BLU Maritime’s ‘smart’ recipe for a happier, healthier crew

When you think of serving a savoury, hot and nutritious meal, do you think of technology? Captain Harminder Singh does. The founder and chief executive of sustainable provision management and catering solutions provider, BLU Maritime Consultancy (BLU) knows his firm’s BLU TEC platform was a key ingredient in the rapid growth of his company. “To stay ahead in this game, you have to embrace technology,” Capt. Harminder told Singapore Solutions. Crew nutritional and dietary needs and regulatory requirements have evolved since the enactment of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) as diversity in the workforce has increased.
But matching and managing the dietary needs of diverse crews has become more complex. Capt. Harminder noted that crews from Eastern Europe, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, or Vietnam “all have very unique eating habits.”

Founded in 2020 by Capt. Harminder and his daughter, Harmita Singh, who serves as general manager, BLU developed BLU TEC, a powerful software solution that facilitates catering for the crew and advises on purchasing, providing insight on which port provisions should be bought based on availability, volume, historical price and the vessel’s schedule.

Working with about 750 suppliers from around the world, BLU ensures the seamless delivery of healthy food and provisions to ports globally. When it comes to provisions and food management, Capt. Harminder believes that his firm needs to continue to invest in technology to stay ahead of competitors.

“Our application is a smart, powerful planning tool, where customers can log in and place an order. Customers want an e-commerce platform that is smooth, simple, and straightforward,” he said. “We can leverage technology to reduce wastage, optimise cost and bring efficiencies into the whole ecosystem.” BLU supports owners and shipmanagers with optimising their provision budgets and providing global procurement services at competitive prices.

Using the BLU TEC platform, a shipowner or captain can see exactly what the crew is eating - something that wasn’t possible in the past. “Is it healthy? Is it in compliance? Are they satisfied? Is every single individual on the ship happy?” said Capt. Harminder. “With our systems you can check on the needs of a single person out of a crew of 22 or 25 on board a commercial ship,” he said.

In the past, feedback was provided only by the ship’s captain. “But today a single person can provide feedback using our technology. You get real data and good visibility indicating whether seafarers are eating healthy balanced meals. So, technology has played a vital role in our success,” said Capt. Harminder.

Another key to the company’s success has been its strong business ties. A former ship’s captain and ship manager, Capt. Harminder said the company has contracts to supply about 450 ships, about half of which are under Japanese ownership.

But happy, healthy and well-trained seafarers are a ship’s best safety system, and vital in the role of increasing operational efficiency, reducing energy consumption and improving a company’s profitability.

Eating nutritious meals is critical to the wellbeing of seafarers and requires careful planning and provisioning to optimise cost and efficiency.

That business excellence and rapid growth was recognised in 2025 when BLU was named a recipient of a Singapore SME 500 Award.

Besides Capt. Harminder, the Singapore-based company’s team includes four master mariners, who know the shipping business inside and out. This allows the company to serve as an expert consulting arm for the owner. “We can bridge that gap between the owner and the ship,” he said.