Prem Shankar : Building A One-Stop Knowledge Services Platform For The Maritime Industry
Prem Shankar
Director
Additionally, maritime businesses must handle logistical challenges, including cargo management, vessel maintenance, and crew coordination, all of which require meticulous planning. These complex challenges call for frequent expert guidance.
But unlike the IT industry, the information and guidance required to overcome these challenges are not readily available over the internet, leading to a time-consuming process of physically identifying solutions. To fill in these gaps in the industry, Prem Shankar established THENAVALARCH, a first-of-its-kind one-stop-shop naval engineering and knowledge services platform.
An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Prem is an experienced naval architect with over two decades of professional experience in handling various roles in the industry, mainly across India, Singapore, and at present in Australia.
With his prior software development experience, he designed and developed a unique platform for handling end-to-end engineering projects of the maritime industry. We have Prem with us for an exclusive discussion wherein he talks about his entrepreneurial journey.
What motivated you to establish an independent venture of your own?
Being in the industry for the past two decades, I have had the privilege to design ships and different types of floating structures. My career has taken me across India, Singapore, and now Australia, where I've worked on a wide range of vessels, from small boats to large offshore structures used in oil production, which gives me a deep understanding of both the engineering and, at times, operational aspects of the industry.
I identified opportunities to enhance the efficiency and quality of engineering delivery, which motivated me to establish an independent venture aimed at contri -buting meaningful value to
the industry leaving a legacy that continues to benefit others well beyond my active involvement.
Tell us more about this process of identifying this gap in the industry.
About a decade ago, I worked in Singapore in a niche field, transporting pipes on ships. Unlike software engineers, I had limited resources to acquire the practical knowledge and information, making it at times frustrating to learn. I relied on offline literature and eventually identified an industry gap that needed addressing.
I started creating content through articles and using my basic software skills, which gained traction as customers sought solutions. Today, the platform has 2,500 global users, with 50 experts from across the globe contributing content for it. It now delivers engineering projects alongside its content delivery services.
Today, we're looking ahead by integrating AI to optimize customer management, automate marketing and sales, and enhance efficiency. As the system learns from data, it improves proposal accuracy, customer interactions, and business scalability. This AI-driven transformation is shaping the future of maritime engineering, providing seamless access to essential industry tools and expertise.
What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
Leadership, to me, is fundamentally about the courage to take initiative and act on a vision, rather than being defined by titles, background, or education. Anyone who steps forward to create change demonstrates leadership in its purest form.
When it comes to leading teams, I believe in a few core principles. Foremost among them is ownership taking full responsibility for delivering outcomes, even if it means going beyond the expected.
Whether it's following up with clients or third-party stakeholders, I believe in taking initiative to ensure progress. Fairness and compassion are equally important.
Fairness fosters trust in professional relationships, while compassion ensures we treat one another with dignity and humanity, which is essential to building something meaningful and lasting.
What is your five-year plan for the company?
Tell us more about this process of identifying this gap in the industry.
About a decade ago, I worked in Singapore in a niche field, transporting pipes on ships. Unlike software engineers, I had limited resources to acquire the practical knowledge and information, making it at times frustrating to learn. I relied on offline literature and eventually identified an industry gap that needed addressing.
I started creating content through articles and using my basic software skills, which gained traction as customers sought solutions. Today, the platform has 2,500 global users, with 50 experts from across the globe contributing content for it. It now delivers engineering projects alongside its content delivery services.
Today, we're looking ahead by integrating AI to optimize customer management, automate marketing and sales, and enhance efficiency. As the system learns from data, it improves proposal accuracy, customer interactions, and business scalability. This AI-driven transformation is shaping the future of maritime engineering, providing seamless access to essential industry tools and expertise.
Fairness fosters trust in professional relation -ships, while compassion ensures we treat one another with dignity and humanity, which is essential to building something meaningful and lasting
What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
Leadership, to me, is fundamentally about the courage to take initiative and act on a vision, rather than being defined by titles, background, or education. Anyone who steps forward to create change demonstrates leadership in its purest form.
