This episode of the Lloyd’s List Podcast is brought to you by Veson. Find out more at www.veson.com

ASK the compliance team of a major shipping company what the biggest risk to their business is and they may say its sanctions. Ask the security officer and they’ll likely say geopolitical uncertainty and conflict.

But ask the operations manager and they might give you a different answer: the weather.

Weather risk is something that is assessed by people working hard in shipping offices and on board vessels all over the world, but it has been catapulted into the headlines in recent months amid drought in Europe and a so-called “Super El Nino” phenomenon currently unfolding across the Pacific.

How is extreme weather affecting the way vessels operate? What can we expect from El Nino in the coming months? Should we be braced for low water levels across river systems in the future?

Joining senior reporter Joshua Minchin on this week’s episode are:

• Drew Lerner, founder, World Weather

• Chris Aversano, partnership lead, Wood Mackenzie

• Eirik Hooper, senior associate ports and terminals, Drewry