Navigating change - an interview with Georgii Tolobaiev

In an industry balancing efficiency with the urgent need for decarbonization, some professionals stand out for bridging tradition and innovation. Georgii Tolobaiev, a maritime officer turned digital strategist, represents a new generation of shipping leaders who merge operational experience, environmental science, and data-driven technology to drive the next era of sustainable maritime transport.

This was reported by Georgii Tolobaiev, a merchant fleet officer and digital strategist at Stolt-Nielsen, in an exclusive interview with Novyny.LIVE.

From polar science to digital decarbonization in chemical shipping

Currently based in Houston and serving as a Vessel Operator at Stolt-Nielsen, Georgii brings more than a decade of sea and shore-based experience across multiple sectors of international shipping. His professional journey spans deck operations, safety management, polar expeditions, and digital transformation.

Early career and foundations of seamanship

Q1. Georgii, how did your maritime career begin?

My first professional years were spent at sea with companies such as Maersk, Blue Star, and Erick Rickmers Schiffahrt. As a Deck Officer, I was responsible for safe navigation, voyage planning, and maintaining compliance with COLREGs and SOLAS. Those years built the foundation of seamanship and situational awareness that every mariner needs. Navigating in varied weather and complex ports taught me how precision and discipline translate directly into safety.

Q2. What key lessons did you take from your time with VShips?

At VShips, where I later served as Chief Officer and Safety Officer, I gained deep exposure to operational management. I improved the ship’s ISM system, redesigned drill procedures, and wrote a Safety Officer handbook that’s still in use. I also developed a fuel-saving strategy combining hydrodynamic principles with operational adjustments, which cut fuel consumption by about 7 percent. That success made me realize that environmental gains can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.

Q3. You later joined Vessel Blenders in Houston. What did that role involve?

After moving to Houston, I joined Vessel Blenders as a Loss Control Superintendent, overseeing daily cargo operations and coordination with terminals, agents, and charterers. I prepared detailed cargo distribution plans to ensure precise blending results and introduced stricter QHSE briefings and risk assessments that reduced incident rates. It was my first shore-based role in the United States, where I applied my seagoing experience to commercial and operational execution on land.

From the bridge to the ice

Q4. What drew you to work in the polar regions earlier in your career?

Curiosity and purpose. I wanted to contribute to something that combined maritime skill with global scientific value. Serving as Safety and Environmental Officer on polar expedition and research vessels, I helped coordinate logistics through the Ice congested waters for international Antarctic stations such as Palmer (USA), Halley (UK), Brown (Argentina), Vernadsky (Ukraine), and González Videla (Chile). It was humbling to support scientific teams measuring glacier flow, atmospheric gases, and microplastic distribution in pristine ecosystems.

Q5. Could you describe some of the scientific projects you were part of?

Our work encompassed a multidisciplinary suite of oceanographic and biological observations. We measured glacier-flow rates using GPS and satellite altimetry, analyzed atmospheric concentrations of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O, conducted microplastic surveys over hundreds of nautical miles, and deployed hydrophones to characterize the underwater acoustic environment. The RCGS Resolute functioned as a stable, ice-strengthened research platform supporting simultaneous whale telemetry, biopsy sampling, acoustic surveys, and physical-chemical monitoring. An automated carbon-chemistry system continuously measured surface seawater CO₂ (fCO₂), pH, and dissolved oxygen, with calibration against World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and NOAA-CMDL gas standards to ensure traceable accuracy. Seawater was drawn from a bow intake at approximately five meters depth, while atmospheric samples were collected from the bridge level, enabling comparison of ocean–atmosphere CO₂ exchange in real time.

This integration of behavioral ecology, acoustics, and biogeochemistry yielded fine-scale datasets connecting whale movement, foraging behavior, and surface carbonate chemistry along the Antarctic Peninsula. The results provided a framework for assessing how physical and chemical ocean processes shape the ecological structure of polar marine systems.

A new chapter: innovation in chemical shipping

Q6. How did you transition from Antarctic operations to a technology-focused role in Houston?

After years at sea and in scientific environments, I wanted to bring that analytical mindset into commercial shipping. When I joined Stolt-Nielsen, a leader in chemical transportation, I saw the opportunity to merge environmental awareness with digital tools. As a Vessel Operator, I now manage voyage performance, stowage planning, and bunker optimization , areas where every operational decision influences both cost and carbon output.

The AutoStow project

Q7. You are a key contributor to AutoStow, an advanced stowage optimization program.

What is it, and how does it work?
AutoStow is a software platform that automates cargo-stowage planning for chemical tankers. It integrates cargo compatibility data, trim and stability calculations, port restrictions, and financial modeling to produce an optimal plan in minutes. The goal is to reduce GHG emissions through smarter tank utilization and fewer anchorage delays. It also forecasts Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) performance for each voyage so we can plan proactively rather than reactively.

Q8. What specific functions does AutoStow cover?

It incorporates a rule-based engine that assesses:

• Last-cargo compatibility and FOSFA/NIOP compliance.
• USCG reactivity and toxicity charts.
• Heat-transfer interactions and tank-coating resistance.
• Condensation control and nitrogen-inerting needs.
• Trim, stability, and volume-utilization limits.
• Port, berth, and draft restrictions.
• Fuel and biofuel procurement strategy.
• Voyage-profitability modeling including freight, demurrage, and TCE (time charter equivalent) calculations.

By aligning environmental and commercial variables, AutoStow helps us make decisions that are profitable and sustainable.

Q9. What tangible results have you observed from this system?

Fleet-wide testing shows significant reductions in fuel use and CO₂ emissions, with improved voyage margins. We’ve also achieved greater predictability in operational performance and minimized idle times at anchorage. Perhaps most importantly, the system ensures that environmental responsibility is integrated into every level of planning.

Corporate sustainability and global collaboration

Q10. How does your work support Stolt-Nielsen’s broader environmental strategy?

Our company targets a 50 percent emissions reduction by 2030 compared with 2008 and full carbon neutrality by 2050. My work on AutoStow complements physical initiatives such as biofuel adoption, Shaft Power Limitation (ShaPoLi), and the use of In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) devices that enhance fuel efficiency and reduce underwater noise. We also collaborate with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on projects mitigating acoustic pollution between 10 and 300 Hz. These efforts create a unified strategy that addresses emissions, noise, and efficiency together.

Q11. You have seen shipping from many angles , what do you think the future holds for the industry?

The future of shipping lies in data-driven integration. Operations, finance, safety, and sustainability will all be managed through connected digital ecosystems. Artificial intelligence will help forecast weather routing, trim optimization, and emissions. However, human judgment will remain essential. Technology should empower mariners, not replace them.

Recognition and сontribution

Colleagues describe Georgii Tolobaiev as a professional who combines scientific depth with operational pragmatism. His leadership in the AutoStow program exemplifies how technological innovation can drive both economic and ecological results.

Under his guidance, cargo-planning automation has become a lever for measurable emission reduction, aligning with Stolt-Nielsen’s corporate goals and the IMO 2050 strategy.

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