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Episode 136: Translating Maritime Innovation – From Shipyards to Startups with Caitlin Hardy
Episode 136: Translating Maritime Innovation – From Shipyards to Startups with Caitlin Hardy Guest: Caitlin Hardy, Founder & Managing Director, Ness Sea Episode Overview: Caitlin Hardy joins The Last Dinosaur to break down what it really takes to bring technology into maritime, from shipbuilding and subsea systems to startups trying to find product-market fit. Drawing on her experience across naval architecture, Kongsberg, and now Ness Sea, Caitlin offers a clear-eyed view of why adoption is hard, who drives innovation, and why the industry still struggles to tell its story. This conversation touches on the realities of commercial vs defense innovation, the role of capital in driving change, and the growing need for “translators” who can bridge engineering, operations, and business. Key Points Bridging Ship and Shore: The disconnect between design, operations, and crews continues to create friction and opportunity Commercial vs Defense Reality: Speed vs process and why commercial maritime moves faster than government-led innovation Innovation is Owned by Risk-Takers: Progress happens when someone is willing to fund and trial new technology Startups in Maritime: Execution under real-world constraints is far harder than building the idea Autonomy vs Practical Automation: The industry may see more impact from incremental automation than full autonomy The Translator Gap: Maritime needs more professionals who can connect technical, operational, and commercial perspectives A Branding Problem: The industry struggles to tell its story and attract the next generation of talent Timestamps 00:50 – Introduction to Caitlin Hardy 01:40 – Early maritime roots and Naval Academy background 04:00 – Transition from Navy to commercial maritime 07:20 – Procurement complexity and shipbuilding challenges 12:53 – Subsea technology and autonomy: reality vs hype 17:15 – Who owns innovation in maritime 22:15 – The rise of maritime tech startups 24:35 – What founders get wrong 26:55 – What operators get wrong 33:18 – Social media and maritime’s branding problem 40:20 – Wrap-up and final thoughts Learn More: For more on how capital and strategy are shaping maritime innovation, check out Episode 112 with Kenji Togasaki, as well as past conversations with Jan Dieleman and Evan Efstathiou. Tune in Now: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Watch the episode on YouTube. Sponsor – KVH Industries Staying connected at sea isn’t just about bandwidth anymore. It’s about reliability, flexibility, and control. KVH Industries is setting a new standard with fully integrated LEO connectivity, combining Starlink and OneWeb with advanced onboard network management. Whether you’re managing a single vessel or an entire global fleet, KVH delivers fast, low-latency connectivity with seamless switching across networks. And with the CommBox Edge ecosystem, you can manage bandwidth, prioritise applications, and optimise performance across every vessel. You’re not just connected—you’re in control. Visit kvh.com and see what full control at sea really looks like. Interested in Sponsoring? If you’re looking to reach a highly engaged maritime audience of operators, technologists, and decision-makers, The Last Dinosaur partners with Digital Ship for podcast sponsorships. Get in touch with Digital Ship to explore opportunities.
The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age
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