Full Ahead : the podcast about ships and shipping

Nigel Thompson and Alistair Eagles
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How much do we really know about the industry that keeps us connected? In this series, we hear from the people who keep the maritime world moving — at sea and ashore — shining a light on an industry many rely on but few truly understand. With decades of senior shipping experience, Alistair Eagles brings industry insight, while journalist Nigel Thompson brings curiosity and storytelling shaped by a lifetime spent close to the coast. From ferries and ports to life at sea, expect surprising stories and a fresh look at a fast-changing sector. 🌍 Follow on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram & LinkedIn.

  1. Aug 6

    Behind the scenes on Stena Embla: What’s next for life at sea?

    🚢 We’re back afloat for this episode of the podcast and asking when it comes to recruitment, what the future of the maritime industry may look like? We were recently invited aboard the Irish Sea ferry Stena Embla which links Birkenhead and Belfast while the ship was alongside on the Wirral for a rare maintenance and rest day. With the industry changing we enjoyed conversations with some of the people helping to shape it: ⚓ Swopping the deck for a desk: Kathryn Gallagher reflects on her personal journey from life at sea to buildinga career on shore. ⚓ Building the future: Scarlett Black, Stena Line's Talent Acquisition Lead, explains why a fresh approach torecruitment could help tackle the industry's skills challenge. ⚓ Booming Birkenhead: With significant recent investment in Birkenhead we hear from Stena’s Regional Port Development Manager Christian Grossie about the jobof meeting changing traffic demand. ⚓ The view from the bridge: We also speak to Captain Wojciech Haptar who has commanded Stena Embla since she entered service five years ago and shares an insight into life on the Irish Sea on a ship with a distinctive "green bridge." 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line,the Irish Sea's favourite ferry company.

  2. Jul 23

    Inside Fleetwood Nautical Campus ⚓

    Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch a career as a Merchant Navy Officer or Maritime Apprentice? For this episode of the Full Ahead Podcast Alistair and Nigel go on-location to Fleetwood Nautical Campus (FNC) widely regarded as one of the UK’s top nautical institutions. With a rich seagoing history dating back to 1892, the campus continues to set the benchmark for maritime education. We visited their open day to meet cadets preparing for life at sea and the specialist instructors training them. In this episode: from the bridge to the training pool, we go inside Fleetwood's state-of-the-art facilities'engine or deck?' We hear from cadets from both!and we hear from the man at the top Neil Atkinson who attended in 1989 and following a 22-year career at sea returned as Head of Campus in 2013.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube! The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s favourite ferry company.

  3. Jul 9

    The Åland Islands: Europe's Maritime Meeting Place

    Discover why the Åland Islands have become one of northern Europe's most important maritime meeting places. Alistair travels to Mariehamn for Maritime Day, where shipping professionals, industry leaders and enthusiasts gather to network, share ideas and celebrate the maritime sector. From the charity 5K run supporting Mercy Ships to interviews with leading names in shipping, this episode captures the atmosphere of one of the Baltic's biggest maritime events. Featuring guests from Godby Shipping, DFDS, Viking Line and event organiser Ålands Sjöfart, plus a conversation with the Speaker of the Åland Parliament, you'll hear how this unique island community combines a rich maritime heritage with a forward-looking shipping industry. The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company. The islands:Stena Line

  4. Jun 18

    Hey Tugboat, the Bristol Channel's First Female Tug Captain | Full Ahead Podcast

    Rhiannon Pritchard made history as the Bristol Channel's first female tug captain — and she's helping shine a spotlight on one of the maritime industry's most important yet often overlooked roles. Through her hugely popular Hey Tugboat social media channels, Rhiannon has attracted thousands of followers by sharing life at the helm of a Svitzer tug. She offers a skipper's-eye view of ship handling and the vessels that keep maritime traffic moving safely and efficiently. In this episode of The Full Ahead Podcast, Rhiannon discusses her career journey so far, her life as a tug captain, the realities of working on the water, and how social media is helping introduce a whole new audience to the world of maritime operations. If you're fascinated by ships, ports and the people who keep global trade moving, this is an episode not to miss! Follow Hey Tugboat on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company.

