Month: January 2013

Hutton’s Achieves Important International Standards

Elaborate Communications

Leading international ship supplier, Hutton’s, has achieved important international accreditations to benefit customers and its staff.

UK-based Hutton’s has been awarded International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) quality management standard ISO9001, environmental management standard ISO14001 and British occupational health and safety standard (OHSAS)18001 after several months of dedicated work to ensure its services and systems meet and exceed global expectations.

Managing Director Alex Taylor said: “These accreditations are a very important endorsement of our approach to ship supply and in particular our customer-focussed approach. I congratulate all our staff on helping Hutton’s to achieve these standards.”

Business auditors recognised Hutton’s high levels of customer satisfaction and retention and the dedication of its highly motivated employees during the assessment process. The environmental award recognised Hutton’s commitment to minimising the impact of its operations on the environment and its ability to comply with environmental regulations. Hutton’s has put in place robust systems to avoid food spoilage and wastage.

Being a maritime company Hutton’s has a keen dedication to health and safety procedures and its comprehensive policies to control health and safety risks, both in the preparation and management of food products and the operation of its warehouses and offices around the UK, led to its earning the OHSAS 18001 award.

Tracey Rowley, Hutton’s Quality, Safety & Environmental Manager said: “It has taken a great deal of time and effort to refine our procedures and assist the auditors in their assessment of Hutton’s and we are pleased to be in the unique position of achieving three important business standards at the same time. With a history dating back almost 200 years, Hutton’s continues to provide the highest standards to our customers.”

—ends—

Notes to Editors:

· Hutton’s has developed as the UK’s one-stop shop facility providing the full range of products and services to the International Shipping and the offshore industry.

· Having the UK’s largest branch network ensures that most of the UK’s ports are no more than two hours from a Hutton’s depot.

ISF Launches New Onboard Training Book For Engine Cadets

Elaborate Communications

The International Shipping Federation (ISF) has updated its widely-used On Board Training Record Book for Engine Cadets to meet the latest requirements governing seafarers’ training emanating from the STCW 2010 Manila Amendments.

“The competence of engine officers is critical to safety and environmental protection. The updated ISF Book enables cadets and their companies to monitor and evaluate their on board training in a structured manner in accordance with the new STCW Convention requirements.” ISF Director Employment Affairs, Natalie Shaw, explained.

New regulations set out in the 2010 amendments to the IMO STCW Convention controlling seafarers’ training standards came into force in January 2012. Use of a training record book providing evidence of structured on board training is mandatory for trainees seeking to qualify as ships’ officers, and the ISF books are referred to as a model in the footnotes to STCW 2010. The STCW 2010 standards must be applied to new trainees from July 2013.

The revised publication is the fourth in a series of updated ISF training record books following the recent publication of revised On Board Training Record Books for Deck Cadets, Deck Ratings and Engine Ratings (the latter both covering the new grade of Able Seafarer).

The new ISF Book for Engine Cadets contains structured on board training tasks formulated around the revised standards stipulated by STCW 2010, including new competences such as application of leadership and team working skills and proactive measures to protect the marine environment.

As the principal international employers’ organisation for ship operators, representing national shipowners’ associations and some 80% of the world merchant fleet, ISF wishes to ensure that engine cadets optimise their seagoing service and can demonstrate a broad variety of skills.

ISF is currently in discussion with the Philippines and other important seafarer supply countries to ensure that the use of the ISF Books is approved as a part of their national STCW certification processes.

“Many shipping companies are training cadets, across their fleets, from a variety of countries and it is important that they can use a standard international book.” said Mrs Shaw.

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Notes to Editors

  • ISF is the identity used by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in its capacity as an employers’ organisation concerned with labour affairs and training matters.
  • The On Board Training Record Book for Engine Cadets can be purchased from maritime booksellers, or direct from Marisec Publications for UK £30 (including airmail postage) or for £20 when five or more copies are ordered.

Uncertainty Reigns In Newbuilding Sector Says Braemar Seascope

Elaborate Communications

Uncertainty still reigns true in the global shipbuilding sector with many factors influencing either a return to ordering activity or a continuation of the reduction in interest in newbuildings.

“The best case scenario for shipbuilders is for ship finance liquidity to return and for a cut in Chinese overcapacity. There needs to be renewed interest in eco-designs and ships with options such as LNG or Ballast Water Treatment Systems and then possibly any increased demand will support pricing from the shipyards’ point of view,” said Mark Williams, Research Director at Braemar Seascope.

The worst case scenario is for a continuation in the global credit crunch; weak freight markets continuing to suppress newbuilding demand; input costs and forex turning against the builders; the low point in the contracting cycle extending and also more cash flow problems and failures.

“Investors are unlikely to invest in new tonnage this year without a fair prospect of economic return even if there is a short term recovery in freight markets, with many believing more needs to be done to encourage a return in confidence in the newbuilding sector,” Mr Williams told delegates attending the latest Marine Money conference.

While higher scrap prices should encourage owners to renew their fleets, the ongoing credit crunch and weak freight markets are reducing the economic life of today’s ships, which are now depreciating to scrap value in their teenage years or early twenties.

Mark Williams said that newbuilding prices tended to follow demand with input costs only providing a floor which can be broken through. “When the global shipbuilding backlog is less than about 18 months, yards tend to cut prices for competitive advantage, however prices appear to be bottoming out. There is far too much shipbuilding capacity out there. 2012 was the peak delivery year since the mid-1970s. So it is a question of who will blink first.”

ICS Updates Flag State Performance Table

Elaborate Communications

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has launched its latest ‘Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table’ which can be downloaded from the homepage of the ICS website (www.ics-shipping.org)

ICS Director External Relations, Simon Bennett explained: “Our table is intended to encourage shipowners to maintain a dialogue with their flag administrations to effect any improvements that might be necessary in the interests of safety, the environment and decent working conditions.”

This year’s ICS table includes some new flag states which seem to be increasingly popular with some shipowners, such as Moldova and Sierra Leone, which join the ranks of flags such as Bolivia, Cambodia and Mongolia in being revealed by the table to have a somewhat patchy performance.

ICS stresses that the table includes what should be regarded only as potential positive indicators.  There may be good reason why a flag is lacking one or two of these, especially if it has had too few port calls to gain a place on certain port state control ‘white lists’ or has not yet ratified one or two recently adopted international Conventions.

Mr Bennett remarked: “The absence of a couple of positive indicators is probably not very important.  But if a flag is lacking a large number of positive indicators then shipowners may want to ask serious questions.”

ICS is keen to emphasise that, in today’s modern global industry, distinctions between so called traditional flags and open registers are increasingly meaningless and actually unhelpful.  The ICS table shows that many open registers like Liberia and the Bahamas are amongst the very top performers alongside several European registers, or flags such as Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, that might be expected to perform well.

In the same way that, through mechanisms such as the ISM Code, the shipping industry is committed to the concept of continuous improvement and transparency with respect to its performance, ICS believes that the same principles apply to the performance of flag administrations.   ICS has therefore reiterated its support for the decision by IMO to make its Member State Audit Scheme mandatory.

The ICS Table uses information derived from the public domain as at June 2012.

Bibby Ship Management Expands Into Key Locations Worldwide

Elaborate Communications

Fast-growing Bibby Ship Management has relocated its Far Eastern and Indian operations to new, larger premises in key strategic locations, ensuring the company is ideally placed to service the needs of its customers worldwide.

Bibby Ship Management’s new office in India is situated in Mumbai, the heart of Indian seafaring trade and industry. With over 120 members, the Mumbai team assists customers with sourcing and placing Indian seafarers on their ships, technical management of vessels, marine training and business travel.

“This move recognises the importance of India as a key training centre for seafarers, particularly in the offshore sector,” says Prakash Agarwal, Managing Director, Bibby Ship Management (India) Ltd. “India has earned a reputation as a supplier of high quality seafarers to many of the vessels managed by Bibby Ship Management. Our new Mumbai office, in addition to our locations in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkota and Cochin, will ensure that we are best placed to build upon that reputation.”

Bibby Ship Management (Singapore) Pvt Limited has a staff of 11 and is headed by Managing Director Martin Kent and Arvind Mohan, Commercial Director for Asia.

“Singapore is one of the largest shipping hubs in the world,” says Martin Kent. “With over 5,000 maritime related companies registered here and connections to more than 600 ports in over 120 countries; including Indonesia, Malaysia and China, it offers an ideal location for Bibby Ship Management to base its future expansion ambitions.”

Bibby Line Group recently brought its heritage and expertise to the ship management sector with the launch into the wider market of Bibby Ship Management.

The company, sitting within the vast Bibby Group, is able to draw on its long history within the shipping sector as well as other industries, to provide effective business solutions to meet the needs of modern ship owners.

Grant Smith Appointed Managing Director of Braemar Adjusting

Elaborate Communications

The Board of Braemar Adjusting is delighted to announce the appointment of Grant Smith as Group Managing Director of the company with immediate effect.

His appointment is an important stage in the streamlining of the business and will enable senior management within Braemar Adjusting to focus entirely on the needs of its client base around the world.

Grant will work closely with his team of Regional Managing Directors – Geoff Thomas (Europe and West Africa); Chris Dye (Americas); John Harris (Asia Pacific) and Directors George Mowatt (Group Technical Director and Head of Litigation Support), Chris Eades (Director Middle Eastern Operations), Paul Cameron (Director Canadian Operations) and Jamie Talbot (Director Brazilian Operations) – to execute the company growth and development strategy throughout its core markets.

A commercial law graduate and member of the Canadian Insurance Institute, Grant has over 18 years’ experience adjusting Onshore and Offshore energy insurance claims. He was appointed to the board of Braemar Adjusting in 2001 and returned from London to Calgary in 2010 where, in conjunction with running the Canadian Oil Sands, Power Generation, Business Interruption and Well Control teams, he assumed group responsibility for business development throughout North America.

Grant has broad international experience having worked in the Braemar offices of both London and Calgary with secondments to Singapore and Houston. He has adjusted claims worldwide, involving onshore and offshore mega-construction projects, refining, upgrading, chemical and power generation facilities; multiple asset hurricane losses; complex control of well, business & contingent business interruption losses.

He will continue to operate from Calgary but will travel regularly to the key London, Houston, Singapore and Middle Eastern markets in his new role.

Quentin Soanes, Chairman of the Braemar Technical Services Group, within which Braemar Adjusting sits, welcomed Grant’s appointment. He said: “Braemar Adjusting is a major player in the offshore and onshore loss adjusting and risk assessment market. Having senior management of Grant’s calibre is good news for a business and a Group that is focused on meeting the exact needs of its marketplace. I look forward to working closely with Grant and his excellent team over the coming months.”

Grant Smith, Managing Director of Braemar Adjusting

Grant Smith, Managing Director of Braemar Adjusting

Videotel Assists Shipowners to Meet New MARPOL Standards

Debra Massey

Ship operators concerned about complying with the newly enforced garbage management rules can now turn to Videotel for support.

Important new updates to MARPOL Annex V entered into force on January 1, 2013 and have revolutionised the way the industry must look at the issue of waste disposal. In response to this, Videotel has extensively updated its Garbage Management training programme to accommodate the radical shift of emphasis the new legislation entails.

“Garbage isn’t high on the agenda for many senior executives in most businesses,” says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel Marine International. ”But for shipowners and shipmanagers the prevention of pollution and the proper management of waste is a key issue. Annex V will have an enormous impact on the ways ships handle their waste and demands an entirely new approach to waste management. The whole onus of responsibility has changed. Effectively, the regulations are now about preventing the discharge of waste at sea. Where in the past most categories of garbage could be discharged in limited circumstances, that rule has been reversed and most waste streams may now not be discharged at sea except under certain strict conditions. In addition, written evidence of compliance must be readily available.”

Shipowners and operators must now plan their whole garbage management strategy in advance, with the emphasis on minimisation and disposal in port reception facilities. Port control officers are empowered to inspect ships for compliance. Where there is clear evidence that the Master and crew are not familiar with procedures relating to the
prevention of pollution by garbage, the vessel can be detained until this is rectified.

The new Garbage Management training package from Videotel seeks to raise awareness of the challenge and offers practical assistance in managing marine generated waste. It demonstrates how to comply with revised regulations on garbage collection, processing, storage, disposal and record-keeping using the Garbage Record Book. It also presents good practice guidance contributed by leading members of the shipping industry to assist Masters, officers, ship operators and owners to reduce and manage self-generated garbage more effectively.

It is available through Videotel on Demand (VOD), DVD, CBT and Workbooks.

InterManager Welcomes New Member From Ukraine

Elaborate Communications

InterManager, the international trade association for the ship and crew management sector, has started the year by welcoming a new member.

Ukrainian crew manager Alpha Navigation has been approved for Full Membership in what InterManager Secretary General Kuba Szymanski says is a significant move. “Ukraine is an important crew-supply area and we are delighted to welcome Alpha Navigation as the first InterManager member from this country and also our first new member of the year,” he said.

Based in Odessa, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean and Black Seas area, and with branches in most Ukrainian sea ports, Alpha Navigation represents more than 2,500 competent and qualified Ukrainian crew. The company is ISO 9002 approved and ensures its crew supply meets full compliance with IMO, STCW and ISO requirements, as well as the manning stipulations of the vessel and her registry.

Captain Szymanski said: “Alpha’s emphasis on quality crew, backed up by a comprehensive training regime and careful adherence to international regulations, is very much in line with InterManager’s drive to ensure high standards are maintained within the shipmanagement industry. We are pleased to have them onboard.”

Braemar Adjusting Opens New Dubai Office

Debra Massey

Braemar Adjusting has underlined its commitment to the Middle Eastern onshore and offshore Energy Insurance Market by opening a dedicated loss adjusting operation, based in Dubai.

With effect from 1 April 2013, Chris Eades, Regional Director for the Middle East, and Senior Adjuster Sam Foster, will start working from the Dubai World Trade Centre Building offices of sister company Braemar Salvage Association, before moving into their own Braemar Adjusting offices later in the year.

