#MeetTheTeam: Capt. Sveto Todorov

For our #MeetTheTeam series, we are kicking off by introducing Captain Svetoslav Todorov, who, among other contributions, supports the development of training and educational programs for seafarers worldwide

Sveto is a Board Member of Whale Guardians EU and has been an active volunteer with the organization for nearly four years. A graduate of the Maritime Academy, he has sailed worldwide on cargo and passenger vessels, serving as a ship’s captain. He remains closely connected to the global shipping industry through the operation of a fleet of bulk carriers. This background provides him with strong navigational expertise and a practical understanding of how technology and operational measures can be effectively applied at sea.

His commitment to whale protection stems from a near-miss with a surfacing whale while he was in command of a vessel, an experience that highlighted the absence of effective early-warning systems, speed management measures, and routing tools in whale-sensitive areas.

Within Whale Guardians, he focuses on the research, evaluation, and implementation of technological solutions to prevent ship strikes, as well as on optimizing vessel routing and defining areas to be avoided.

He also supports the collection of whale data from the shipping industry to help identify global hotspots and migratory routes and contributes to the development of training and educational programs for seafarers worldwide. In parallel, he is actively involved in whalewatching and outreach initiatives that help connect crews and the wider maritime community withwhale conservation.

Strongly connected to the water, he enjoys sailing, diving, and fishing, and he is committed to bridging maritime operations, technology, and conservation to protect whales.