Reading the Sea Through Data with Michela Monteverde

Every vessel leaves behind more than a wake—it leaves behind data.

In this episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, we sit down with Michela Monteverde, founder of HarborFlow, to discuss how maritime intelligence is helping the industry better understand vessel movement, operational risk, and the patterns that shape global shipping.

Michela’s career didn’t begin in maritime. With a background in archaeology, she was drawn to spatial thinking and geographic information systems (GIS), studying how people interact with landscapes through data. That interest gradually shifted toward the maritime world after spending time near the Port of Hull in the United Kingdom, where curiosity about ships, navigation, and maritime systems began to grow.

Rather than staying on shore, Michela took that curiosity to sea. She earned her sailing certifications and worked aboard vessels in a variety of environments, from yacht operations in the Mediterranean to an Atlantic crossing between France and the Caribbean and a schooner voyage from Colombia to Mexico.

Those experiences gave her firsthand insight into the realities of vessel operations, navigation, teamwork, and decision-making at sea.

Today, Michela applies those experiences in a different way.

As the founder of HarborFlow, she develops maritime intelligence tools that transform AIS vessel tracking data into meaningful operational insights. By combining geospatial analysis, machine learning, and data visualization, HarborFlow helps identify vessel traffic patterns, monitor port activity, detect anomalies, and better understand operational risk.

During the conversation, Michela explains why data has become one of the maritime industry’s most valuable resources. While AIS data has long been available, the challenge lies in making sense of the vast amount of information it generates. By organizing and analyzing these datasets, maritime organizations can make better operational decisions, improve efficiency, and identify trends that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Throughout the episode, Michela emphasizes that technology should complement—not replace—the practical knowledge gained through experience at sea. Her own career demonstrates how operational understanding and technical innovation can work together to improve the maritime industry.

Whether you’re working onboard, shoreside, or exploring new technologies, this episode offers an insightful look at how maritime data is shaping the future of vessel operations.