SINGAPORE – During the Covid-19 pandemic, maritime company boss Ravi Sinha set up a small creative studio for his team to connect with one another and unwind from the stress of working in an essential service sector.
“It started with simple activities like candle-making, woodcraft, and pottery. The energy in those sessions was infectious – people who had been withdrawn were suddenly laughing, creating, and bonding again,” he said.
Mr Ravi, 61, so loved the experience that he branched out from his lifelong career in maritime to start a hands-on, experience-based cafe in River Valley called Art Werkx in 2023.
That human spirit is what he aims to nurture through his cafe, “where healthy food meets hands-on fun”, said Mr Ravi, a Singaporean who was originally from India.
The cafe offers a space to de-stress and connect with others through experiences such as leather crafting and pour-painting, which is painting by pouring acrylic paint onto a canvas.
While the cafe may seem like a far cry from his career in maritime – an industry that he has been in since he was 18 years old when he started sailing – there is a link.
He had encouraged hobby competitions among the crew on long voyages, to reduce their sense of stress and isolation.
“It showed me how creative activities strengthen mental health and camaraderie,” he said. “Today, in a digital age where people often retreat into screens, I believe creative outlets are vital for reconnection.”
Mr Ravi spent a total of 22 years at sea, including 12 years as captain of supertankers, before moving on to on-shore jobs.
He is now the founder and chief executive of Aregius Maritime Group, a Singapore-based company he started in 2017 providing specialised commercial services for the oil and bulk shipping industry.
“Life as a captain at sea is a masterclass in management, operating in a high-risk environment with limited resources, while leading a team that lives in isolation under demanding conditions,” he said.
“You learn to stay calm, trust your team, think creatively with what you have, and make decisions guided by experience and judgment. Those lessons certainly have shaped who I am and how I manage my businesses.”
Mr Ravi holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master Mariner (Foreign Going) with a Class 1 Certificate of Competency.
He is single, and has a 30-year-old daughter who lives in Australia.
A: I once invested in property, which I later transferred to my family. My real investments have been in my daughter’s education and my two ventures – Aregius Maritime and Art Werkx.
I believe growth begins with defining a purpose. Once you are clear on that, you can spot gaps in an industry and find creative ways to bridge them, always staying aligned with the purpose.
The next step is to build a team that shares the same belief. Progress may be slow, but it earns lasting trust and confidence.
A: At 22, I invested in a landed property in New Delhi, India, with my father. We eventually sold it in 2009.
A: It was investing in a London finance company at a friend’s urging, despite my instincts telling me not to. It failed within seven months. The sum lost was not large, but it was a significant mistake for me because I broke my own rule: Never invest in something I don’t control.
A: Investing in my daughter’s education and in my own ventures. Both have given me the deepest returns.
I have invested over $2 million into the cafe. As I had no F&B or retail experience, the cost has been my learning curve. It nearly exhausted my funds, but belief in the purpose kept me going.
I think risk-taking is essential, like when leaving the safety of a secure job. After two years of learning, we are now confident of scaling the cafe.
A: I grew up in a disciplined military household where money was budgeted, but values came first. My father was a pilot with the Indian Air Force and later a high-altitude rescue pilot with the Royal Nepal Airlines.
We never had pocket allowances, but whenever my sister or I needed something, we got it. That upbringing gave me a sense of security and a mindset of abundance.
A: I dreamt of being a race car driver. I raced go-karts briefly in the UK until the costs and lack of sufficient sponsorship stopped me, but the thrill of that dream stayed with me.
A: My first job was as a waiter in a five-star hotel. My father was recovering from some injuries sustained in a helicopter incident, and I did not want to burden him with my expenses. Six months later, he was flying again, and I joined sea training.
A: I live in a rented two-bedroom penthouse on Upper East Coast Road.
A: I drive a seven-year-old BMW 520i.
A: It would start with 10 minutes of meditation, coffee and journalling. Then, I would like to have engaging client meetings and team discussions through the day. Finally, I would enjoy pour-painting with my partner in the evening, ending with dinner and a glass of wine.
A: I would expand Art Werkx to a second location and set aside some funds for maritime scholarships.
A: I would spend it on essentials while consolidating my ideas for the next venture.
