounding American influence in key maritime corridors. His policies concerning the "Gulf of America" and the Panama Canal have sparked geopolitica...
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Season 2024
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Episode 11
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17:27
The Dark Fleet
In the vast and sometimes unregulated expanse of the world’s oceans, a clandestine network of vessels operates beyond the reach of international law. These ships, commonly referred to as the “dark fleet”, navigate global waters without a...
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Season 2024
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Episode 10
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14:59
Seafaring Generations
Society has labelled the generations starting from the Silent Generation in the 1920's to the latest generation - known as Generation Alpha. They have been labelled based upon their socio, economic and technological place in history. But how do...
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Season 2024
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Episode 9
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20:26
Nibbling Away at Digital Obstacles - SOLAS 24 Changes
Ongoing digitisation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System forms a significant part of the new standards being enforced under SOLAS 24. With these changes comes a further recognition of the importance of incorporating data and AI in...
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Season 2024
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Episode 8
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28:57
Coming into Effect in 5 days! Marine Pollution Special Area - The Red Sea
Whilst the Red Sea was designated a special area under the International Convention for Preventing Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and was adopted as such in 1973, the restrictions on the discharge of oil were yet to come into effect. Although si...
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Season 2024
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Episode 7
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14:56
Another Windy Day - Another High Risk Manoeuvre
The number of windy days seems to be increasing. Risk assessments can deal with limits and measures, but what’s it like berthing a ship right on those limits? Barry discusses where the risks can quickly escalate, what to look out for and what i...
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Season 2024
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Episode 6
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24:44
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas or PSSAs have been identified by the IMO and listed on their website. But what are they - why do we have them and what needs to be done? Captain Barry discusses these areas and gives examples of where they can b...
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Season 2024
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Episode 5
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9:23
IMSBC Code - The Upcoming Amendments
The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code sets out the mandatory standards for the safe carriage of solid bulk cargoes. This code is essential for preventing accidents at sea related to the transport of solid bulk materials. Th...
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Season 2024
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Episode 4
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9:38
MLC 2024 Ammendments
The Maritime Labour Convention came into force in August 2013. Since then there have been subtle but accumulating changes to the original text which have sought to enhance the rights of seafarers. 2024 sees more changes coming into effect from ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 3
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18:24