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u/AseemShekhar

r/TheDeepDraft r/indianeconomy r/u_AseemShekhar r/economy r/ProfessorFinance r/maritime r/Commodities
Completed a short course this month that pulled me into territory I don't usually write about. University of Cambridge - Key Essentials: CEDAW, Sustainable Development and the Law, run through Lucy Cavendish College, Hughes Hall, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and CISDL.
▲ 1 r/u_AseemShekhar+1 crossposts

Completed a short course this month that pulled me into territory I don't usually write about. University of Cambridge - Key Essentials: CEDAW, Sustainable Development and the Law, run through Lucy Cavendish College, Hughes Hall, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and CISDL.

Completed a short course this month that pulled me into territory I don't usually write about.
University of Cambridge - Key Essentials: CEDAW, Sustainable Development and the Law, run through Lucy Cavendish College, Hughes Hall, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and CISDL.
I didn't apply for this because it's adjacent to anything I currently do professionally. I applied because eleven years at sea, then building a company from scratch, then writing about debt sustainability and global growth, all eventually run into the same question: what makes a system actually work for the people inside it, not just on paper. CEDAW is a legal framework most people in shipping or finance never think about. But the logic underneath it isn't far from what I argue in my own work on economic sustainability - frameworks only matter if they're enforced, and protections without consequence are just words. Selected from over 1,250 applicants across 135 countries for this cohort. Grateful for it, and for whatever comes next because of it.
#CEDAW #GenderEquality #SustainableDevelopment #Cambridge #WomenEmpowerment #GlobalPolicy

u/AseemShekhar — 16 days ago
▲ 155 r/maritime

As a Second Mate, I learned that a good Able Seaman is your greatest asset on watch

This photo was taken during my time sailing as a Second Mate on tankers.

Over 11 years at sea, I learned something that no manual, audit, or checklist can fully teach.

A good and reliable Able Seaman is often your greatest strength on board.

I always tried to keep my AB's safe, respected, informed, and motivated. In return, I received dedication, punctuality, professionalism, and support whenever circumstances demanded it—day or night.

Many officers focus heavily on procedures, and rightly so. The ISM Code is one of the most important frameworks our industry has ever introduced.

However, my personal belief remains:

A happy ship is a safe ship.

The ISM Code provides the framework, but people make a ship safe.

A motivated crew notices hazards earlier, communicates better, supports one another during difficult operations, and takes greater ownership of safety.

As officers, we often remember difficult voyages, heavy weather, cargo operations, inspections, and audits.

But when I look back, I mostly remember the people.

I'm curious to hear from fellow mariners:

Do you agree that crew morale and leadership have as much impact on safety as procedures and compliance systems?

Fair winds and following seas.

— Former 2nd Officer, VLCC & Chemical Tankers

— Maritime Commercial Intermediary

u/AseemShekhar — 1 month ago
▲ 294 r/TheDeepDraft+1 crossposts

0400 hrs watch in the middle of the ocean. A view the landlocked will never truly experience

The phrase "light from heaven" creates a beautiful visual anchor for landlocked readers who will never see an uninterrupted oceanic horizon

u/AseemShekhar — 7 days ago
▲ 1 r/ProfessorFinance+1 crossposts

America's $39 Trillion Debt Isn't the Real Story.

Check out my latest article: A new perspective on sovereign debt: why productive growth may matter more than headline debt levels when assessing long-term economic sustainability. Introducing Sustainable EPS.I would welcome discussion/ comments/ honest review and suggestions after going through the article, which is pinned to my reddit profile . Kind Regards Aseem Shekhar

reddit.com
u/AseemShekhar — 1 month ago
▲ 1 r/indianeconomy

India’s Growth Oil Prices & Policy Flexibility

How one policy move can change the inflation story .India is once again at the mercy of crude oil price movements. Higher crude prices, along with a weakening rupee, are forcing market participants to question India’ economic outlook,but that is one part of the story,will growth actually stop?

reddit.com
u/AseemShekhar — 1 month ago
▲ 3 r/maritime

The uncomfortable truth about Maritime Decarbonization (From a Finance Perspective)

>The direction toward cleaner shipping makes sense, but the timeline is deeply flawed. The underlying global economy still depends on oil and gas to maintain economic activity at scale.
As an insider on the financing side, I’m watching shipping companies get forced into a dangerous balancing act:This isn't just an environmental question; it's a capital allocation crisis. If a company bets on the wrong fuel ecosystem today, that asset becomes stranded liabilities in less than a decade.
I put together a risk matrix tracking how the top 5 shipping sectors are currently allocating capital between transition assets and traditional tonnage to survive this gap. It shows exactly who is overexposed.
How are your operations balancing short-term fuel costs against long-term compliance?
(Let me know if you want the breakdown of the sector risk matrix, happy to share the analysis in the comments if there's interest).

reddit.com
u/AseemShekhar — 1 month ago
▲ 0 r/Commodities

I work in Maritime Finance. The Red Sea crisis is changing insurance premiums faster than you think. Here is the math.

Red Sea risks are completely reshaping shipping economics.

As someone working directly in maritime finance, I am watching underwriters adjust war risk premiums daily. It is no longer just about longer transit times around the Cape of Good Hope. The real story is the surging cost of insurance for the vessels that still attempt the crossing.

Here is a quick breakdown of what is happening behind the scenes right now:

  • War Risk Surges: War risk premiums for the Red Sea have spiked significantly, sometimes reaching up to 1% to 2% of the hull value for a single transit. For a $100M vessel, that is an extra $1M to $2M just to pass through.
  • The "Shadow" Premium: Lenders are tightening covenants. If a shipowner takes an unapproved route, they risk defaulting on their vessel financing loans due to breached insurance clauses.
  • The Cape Alternative: Diverting around Africa adds 10–14 days of fuel (bunkers) and crew costs. However, for many operators, this predictable delay is now cheaper than the volatile insurance premiums of the short route.

This is fundamentally changing commodity pricing and corporate margins.

What specific impacts are you seeing on commodity flows or shipping equities? Let's discuss below.

reddit.com
u/AseemShekhar — 1 month ago