Earlier quoted context omitted.
What would be the best programming language for this? R? (pronounced Rrrrrr) /s
It's all about the C matey!
Some parts are actually in C, but they've all been.. containerized.
I'll see myself out.
Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
41–50 of 54 posts
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#42It is incredible what you've accomplished already with such a small team! A very interesting problem area too. I've been a little involved with maritime from the perspective of digital security, which is an area that needs more attention, and wonder if/how you can improve that side of things with a modern solution. If you need to get in touch with folks who work on maritime cyber security by all means pop me an email.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#43I have a bit of an out there question but maybe you know the answer as I see you've done some piracy mapping. Is there any tech that's addressing the piracy issue that you think is just phenomenal (also thinking about unlicensed fishing in poorer countries territorial waters they can't defend but maybe the overlap isn't that great)? My understanding is basically this has been resolved by 1) ships routing through well…
The cheapest and simplest solutions to piracy are avoidance and armed security. Many non-lethal methods have been trialled over the years but nothing seems to be as cheap and effective as a human with a weapon. The link between unlicensed fishing and piracy is clear. If you take away a persons livelihood they are going to look for alternatives. It would be interesting to look at how organisations like Sea Shepherd could use technology to augment illegal fishing detection and disruption. Right now they sometimes augment local government forces to give them an interdiction capability but it may be in future they provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance using tech and leave host nation forces to interdict illegal operators.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks! Nick can chime in here once he's up - I'm the night owl (we're on SGT) and he's up in a few hours. But the way I see it, most of the problems around piracy are systemic. I'll skip going into too much detail, but when economies are set up to benefit from a rise in pirate activity in their borders, you've created a loop that removes incentives to find a long-term solution. The solutions have been exactly what y…
Ah, that's super interesting. The systemic issues make sense but I do wonder about incursions from foreign powers (e.g. Chinese fishing trawlers in W. Africa) but maybe these belong to a different category of issue. RE Security & Pricing - that's fascinating. I would have expected this to be a standard business affiliated with the big insurers and run out of the big private contracting companies (e.g. Academi). Most…
It is a space Academi have never operated in. Control Risks used to be in the maritime security space but assessed it as not having the right level of risk/reward because the prices became so commoditised. Running security for organisations like that in High Risk Areas like Iraq and Afghanistan still generates good margins but they don't experience those returns in the maritime space so they exited the market.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#45I find it humbling to hear about how much goes on behind the scenes in different industries that we so often take for granted, I'd bet the average person probably hasn't thought much about the shipping industry until the whole Suez situation over the past week (including myself coming from a family of three generations of sailors haha). Correct me if I'm wrong but given the real-time nature of your data I'm assuming…
I think the data side of this question is for Hrishi. From a platform perspective we primarily serve the Crew and Vessel Managers ashore right now, but in time we expect to push this out to personnel onboard vessels to give them more autonomy over their travel as well as to minimise additional work done by shore side personnel. In the old days a Captain would manage all aspects of a vessels operation, and I think as technology augments their ability to execute that will become true again with less execution shore side.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks! Interesting that you ask that - we have very little (if any) overlap with Flexport. They focus on the cargo and the freight, and we focus on operations. We've definitely helped operate some of their vessels in the past! There is a future where the two parts come together, as their fates are always linked, but it's outside the scope of complexity for us today, and for Flexport as well I imagine.
Makes sense! Chalk it up to ignorance on the sector in general, when I think "ships and startups" I think Flexport. I bet a lot of VCs will too (which is great - they are absolutely stellar). Best of luck!
Thanks for the comment! I normally tell people that Flexport connects the global economy to shipping, so you can get your stuff from A to B. Greywing connects shipping to the world economy, so whether the ship is at A, B or Z they can get what OPEX they need efficiently.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#47Congrats on the launch! Saw your demo day pitch and super impressed
Thanks! Demo day seems so long ago.....
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#48What is the 2fa you offer in the login? The Authenticator TOTP format?
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#49What is the 2fa you offer in the login? The Authenticator TOTP format?
Exactly right - it's a legacy feature we keep not to break some user flows, we're looking to rebuild that pretty soon.
Re: Launch HN: Greywing (YC W21) – Automated ship operations focused on crew
#50It is incredible what you've accomplished already with such a small team! A very interesting problem area too. I've been a little involved with maritime from the perspective of digital security, which is an area that needs more attention, and wonder if/how you can improve that side of things with a modern solution. If you need to get in touch with folks who work on maritime cyber security by all means pop me an email…
Definitely appreciated, thanks!