  5. Jun 12

    Seawork Southampton 2026: Inside Europe’s Biggest Commercial Marine Show

    “We haven’t built the perfect boat.” That’s the verdict from Alan Goodchild of Goodchild Marine,speaking to Full Ahead at Seawork. Billed as Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine andworkboat exhibition, Seawork brings together hundreds of organisations from across the maritime sector. From unmanned vessels and cutting-edge safety technology to maritime charities and scientific organisations such as theBritish Antarctic Survey, there was plenty to explore. During our visit, we stepped aboard a brand-new pilot boat,took a tour of a powerful harbour tug, and heard about the University of Southampton’s ambitions to strengthen collaboration between industry andacademia. As this special episode reveals, innovation, skills andsustainability are shaping the future of the maritime industry. The Full Ahead Podcast: Proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.

  6. Jun 5

    On the Bridge: Chief Officer Harvey Finney, CalMac | Season 2

    We hope you enjoyed our trip aboard CalMac's newest ferry in the first epsiode of the second series! The MV Isle of Islay, An t-Eilean Ìle in Gaelic serves Islay and was launched in 2024, the first of two ferries being built in Turkey to service the route. Chief Officer Harvey Finney was among the team who brought the ship home to Scotland during what was to prove an eventful journey! In this bonus interview with Alistair which we recorded on the ship's bridge during a crossing to Islay, he explains about the emergency that helped the crew put the ferry through its' paces, what it is like to take on a 'new build' and his ambitions, one year after we first interviewed him for the Full Ahead Podcast. The podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.

  7. Jun 5

    Aboard CalMac's new Isle of Islay ferry I Season 2

    Welcome to our second series of the podcast about ships and shipping! We've a bumper season lined up for you - be sure to subscribe now and check out our YouTube channel too for videos about the podcasts too. We kick off the second season of the podcast with a trip aboard Caledonian MacBrayne's newest ferry, the Isle of Islay. Not only this but we reunite with the very first guest from the podcast who is now Chief Officer aboard the first of class ferry. Harvey Finney showed us around the ship and we had a good chat with passengers and crew during a return crossing to Islay from Kennacraig. *You can also hear Harvey share details of what was an eventful delivery voyage with Alistair in a special bonus edition of the podcast which is also now available. Our thanks to CalMac for looking after us on board and be sure to look out for Scottish Island Adventures a fascinating podcast about the stories, spirit and soul of the west coast islands. Season two of The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.

  8. Apr 3

    Mike Louagie – maritime photographer (ships, ferries & ferry shipping summit) | Full Ahead Ep 15

    In this episode of Full Ahead, we’re joined by master maritime photographer Mike Louagie, whose striking images capture the power, scale, and atmosphere of ships and ferries around the world. Mike shares the stories behind his work, from life aboard vessels to documenting the maritime industry at key moments, including his experience at the Ferry Shipping Summit and beyond. We also talk about what it takes to photograph the sea professionally — the challenges, the unpredictability, and the unique perspective required to capture life at sea in motion. A fan of ferries in particular, he is part of the team behind the Ferry Shipping Summit and also produces the weekly Ferry Shipping News. In our conversation he offers some good advice for anyone wanting to break into a particular industry and reveals how he managed to capture some of his most awe-inspiring shots. To see more of his work follow Mike on LinkedIn and Instagram

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About

How much do we really know about the industry that keeps us connected? In this series, we hear from the people who keep the maritime world moving — at sea and ashore — shining a light on an industry many rely on but few truly understand. With decades of senior shipping experience, Alistair Eagles brings industry insight, while journalist Nigel Thompson brings curiosity and storytelling shaped by a lifetime spent close to the coast. From ferries and ports to life at sea, expect surprising stories and a fresh look at a fast-changing sector. 🌍 Follow on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram & LinkedIn.

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