About this episode
Frank Coles, an experienced figure in the maritime industry, provides an overview of his career journey. He shares that he has been involved in the maritime industry for over 40 years, starting as a seafarer and eventually transitioning into various leadership roles. Highlights include working for companies like Richards Butler, Pacific Basin Bulk Shipping, Ridex (a Ship to Shore Communications company), Sperry Marine, Globe Wireless, MSAT Maritime, Transas (where he served as CEO), and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group (as Group CEO). Frank also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the mistreatment of seafarers within the industry and prompted him to prioritize their welfare over other business considerations.
During this part of the transcript, the speaker discusses their career journey and various job experiences. They talk about starting as a ship's officer and being ambitious, but eventually realizing that not everyone appreciated their work. They then discuss getting injured, changing jobs multiple times, and finally deciding to pursue a career in law. Despite enjoying law school and finding it useful in developing new skills, they didn't plan on practicing law forever. Eventually, they got an opportunity to work for a shipping company in Hong Kong through a client lunch meeting. This led them back to the industry they loved. After working for several companies and gaining experience in technology, they decided to focus on growing Globe Wireless before considering other opportunities.
The speaker discusses their role as an owner's representative and the challenges they faced in learning about technical aspects. They attribute their success to having good salespeople, developers, and being at the right place at the right time. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of leadership and a desire for change in implementing technology solutions. They mention that disruptive innovation is more likely to come from outside the industry. Building a team for change requires trusted individuals who are open to new ideas and willing to learn. The speaker shares personal experiences with making career changes and dealing with bureaucracy in ship management.
Frank, a ship manager, discusses his struggle with maintaining his standards and doing the right thing in the face of difficult circumstances. He shares stories about abusive owners who mistreated crew members and highlights the need for change in the maritime industry regarding seafarers' rights. Frank emphasizes that government intervention is necessary to establish protocols for seafarers to return home without facing extensive quarantines and visa complications. He also mentions the lack of attention from politicians and compares their empty gestures towards essential workers like nurses to their failure in addressing seafarer issues.
Frank Cole, a seafarer, offers advice for others in similar positions. He encourages them to take risks and pursue their goals because opportunities always arise. Frank highlights the resourcefulness and strong work ethic of seafarers, making them valuable in any job. He also discusses the need for discipline in the merchant navy and emphasizes that there are numerous opportunities outside the maritime industry as well. As for his own future, Frank is considering consulting and traveling on his new boat while exploring potential full-time options. Overall, he wants to be part of changing the industry rather than returning to outdated practices post-COVID-19.
TIMESTAMPS:
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Frank Coles
- Timestamp: 00:02 - 00:17
- Frank Coles introduces himself as a Master Mariner and talks about winning a scholarship with the Nautical Institute.
- Chapter 2: Career Journey
- Timestamp: 01:24 - 05:11
- Frank discusses his career path, including working as a lawyer in Hong Kong and joining Transas as CEO.
- Chapter 3: Modernizing Business
- Timestamp: 05:11 - 08:54
- Frank talks about joining Transas in 2018 and his efforts to modernize the business.
- Chapter 4: Challenges and Learning
- Timestamp: 08:54 - 14:43
- Frank discusses the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned during his career.
- Chapter 5: Leadership and Building a Team
- Timestamp: 38:17 - 41:15
- Frank shares his thoughts on the importance of leadership and building a team for successful change.
- Chapter 6: Dealing with Tough Times
- Timestamp: 49:10 - 54:26
- Frank talks about the tough times he faced and discusses the need for change in the industry.
- Chapter 7: Addressing Industry Issues
- Timestamp: 54:26 - 59:59
- Frank discusses the need to address industry issues, particularly in relation to crew changes and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Chapter 8: Future Plans
- Timestamp: 1:03:27 - 1:05:53
- Frank briefly mentions his current consulting work and hints at discussing future projects.