Behind every routing decision is a team of routers helping vessels navigate safely and efficiently. Meet the team making it happen. We are kicking off with Dhruv Anand APAC Routing Shift Lead.
Dhruv supports and mentors routers, oversees daily fleet operations, and helps manage complex routing decisions, all while contributing to improving workflows and decision-making processes within the team. Before joining Sofar Ocean in 2022, Dhruv spent nearly ten years sailing across the Indian Ocean, Pacific, Atlantic, and other major trade routes. This experience gave him firsthand exposure to heavy weather navigation, cargo operations, fuel efficiency management, and the day-to-day operational realities crews face onboard.
Interestingly, my connection with Sofar began before I joined the company. In 2018, while I was sailing with Berge Bulk's fleet, we received Sofar Spotter buoys for deployment in the Indian Ocean during a voyage toward Brazil. I remember being genuinely impressed by the technology — the vision of collecting real-time ocean data and integrating it with broader datasets to improve weather accuracy and ocean intelligence.
Since then, I’ve admired Sofar’s mission of combining ocean science, real-time data, and operational application. When the opportunity came to join in 2022, it felt like a natural fit. Sofar represents the intersection of my seafaring experience and my interest in using data and technology to improve decision-making at sea.
I’m excited to be part of building a stronger company, strengthening our routing capabilities, and continuing to grow the APAC team to meet evolving customer and business needs.
The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing that our guidance directly supports vessels navigating challenging ocean conditions. Having sailed myself, I understand how critical timely, accurate, and clearly communicated information is to a captain’s decision-making process.
It’s especially meaningful when we help a vessel avoid severe weather, optimize fuel consumption, or maintain schedule reliability without compromising safety. Beyond that, mentoring routers, seeing team members grow in confidence and capability, and contributing to a strong APAC team culture are things I genuinely value.
At the end of the day, supporting both the crew at sea and the customers ashore — while contributing to smarter ocean decision-making — is what makes the role truly fulfilling.
