Navigating the Maritime Giants: How Startups Can Thrive in an Ancient Industry

The Autonomy Journals

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Imagine an industry so vital that 90% of everything you touch has traveled on it, yet so traditional that innovation often struggles to find a foothold. This is the maritime world that Caitlin Hardy, founder of Nessie, has dedicated her career to transforming.
From her early days building tiny autonomous sailboats at the US Naval Academy to founding a company that helps startups navigate the complex waters of maritime commerce, Hardy brings a refreshing perspective to one of humanity's oldest trades. "I kept seeing a lot of really amazing technology fail, not because the tech wasn't good, but because they weren't sure how to navigate our industry," she explains, revealing the genesis of her mission to bridge Silicon Valley innovation with seafaring tradition.
Hardy takes us through the fascinating evolution of maritime autonomy, from the Nordic-pioneered dynamic positioning systems of the 1970s to today's cutting-edge unmanned vessels. She challenges common misconceptions about automation, arguing that the goal isn't replacing seafarers but making their jobs safer and more manageable. "We ask so much of seafarers today," she notes, pointing to the increasing demands that connectivity has placed on vessel crews who must simultaneously navigate ships and satisfy shoreside management.
The conversation explores how defense innovation, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has accelerated commercial maritime technology, creating new possibilities for collaboration between startups and established players. Hardy offers valuable insights for maritime decision-makers on evaluating new technologies: "Don't do autonomy just for autonomy's sake. What is the problem that you're trying to fix?"
Whether you're a maritime professional, a tech entrepreneur looking to enter this space, or simply curious about how one of the world's most essential industries is evolving, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of where tradition meets innovation on the high seas. Listen now to discover why, as Hardy puts it, "the opportunity for growth in maritime, as it relates to innovation, is really unlimited."

The Autonomy Journals showcase leading voices, sharing insights, learnings, lessons and perhaps some confessions from the Autonomy Journey in transport and mobility.

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SAMS is a private, non-profit innovation cluster for sustainable, autonomous mobility solutions and the host of the podcast.

https://www.sams-norway.no/

فصول

1. From SailBot to Founding Nessie (00:00:00)

2. Autonomy Evolution in Maritime Industry (00:04:27)

3. Defense Tech Accelerating Innovation (00:05:42)

4. Innovation and Growth Potential (00:08:14)

5. Transforming Maritime Through Workforce Development (00:11:22)

6. Creating Better Collaboration in Maritime (00:16:03)

7. Technology, Security and Decision Making (00:18:20)

8. The Future of Maritime Autonomy (00:22:43)