Meet Laurent Lebreton, head of research at The Ocean Cleanup. 

🚢Off course: a sideways look at life at sea, 

🎙️During this season of Off course, we will be interviewing some incredible seafarers who have a real focus on the environment and sustainability.The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands. It has one simple mission:to rid the world' s oceans of plastic.

In this episode, host Helen Kelly speaks to Laurent Lebreton, head of research at The Ocean Cleanup. They discuss the organisation's mission, what kind of technology is used to intercept the plastic that ends up in our oceans, and the challenges posed by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 

Stay tuned as we hear about Laurent's background, his dedication to sustainability, and the critical role collective action plays in improving the oceans’ health.

Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button and notification bell to stay up to date with all things Nautilus! 

To stay up to date with the latest Off course updates you can follow Nautilus International on social channels everywhere, @nautilusint

To learn more about The Ocean Cleanup and how you can aid its mission, go to theoceancleanup.com

Nautilus International is an independent, influential, global trade union and professional organisation that works with members, the maritime community, national governments and international agencies to create change and promote the sector, improving the lives of maritime professionals. We represent 20,000 maritime professionals including ship masters (captains), officers, officer trainees (cadets) and shipping industry personnel such as ship pilots, inland navigation workers, vessel traffic services operators, harbourmasters, seafarers in the oil and gas industry, and shore-based staff.

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For help and assistance at sea and ashore.

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Soundbites 

(00:00) Intro to season four 

(01:31) Introduction to The Ocean Cleanup

(03:19) Understanding the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

(04:52) Laurent's background and journey in sustainability

(08:43) Data and plastic collection  

(15:02) Episode recap 

(15:19) Plastic collection and mitigation of  harm to marine life 

(21:00) Funding/cost, partnerships and mitigating plastic pollution 

(32:29) What can the maritime industry do to help? 

(37:52) Vision for the future 

(38:18) Outro

*This episode was recorded in summer 2024 but is being released in 2025 due to unforeseen circumstance. Information was correct at time of recording

In this episode we talk with Liberty Nogueira, better known as Travel with Liberty on social media. With more than 80K+ combined followers across TikTok and Instagram, Liberty is best known for documenting her travels and adventures while working as a superyacht bosun.

Follow Liberty Nogueira:

TikTok: @travelwithliberty
Instagram: @travel_with_liberty

🔹 JOIN NAUTILUS INTERNATIONAL
For help and assistance at sea and ashore.
www.nautilusint.org/join_online

🔹 NAUTILUS POD: OFF COURSE, A SIDEWAYS LOOK AT LIFE AT SEA

On all platforms, and at www.nautilusint.org

India Syms, known as India Rose Ocean is a deck officer of the Watch Unlimited and has been documenting her life at sea to over 47,000 followers on TikTok.

Follow India Symns:

TikTok: @indiarose.ocean
Instagram: @indiarose.ocean

🔹 JOIN NAUTILUS INTERNATIONAL
For help and assistance at sea and ashore.
www.nautilusint.org/join_online

🔹 NAUTILUS POD: OFF COURSE, A SIDEWAYS LOOK AT LIFE AT SEA

On all platforms, and here:
www.nautilusint.org

Join us for an exciting episode as we go onboard with Captain Mark Maguire, the no-nonsense star of TikTok, who’s demystifying container shipping one video at a time!

Off Course: A sideways look at life at sea, featuring the maritime influencers.

We are back for season three of Off Course: a sideways look at life at sea!

We're kicking off the new season with Third Officer Scarlett Barnett-Smith.

Scarlett discusses her current role, navigating the busy English Channel, and the responsibilities she handles daily. She reflects on her cadetship, which included working on HMS Tamar and highlights the unique experiences of traveling to Antarctica and other global destinations.

Find Scarlett on TikTok and Instagram @captainscarlettb

🔗 Subscribe to the Nautilus Pod – Off Course on your favourite platforms

We’re back for the final episode of season two with Dr Jo Stanley, a creative historian and expert on LGBT+ maritime history and an Honorary Research Fellow at Blaydes Maritime Centre, University of Hull.

In this episode we talk with Jo about the history of LGBT+ individuals, particularly gay men, in the British Merchant Navy during the mid-20th century.

We discuss how the environment onboard ships allowed for a more open exploration of sexuality and identity, with many gay men finding a sense of liberation and acceptance at sea.

Links mentioned during the episode:

Nautilus Equality and Diversity forum is next taking place on the 11th of April 2024 at 13:00 online

https://www.nautilusint.org/en/creating-change/events/equality-and-diversity/equality-and-diversity-forum/

Jo Stanley’s website

http://www.jostanley.biz/

Story about Roy ‘Wendy’ Gibson

https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/telegraph/pride-in-a-life-well-lived/

We’re back for another episode and this month we’re speaking with Jacqueline Smith, the maritime coordinator for the International Transport Workers' Federation.

In this podcast we discuss the concept of Flags of Convenience (FOCs) in the maritime industry. Why the ITF is calling for a global review of ship registration practices and a clearer definition of a "genuine link" between a ship and its flag state. We also discuss the lack of enforcement of these regulations by FOC countries, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We’re back for another episode and this month we’re speaking with Lungi Mchunu, yacht skipper and the first African woman to sail to the Arctic.

Lungi is also a yachtmaster graduate of the Nautilus strategic yacht partner and training charity, UKSA, and has worked in yachting, cruise and racing.

We speak with her about her fear of the sea, how she overcame it, and her experiences of the arctic.

With thanks to Lloyd's Maritime Academy for sponsoring this episode.

To view Lloyd’s Maritime Academy course visit their website: https://informaconnect.com/lloyds-maritime-academy/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9q5pOB4z-HH7LsIWP3qSW1B67tKwzQ-Ao4NH2tIjsm2Q_9rs1rfjzBoCjJEQAvD_BwE

Have you completed our Mapping our Maritime Future survey? Take part today:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mappingourmaritimefuture