Episode 118: Driving Strategy and Scaling Maritime Tech with Aleksander Askeland of Manta Marine Technologies

Guest: Aleksander Askeland, Chief Financial Officer, Manta Marine Technologies

Episode Overview: Aleksander Askeland’s career journey has taken him from the Arctic coal trade to leading strategy and finance at Manta Marine Technologies, one of the most forward-looking players in maritime decarbonization.

In this conversation, we dive into the CFO’s role as a strategic driver, the realities of scaling tech in shipping, and why digitalization and emissions compliance must go hand in hand.

Key Points:

From Svalbard to Shipping: How a coal export operation in the Arctic introduced Aleksander to shipping’s complexity and sparked his passion.
The Yara Years: Why Yara’s pivot from scrubbers to a broader tech portfolio laid the groundwork for Manta’s evolution.
CFO as Strategist: Moving beyond balance sheets and towards how finance leadership shapes market positioning, acquisitions, and tech bets.
Change Management at Sea: Why crew adoption is central to decarbonization technologies and how to avoid disrupting daily workflows.
Acquisition by Okapi Supply Trading SA: How independence from Yara is making Manta more agile in responding to market and regulatory pressures.
Scaling Beyond Pilots: Overcoming the challenge of moving shipowners from 1–2 trial vessels to fleet-wide adoption.
Investor Attention: Where maritime tech is in the “football match” of investment and why maritime-focused VCs are changing the game.

Learn More: Listen to my conversation with Scott Bergeron, Head of Fleet Management at Oldendorff Carriers, on scaling maritime operations [Episode 82].

Tune in Now: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more! Watch the episode on YouTube.

Music by: Peg and The Rejected 'King of SKA' Art Work By: GA Design Head cook and bottle washer: Chris Aversano

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