When it comes to leading teams, I believe in a few core principles. Foremost among them is ownership taking full responsibility for delivering outcomes, even if it means going beyond the expected.
Whether it's following up with clients or third-party stakeholders, I believe in taking initiative to ensure progress. Fairness and compassion are equally important.
Fairness fosters trust in professional relationships, while compassion ensures we treat one another with dignity and humanity, which is essential to building something meaningful and lasting.
What is your five-year plan for the company?
We are developing a platform to become the largest and most comprehensive services hub for the maritime industry, with a vision to create a one-stop digital ecosystem. Five years from now, it will enable the seamless remote delivery of a wide range of services, which could include software tools, learning and training modules, expert-led video content, articles, podcasts, and other forms of engaging online content.
Essentially, anything that can be accessed and delivered online will be available through this platform, including engineering services such as design, assessments, and drawings, all aligned with the latest regulations and automated for efficiency. The goal is to build a highly personalized, intuitive platform, similar to a "Netflix for maritime professionals". This platform aims to redefine digital service delivery in the maritime sector.
Based on your extensive experience in the industry, what advice would you give to aspiring leaders in the field?
One of the most important lessons is the need for continuous upskilling. With industries evolving rapidly, staying updated with new tools and technologies is essential to remain relevant. I've also learned that industries like maritime and oil & gas are highly cyclical, requiring professionals to stay agile and prepared for change.
For engineers, especially, it's important to look beyond technical expertise and under stand the broader business context, including operations, sales, marketing, and cost dynamics. Technical skills are valuable, but delivering tangible results is what sets you apart. Ultimately, people hire for solutions. Adopting the perspective of clients or employers makes us more relevant and better equipped to create a meaningful impact.
Prem Shankar, Director, TheNavalArch
With over two decades of professional experience in the maritime industry, Prem, a naval architect and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, serves as the director of the leading online services platform for the maritime sector, THENAVALARCH.
Awards:
•Best Naval Architect award from the Institute of Naval Architects.
•THENAVALARCH in top 100 Oil & Gas companies in Singapore by a media firm.
•Mathematics Olympiad winner.
•Hobbies:Singing and playing guitar, and writing
•Favorite Cuisine:Indian
•Favorite Books:10x Rule by Grant Cardone and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
•Favorite Travel Destination:
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Essentially, anything that can be accessed and delivered online will be available through this platform, including engineering services such as design, assessments, and drawings, all aligned with the latest regulations and automated for efficiency. The goal is to build a highly personalized, intuitive platform, similar to a "Netflix for maritime professionals". This platform aims to redefine digital service delivery in the maritime sector.
Based on your extensive experience in the industry, what advice would you give to aspiring leaders in the field?
One of the most important lessons is the need for continuous upskilling. With industries evolving rapidly, staying updated with new tools and technologies is essential to remain relevant. I've also learned that industries like maritime and oil & gas are highly cyclical, requiring professionals to stay agile and prepared for change.
For engineers, especially, it's important to look beyond technical expertise and under stand the broader business context, including operations, sales, marketing, and cost dynamics. Technical skills are valuable, but delivering tangible results is what sets you apart. Ultimately, people hire for solutions. Adopting the perspective of clients or employers makes us more relevant and better equipped to create a meaningful impact.
Prem Shankar, Director, TheNavalArch
With over two decades of professional experience in the maritime industry, Prem, a naval architect and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, serves as the director of the leading online services platform for the maritime sector, THENAVALARCH.
Awards:
•Best Naval Architect award from the Institute of Naval Architects.
•THENAVALARCH in top 100 Oil & Gas companies in Singapore by a media firm.
•Mathematics Olympiad winner.
•Hobbies:Singing and playing guitar, and writing
•Favorite Cuisine:Indian
•Favorite Books:10x Rule by Grant Cardone and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
•Favorite Travel Destination:
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia