Month: March 2015

BRAEMAR SA OPENS NEW OFFICE IN TURKEY

Lisa Jacobs

Braemar (incorporating The Salvage Association), (“Braemar SA”), the international multi-disciplinary marine surveyors and consultants, has created a permanent presence in Turkey through the establishment of a new subsidiary Company and the opening of an office in Istanbul. The office is currently based in the Besiktas district of the city but will be moving to new premises in the Kadikoy district in the near future.

Uluç Mӧrek has joined Braemar SA and will be the resident staff surveyor and manager of the Istanbul office. Uluç is a qualified naval architect and marine engineer and he has significant experience of working within shipyards on major repairs of all types of vessels and of conversion projects. Fluent in both Turkish and English Uluç has previously acted as a repair planning engineer and a superintendent engineer. The Istanbul office will be supported by experienced Braemar SA staff already based in the region and further local staff surveyors will be appointed in due course.

Nigel Clark, Braemar SA Managing Director, said; “We regularly undertake surveys, risk management instructions and consultancy assignments in and around Istanbul and the establishment of an office there with staff surveyors on site will enable us to better serve both our local and our international clients. We are seeing an increased level of activity within the Eastern Mediterranean/Black Sea region in general, and within Turkey in particular, and our new Istanbul office will complement our existing regional offices in Varna (Bulgaria) and Piraeus (Greece). Together these three offices will be able to offer the full range of our marine surveying, casualty investigation, consultancy, marine warranty and risk management services to clients on a local basis. We see Turkey as a key location for our services going forward and we expect to recruit further staff surveyors for the Istanbul office in the near future.”

Braemar SA operates via a global network of offices and is a leading provider of hull & machinery damage surveys, general marine surveys, risk management services and marine consultancy services to the shipping, marine insurance, maritime law and offshore energy industries. The Company is a part of the Braemar shipping Services plc group of companies and a member of the Technical Services Division.

VIDEOTEL LAUNCHES HEAVY LIFTS AND PROJECT CARGOES PROGRAMME

Phil Page

London, U.K. – 25th February 2015 – VideotelTM has produced a new training programme which tackles the often complex handling issues involved in the loading or discharge of project cargoes and heavy lifts. This is particularly relevant if ships’ personnel are involved as serious consequences could result if the correct loading and unloading techniques are not strictly followed.

The programme covers the planning involved in preparing for a lift both ashore and onboard; the design of vessel and cranes; maintaining stability throughout the lift and positioning of the load onboard; and the validity and condition of lifting and securing equipment.

A mixture of live action and computer animation is used featuring a number of lifting environments and cargo types, including quayside lifts and offside floated cargo.

Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel, explains the value of the new programme in protecting a company’s reputation: “If a lifting operation were to fail due to inadequately trained staff, apart from putting lives at risk and consequential costs involved where projects are delayed as a result, there is also the possibility of severe damage to the cargo, cranes, and even the vessel itself, resulting in large insurance claims.”

Aimed primarily at crew and junior officers new to geared multipurpose or heavy lift vessels as well as shore-based personnel new to heavy lift operations, the main topics covered in the programme are:

  • Planning

  • The vessel and its design

  • Lifting and securing equipment

  • Lifting operations from a quayside

  • Barges and floated cargo

  • Cargo care

Heavy Lifts and Project Cargoes is available in various formats – Videotel On Demand (VOD), VOD Online, DVD and e-Learning CBT (Computer Based Training) – with accompanying workbook.

VIDEOTEL PROGRAMME HELPS SHIPOWNERS WITH LOW SULPHUR FUEL SWITCHOVER PROCEDURES

Phil Page

London, U.K. – 26th March 2015 – VideotelTM has responded to concerns from the U.S. Coast Guard about an increasing number of machinery space fuel leakages when vessels are switching to low sulphur fuel as they comply with MARPOL Annex VI, by producing a programme that will help guide shipowners through the process.

The recent lowering of acceptable sulphur limits for ships operating in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) has also led to calls from the shipowners’ organisation, BIMCO, for governments to exercise robust enforcement of these tighter controls to ensure a continued level playing field.

The Videotel programme: “The Practical Management and Switching of Marine Fuels”, details how to effectively implement fuel oil changeover procedures. It takes into consideration issues such as whether the vessel will require fuel oil service or day tank modifications; whether a crew needs to establish a fuel oil system inspection and maintenance schedule; how to check that all sensors, controls and alarms are operational; and how to ensure that fuel oil switching is done outside busy traffic lanes and designated ECAs.

Nigel Cleave, CEO of VideotelTM, said: “It is critical that crews are aware of best practice when switching heavy marine fuel oil to low sulphur fuel because without proper training, serious operational problems can occur impairing a ship’s performance or even, in a worst case scenario, damaging a ship’s main or auxiliary engines.”

The programme is available in DVD, Videotel on Demand (VOD), VOD online, and e-Learning Computer Based Training (CBT). All are accompanied by a PDF workbook which highlights key learning points.

GMS Announces New Source for Market Intelligence in the Ship Recycling Industry

Debra Massey

In a first for the industry, Global Marketing Systems (GMS), the world’s largest cash buyer of ships, has launched a unique source for market intelligence in the vessel recycling industry, in the form of a new, easy to use, mobile application.

This new application delivers instant information on vessel prices at key recycling destinations; gives shipowners access to an unrivalled and confidential service that will value a vessel; and delivers GMS Weekly – the subscription-only inside track on recycling industry news. It also highlights delivery tides, and provides useful information for when trading across continents.