Welcoming the development, Grant Smith, Group Managing Director of Braemar Adjusting, said: “Within Braemar we place a huge emphasis on client service and the expertise of our personnel. In our discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) insurance markets we were continually reminded of the importance of providing quality individuals with experience in both the Onshore and Offshore sectors. Committing a team of Chris and Sam’s calibre to the Middle East and supplementing them with the experienced surveying resources we already have in the region, we are clearly responding to the demands of the market. By leveraging of our existing group resources our Adjusters are able to hit the ground running and we are open for business. Both Adjusters will continue to work on their London case files in the interim and have already started receiving new instructions.”

The address of the Braemar Adjusting office is:
Dubai World Trade Centre Building, 13th Level, PO Box 9222, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: +971 (0) 4 331 3100; Fax: +971 (0) 4 331 4121.

For biographies of Adjusting Personnel please refer to the website: www.braemaradjusting.com

Notes to Editors

Braemar Adjusting (formally Steege) is recognised as a leading loss adjuster by energy insurance markets worldwide, including upstream operations, construction, well control, mobile drilling units and other offshore units / vessels.

The company also has the required expertise and experience to handle losses involving refineries, petrochemicals, gas plants, power (including renewables), mining, major infrastructure claims, together with associated business interruption losses.

Braemar Adjusting is part of the Braemar Technical Services division of Braemar Shipping Services plc.

Start the Year Running with Videotel’s webFTA

Debra Massey

As the new continuous professional development (CPD) year begins, the shipping industry must turn to the best available technology to monitor CPD performance and to chart individuals’ progress through the training challenges faced by onboard personnel.

Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel Marine International, believes the way forward is clear.

“The seafarer today is working with more technology and more legislation than ever before,” he explains. ”Yet at the same time the seafarer may face hazards and difficult working conditions on a daily basis. The skill sets that are required call for an intricate training matrix and, when coupled with the added challenge of the seafarer transferring from vessel to vessel, it’s easy to see that a powerful training administration tool is needed to implement and monitor training progress and identify any gaps.”

“We are delighted to say that users of Videotel’s webFTA system have found that very tool, and are currently reaping the benefits of extensively improved monitoring, as well as a considerably reduced office workload offered by the system – in 2012 alone we had over five million training events recorded. Our clients can be sure that they are starting 2013 with their training records well and truly shipshape.”

Videotel’s webFTA (Fleet Training Administrator) is an onshore training and records management programme that synchronises with the Onboard Training Manager (OTMplus) and is built around cloud based technology. This enables the manager to access seafarers’ results and performance from anywhere he has internet access. It allows access to all training records on all ships, including company specific drills and tasks, and also imports training records directly from the Videotel On Demand (VOD) system on board ship, offering a variety of data assessment tools and over 40 reports – including performance assessment, benchmarking and crew record management, as well as allowing easy tracking of crew training records. The level of automation and sophistication is remarkable, making webFTA a tremendously powerful tool for shipowners and shipmanagers.

“A properly managed programme of training is essential for every member of the crew on every vessel,” adds Nigel Cleave. “Working from a central database makes operations run smoother for everyone. WebFTA is a simple to use system with the added benefit that it also helps show adherence to the ISM Code and a clear training structure to Port State Control and vetting inspectors.”

InterManager Plans To Tackle Industry Challenges

Elaborate Communications

Low freight rates and a challenging market are concerns for ship managers as they begin 2013.

A survey of members of InterManager, the international trade association for the ship and crew management industry, has identified the main concerns affecting the industry as it begins the New Year.

In addition to fears about how challenging market conditions impact on operating budgets, ship and crew managers are also concerned at the difficulties of finding and retaining quality staff – both at sea and on shore. Responding to members’ worries InterManager plans to introduce a number of new initiatives this year to address training and recruitment matters, including a Young Executives group to encourage and support the industry’s rising stars.

InterManager President Gerardo Borromeo, who took the InterManager helm last October, said: “Today’s young executives are tomorrow’s leaders and we want to do all we can to support them and help them to develop their leadership qualities.”

Bureaucracy remains a problem for the ship management sector, particularly the burdens it places on time and resources. InterManager is supporting a number of projects to help, such as crew payment by ‘plastic money’, as well as continuing to develop its industry-leading KPI system to streamline and share best practices and improve efficiency – particularly important when budgets are stretched.

InterManager will also focus its efforts this year on crew management matters – with a cadet scheme, a worldwide seafarers’ survey and training and education initiatives in the pipeline.

Mr Borromeo said: “The human element is key to successful ship management and we must ensure we work together as an industry to raise standards and to encourage good staff – the best and the brightest – to enter and stay in shipping.”

The InterManager survey of ship and crew managers (see chart below) also demonstrated that piracy and the smooth and successful introduction of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) are also concerns for ship managers.