Episode 31: Robert Kessler, Product Manager, MIS Marine | Managing risks in maritime operations

In this episode, we speak with Robert Kessler, Product Manager at MIS Marine, about the evolving role of marine assurance in cargo operations. From sanctions exposure and dark STS activity to safety culture and vessel clearance, we explore how charterers assess and manage risk before and after fixture.

We discuss how better data visibility across ports, vessels, and operations helps reduce costly mistakes, improve coordination, and support stronger decision-making. We also look at the growing role of AI as an interface to complex datasets, enabling faster insights while raising important questions about trust.

Beyond technology, we touch on the realities of change in terminal operations, the importance of standardization, and why a port call is best understood as a tightly choreographed “ballet” involving many stakeholders. The episode closes with a reminder of what still defines this industry: trust, relationships, and decisions that often start with a handshake.