Month: April 2015

Videotel Training Film Created for ExxonMobil Marine Wins Media Award

Phil Page

Videotel Training Film Created for ExxonMobil Marine Wins Media Award

The Media Communications Association-International recognized the training video with its highest award

MIDDLETOWN, RI, and LONDON, UK – April 29, 2015 – VideotelTM, the leading international provider of e-Learning maritime training solutions and a company of KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), has received a highly acclaimed Golden Reel Award from the Media Communications Association-International (MCA-I) in recognition of a training video that Videotel created for ExxonMobil Marine.

The recognition supports Videotel’s role as a major provider of high-quality training films to some of the world’s largest blue chip companies, with an ability to present highly technical material in a compelling manner. Called “Cold Corrosion Insights,” the video was produced for ExxonMobil Marine and explores the harmful effects of acid corrosion in ships’ engines, which can reduce the lifespan of an engine by up to 90% in some cases.

The MCA-I Media Festival, held annually, celebrates excellence in media communications; each film is judged by a panel of media communications professionals.

Iain White, marketing manager at ExxonMobil Marine, welcomed the award as recognition of the quality of the training video. “As technology develops and market demands change, ship owners, managers and charterers need to drive home the need for quality ships. A quality ship is as much about how it is managed as well as how its shipboard staff is trained. Prevention is always better than cure and training your crew to spot and rectify such important technical issues is crucial if ships are to avoid unnecessary and costly downtime.”

Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel, said it was essential that training solutions produced on a bespoke basis for its clients reflect not only the training demands being placed on the industry by international and regional regulators but also an understanding of the specific needs of the individual clients. “Working alongside a market leader such as ExxonMobil Marine demonstrated the extent to which they are determined to operate to a high level. They are not only interested in producing a market-leading product, but they are also vigilant in making sure that their customers understand how to use it and how to get the most out of it.”

Mr. Cleave added: “Videotel is delighted to have won this very prestigious award. Producing bespoke materials for our clients is a growing area for Videotel and winning this award is a tremendous endorsement for both the Videotel and ExxonMobil Marine teams that helped produce this very informative video.”

Videotel has issued more than 20,000 formal certificates for its range of courses and has a combination of more than 250 approvals, recognitions, and accreditations for its courses/CBTs issued by various flag state administrations, classification societies, and maritime professional bodies.

View the award-winning video, “Cold Corrosion Insights.”

EU Mediterranean Crisis Summit ‘Appears To Fall Short’ Says Merchant Shipping Industry

Elaborate Communications

The merchant shipping industry – which in the past 16 months participated in almost 1,000 migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean – welcomes the decision by EU leaders to triple resources of the Triton operation. The shipping sector similarly supports the commitment of EU Member States to deploy additional operational means, including vessels and planes, to achieve this objective at relatively short notice. But the fact that operation Triton remains within the mandate of FRONTEX, the EU border agency, raises serious questions about the extent to which these efforts will fully ensure the immediate prevention of further loss of life, which should be the absolute priority.

In Brussels, Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) commented: “EU leaders have agreed to increase resources and assets available for search and rescue operations, within the mandate of Frontex. Laudable as these efforts are, they still fall short of the scale and mandate of last year’s Italian operation Mare Nostrum, which saved hundreds of thousands of people in 2014.  What is needed immediately is a similar, EU-led, large-scale search and rescue mission, able to operate far from the EU territorial waters, which is where most of the accidents involving migrants take place.”

Commenting on the operational capabilities of Triton, Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of the London-based International Chamber of Shipping said: “We understand that the resources  of Triton can be deployed in international waters when called upon by national Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, but it remains highly doubtful whether they can rapidly reach areas near the Libyan coast, where most incidents tend to occur.  It seems that merchant ships, which are not best equipped to rescue hundreds of people at a time, will continue to be called upon frequently to respond to requests for assistance.  A clear mandate for humanitarian rescue operations by EU States still appears to be outstanding.”

Notes To Editors:

The membership of ECSA and ICS comprises the world’s national shipowners’ associations in Europe and globally, representing more than 80% of the world merchant fleet.

At the beginning of April, ECSA and ICS, supported by seafarers’ unions, wrote to EU leaders calling for action – see link to previous press release.

Bibby Ship Management Philippines Receives FAME Award

Lisa Jacobs

Bibby Ship Management Philippines, Inc, has been recognised by the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment Inc (FAME) for its vital role in the development of the Philippine maritime industry.

