Episode 132: How Cargill Thinks About Decarbonization, Risk, and the Future of Shipping with Jan Dieleman

Guest: Jan Dieleman President, Ocean Transportation — Cargill Chair, Global Maritime Forum

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Last Dinosaur, Chris Aversano speaks with Jan Dieleman, President of Ocean Transportation at Cargill and Chair of the Global Maritime Forum.

Cargill charters hundreds of vessels across global trades at any given time, moving grains, energy products, and raw materials around the world. From that vantage point, Jan offers a unique charterer perspective on how shipping decisions are made. Hint: it is often long before those decisions become visible to the broader market.

At a time when tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz continue to create uncertainty for global shipping and energy flows, the conversation explores how leaders in shipping actually make decisions in real time. The discussion touches on the commercial realities behind maritime decarbonization, how large organizations approach experimentation with new technologies, and why decision-making in shipping often requires acting on imperfect information.

Chris and Jan also discuss the role of data in modern shipping, the challenge of balancing analysis with action during geopolitical disruptions, and why maritime remains one of the most essential yet often overlooked industries in the global economy.

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Sponsor 01:30 Navigating the Evolving Maritime Landscape 03:09 Jan Dieleman's Journey in Shipping 05:57 Bridging the Gap: Charterers and Owners 10:31 Decarbonization: A Collaborative Journey 13:39 The Economics of Decarbonization 18:44 Experimentation and Transparency in Shipping 22:18 Diverse Dynamics in Maritime Industries 26:33 The Role of Data in Decision Making 31:39 Balancing Risk and Analysis in Leadership 34:23 Attracting Talent to the Maritime Industry 36:47 The Hidden Importance of Shipping

Related Listening

Episode 54: The Digital Evolution of Shipping with Scott Bergeron of Oldendorff Carriers

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Smart Ship Hub, helping shipowners and operators turn vessel data into measurable operational improvements across their fleets.

Want to learn more about sponsoring an episode? Contact my friends at Digital Ship.

Tune In

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Music by: Peg and The Rejected — King of Ska Artwork by: GA Design Produced by: Chris Aversano

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Stay curious, stay salty. 🦕⚓