Month: January 2010

New Editor Joins Elaborate Team

Elaborate Communications

Maritime publishing and media relations business, Elaborate Communications, is delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Mayer to the role of Group Editor.

Chris joins the company in February and will take responsibility for editing Elaborate’s highly successful international shipping publication Ship Management International and its popular news website, as well as working on the ISSA publication The Ship Supplier and other maritime titles.

He brings a wealth of experience to the post, having worked in the maritime publishing industry for more than 35 years. He is a former long-serving news editor of Lloyd’s List and where he was latterly an Executive Editor and a mainstay in bringing in revenue. Many members of the shipping industry will recognise him from his work as a judge and speaker for the Lloyd’s List Awards series.

Welcoming Chris to the Elaborate team, Sean Moloney, Editorial Director, said: “I am delighted to have Chris join us at Elaborate and for him to take the helm at Ship Management International. Chris brings a wide range of editorial skills to the post and his knowledge and experience of the shipping industry will be an invaluable asset to Elaborate and a benefit to our readers and advertisers.”

Chris Mayer, who during his time with the Informa group launched a shipmanagement publication for the company, said: “I am looking forward to focussing my energies on the vibrant and fast-moving shipmanagement sector at the same time as I continue my long association with the shipping industry as a whole. I have been impressed by the success and wide appeal of Ship Management International and I look forward to boosting it further still through even more hard-hitting and in-depth articles of interest and assistance to our world-wide readership.”
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Year Of The Seafarer Heralds New STCW Revisions

Elaborate Communications

As the Year of the Seafarer dawns, the professional standing of seafarer’s worldwide is set to be enhanced by the International Maritime Organisation’s STW Sub-Committee completion of revisions to the 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention.

At the IMO’s official launch of the Year of the Seafarer in London last week, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and chairman of the STW sub-committee, told delegates: “The rapid march of technology and the changing demands of an industry striving to be ever more competitive has meant that the global rules governing the training and certification of today’s and tomorrow’s seafarers had to be revised. It is therefore apt that the revision of the 1995 STCW Convention and Code should be completed in a year when the efforts and the professionalism of the world’s seafarers are embraced worldwide.”

The STW Sub-Committee members, composed of maritime professionals from throughout the industry, fully understand the professional and social needs of today’s seafarers. “They have the seafarers’ interests close to their heart and this will be evident in the finished product,” said R.Adm Brady. “As regulators of the shipping industry we have a duty to our seafarers to prepare and train them to a high enough standard that is commensurate with their role as a professional and highly valued asset.”

The main revisions are currently being finalised and the revised STCW Convention will be presented for approval to the IMO’s Diplomatic Conference in Manila in June. Once the Convention is adopted the IMO plans to hold a series of seminars and workshops to familiarise seafarers with the new and amended standards.

R.Adm Brady said: “The revised STCW rules will offer all relevant stakeholders the proper instruments by which to recruit, train and retain their sea-staff. At a time when the role of the seafarer is becoming even more respected, this can only be a good thing.”
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Notes for Editors:
• The STCW Convention with its STCW Code is the only comprehensive instrument that provides for universal training and certification for professionals in the entire transportation industry.

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InterManager appoints new Secretary General

Sean Moloney

InterManager, the international trade association for shipmanagers, this week announced that it has appointed a new Secretary General to replace Guy Morel, who retires this summer.

Taking the helm will be Captain Kuba Szymanski, who moves from MOL Tankship Management where he has worked for the past two years. Capt Szymanski will join InterManager on March 1st, 2010 and will work alongside Mr Morel until his official retirement in June. Capt Szymanski’s title during this interim phase will be Secretary General Elect.

Based on the Isle of Man, Capt Szymanski has a wealth of shipping industry experience both onboard and ashore. Polish-born, his previous experience includes management roles at Dorchester Maritime Ltd and MOL Tankship, and commands on LPG, Chemical Product and Gas Carriers. He holds an MBA from John Moores Liverpool University, an MSc in Marine Biology and Navigation from the University of Szczecin, and various professional diplomas. Married with one child, Capt Szymanski’s interests include skiing and sailing at competition level, running marathons and walking.

Guy Morel has held the role of InterManager General Secretary since 2007 and was a founder member and former president of the organisation’s predecessor, the International Ship Managers Association (ISMA). Mr Morel explained:

“After more than three years at InterManager, I feel that the organisation is now stronger and better positioned for a bright future. It is now time for me to pursue other personal projects and also to enjoy my family.”

Looking forward to being joined by Capt Szymanski, Mr Morel said: “With his dual sea and shore experience, with his knowledge of shipmanagement, with his business management experience, and with his familiarity with Associative life, Kuba is bringing a unique mix of skills and experience to InterManager. He will make a great Secretary General, and our Executive Committee was unanimous in recommending him to the position. I look forward to our period of joint work.”

Roberto Giorgi, InterManager President said: “Of course we are very sad to see Guy go, but we think in Kuba Szymanski we have found a worthy successor whose enthusiasm and expertise will take the organisation forward.”

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For Further Information, please contact:

Elaborate Communications, Debra Munford (UK) Tel +44 (0) 1296 682356
Guy Morel, Secretary General, InterManager (Monaco) Tel 00377 9205 1234
Capt Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General elect (Isle of Man) Tel:+44 (0) 1624 623299

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