“We are delighted to launch this brand new concept into the marketplace,” says Dr Anil Sharma, Founder and CEO of GMS. “Since establishing GMS, we have worked to modernize and promote the ship recycling industry, challenging old customs and looking for new ways to do business. With exclusive local representation in all five of the major recycling markets of the world we have remained close to shipowners, to brokers and to ship recyclers; ensuring a continuing and unique insight into both the needs of our customers and into developments within their markets.

“This new resource has been developed as a result of that insight, providing industry information and confidential access to our expertise – all at the touch of a button,” adds Dr Sharma.

Targeted at shipowners, brokers and the ship recycling industry as a whole, the application is available to both Apple and Android users, and can be obtained from the respective app stores, or downloaded via:

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/search?q=gms&hl=en
Apple App Store – https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gms-jlt/id953939405

Please note: the application is available on a registration only basis, and journalists are invited to contact Debra Massey (dmassey@elabor8.co.uk) on 01296 682356, to obtain press access.

Ends

MERSEY MARITIME ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF INDUSTRY AWARDS

Lisa Jacobs

Mersey Maritime, a maritime cluster representing more than 1,700 businesses in the North West, is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural Industry Awards which were held at a black tie event at Wallasey Town Hall on the Wirral.

There were 9 winners on the night in categories ranging from Best Newcomer to BUsiness of the Year Award. The winners were:

– Ambassador of the Year (Sponsored by Cammell Laird) – Jim Teasdale, CEO – Mersey Maritime Group
– Best Newcomer (Sponsored by Bibby Ship Management) – McKennas Marine
– SME Business of the Year (Mersey Maritime Award) – Flynn Refrigeration
– Vocational Skills Award (Sponsored by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)) – Kirsten Blood of Cammell Laird
– Engineering Company of the Year (Sponsored by the Maritime and Engineering College North West (MECNW)) – Sovex Systems
– Environment Award (Sponsored by The Environmental Network (TEN)) – RS Clare
– Supply Chain Partner (Sponsored by Brabners LLP) – Hughes Sub Surface Engineering
– Global Reach Award (Sponsored by NatWest) – Brookes Bell Group
– Business of the Year (Sponsored by Grant Thornton) – Peel Ports

One of the key awards was Mersey Maritime’s own award highlighting its role in supporting small to medium-sized businesses through its Maritime Sector Development Programme. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The SME (Small to Medium-Sized Enterprise) of Year Award was presented by Ramon van Barneveld of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) based in Brussels.

The award for Ambassador of the Year was decided by an independent judgling panel who were unanimous in choosing Jim Teasdale, Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime Group, as their first recipient of the award. The award came as a complete surprise to Mr Teasdale who has successfully overcome serious illness in recent months and was at the dinner to mark his return to good health.

Describing the inaugural Industry Awards as an opportunity to showcase the breadth and diversity of the maritime industry, Chris Shirling-Rooke, Acting CEO of Mersey Maritime, said: “The Mersey Maritime Industry Awards were every bit as successful as we had hoped. We were overwhelmed with the support but also at the number of award submissions which clearly indicates the importance of these awards. The maritime industry, including MP John Hayes, the UK Shipping Minister, has wholeheartedly supported the Awards which has been fantastic.”

Key guests within the maritime sector included Esther McVey MP, Minister of State for Employment; Sir Michael Bibby, MD of Bibby Line Group; John Syvret CBE, CEO of Cammell Laird Group; Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Group and the Mayor of Wirral Steve Foulkes.

Mersey Maritime’s Industry Awards, aside form supporting the North West maritime industry, helped raise over £1,300 for the Fairbridge charity programme. Fairbridge is an individually tailored personal development programme for young people aged between 13 and 25. It combines one-to-one support and group activities, delivered by a dedicated team in Prince’s Trust Centres around the UK.

World-Link Acquires BSM’s Telecommunications Business, Telaccount Overseas

Debra Massey

Limassol, Cyprus; Framingham, MA: Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (‘BSM’) and World-Link Communications, Inc (‘World-Link’) jointly announce that they have reached a definitive agreement under which World-Link will acquire BSM’s telecommunication services business, Telaccount Overseas, with immediate effect.

“This agreement will benefit our customers and crew by unifying communication systems’ capabilities across our fleet and we are pleased to be selling Telaccount Overseas to our longtime partner and service provider, World-Link” said Norbert Aschmann, BSM Chief Executive Officer.

“We are fully confident that our continuing partnership with World-Link will maintain first class communication onboard and across our fleet” added Felix Leggewie, Chief Operating Officer of the Bernhard Schulte Group.

Asad Salameh, World-Link Communications President said ”We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Telaccount Overseas which is the culmination of a 20 year old relationship with the Bernhard Schulte Group, and will further strengthen our partnership with one of the most prestigious shipping companies in the world.

“Telaccount Overseas is an established and highly reputable telecommunication services provider to more than 1,000 vessels worldwide. We will ensure that these vessels continue to be served with the highest level of customer support, in addition to current and future customers of BSM benefiting further from World-Link’s advanced technology, systems and service capabilities.”

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is a leading maritime solutions provider with an unparalleled concentration of ship and shore-based knowledge and expertise, built on over 100 years of shipping experience, and an unerring focus on safety, reliability and efficiency.

World-Link Communications is a vibrant, fast growing maritime satellite communications company, ISO 9001:2008 / Inmarsat Gold service provider certified, with a reputation for excellence. Since 1989, World-Link has been helping customers across the world merchant fleet to achieve their business objectives through the provision of tailored satellite communications solutions, including integrated hardware, software, satellite airtime, customized billing and technical support services.