The company, part of the Bibby Ship Management Group Ltd, received a plaque in recognition of its “active support and loyal affiliation” to the Association for the last 15 years. FAME is celebrating its fourth decade in the maritime manning business.

Jonathan Palma, President/CEO of Bibby Ship Management Philippines, received the award during FAME’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, which culminated in an Appreciation and Recognition Night on Thursday March 19th in the Pandango-Polkabal Ballroom of the Manila Hotel. Business leaders and Government representatives joined together in celebrating the important role FAME has played over the past 40 years and the Philippine industry’s manning success.

Mr Palma said: “Bibby Ship Management takes an active role within the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment and we are delighted to be recognised in this way during this time of celebration for the Association. We congratulate FAME on a successful forty years and wish them every success for the coming decade.”

Founded in 1971, the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment Inc is the first and largest organization of manning and shipping companies in the Philippines, with 120 regular members and seven associate members. FAME is a successful example of public/private partnership, linking manning companies and government agencies in jointly developing the Philippine maritime sector which contributes almost 30% of the world’s seafarers.

The Association is committed to ensuring high management standards and business ethics. Its membership provides competent, qualified and competitive seafarers to the world’s shipping industry, meeting international maritime standards, and ensuring safe, efficient and environmentally sound vessel operations.

Merchant shipping industry repeats call for urgent and immediate collective action by EU member states

Elaborate Communications

MEDITERRANEAN CRISIS – SHIPPING INDUSTRY COMMENTS ON EU 10 POINT PLAN

Following the meeting of EU Foreign and Interior Ministers in Luxembourg yesterday (20 April) the European and global shipping industries have welcomed the increased attention that all EU Member States are giving to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. This includes the ‘10 point plan’ adopted as a result of the impetus provided by the terrible tragedy involving the loss of hundreds of lives at the weekend.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) particularly welcome the decision to call an extraordinary session of EU leaders on Thursday to address this crisis, which is spiralling out of control.

Speaking from Brussels, ECSA Secretary General, Patrick Verhoeven, commented: “The scale of the tragedy at the weekend is unprecedented and European leaders can no longer ignore the catastrophe occurring on the EU’s maritime border.”

The shipping industry agrees there is a vital need to find a means to clamp down on criminal people smugglers, as well as the complex root causes of this mass migration by sea of tens of thousands of desperate people. “But the urgent and immediate priority is for EU Member States to increase resources for Search and Rescue operations before thousands more people die,” said Mr Verhoeven.

“The provision of additional funding and resources to SAR is a positive step but more clarity is required to understand the implications of operating within the FRONTEX mandate.”

Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of the London-based International Chamber of Shipping said: “We really need an EU Mare Nostrum,” referring to the humanitarian Italian Search and Rescue operation which, before being suspended last year, co-ordinated the rescue of around 200,000 people in 2014, about 40,000 of them rescued by merchant ships.

“Italy, Malta and other Mediterranean nations, and the merchant ships on which they have relied to assist with hundreds of large scale rescue operations, many involving hundreds of people at a time, simply cannot continue to manage the situation without the collective support of all EU Member States, which need to act now without further delay,” he said.

—ends—

Notes To Editors:

The membership of ECSA and ICS comprises the world’s national shipowners’ associations in Europe and globally, representing more than 80% of the world merchant fleet.

At the beginning of April, ECSA and ICS, supported by seafarers’ unions, wrote to EU leaders calling for action – see link to previous press release.

For Further Information, please contact:

ICS:  Debra Munford Elaborate Communications                           Tel +44 (0) 1296 682356

BRAEMAR SA APPOINTS TIM LEWIS AS “DIRECTOR, PORTS & HARBOURS”

Lisa Jacobs

Braemar (Incorporating The Salvage Association), (“Braemar SA”), the international multi-disciplinary marine surveyors and consultants, has announced that Mr Tim Lewis has today been appointed to the newly created position of “Director, Ports & Harbours”. Mr Lewis holds a masters degree in Civil and Maritime Engineering, and a masters degree in Business Administration, and joins Braemar SA from another leading marine consultancy where he held a similar position for many years.

Mr Lewis has been a marine consultant for over 25 years and is a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and The Royal Institution of Naval Architects. His early career focussed on the design, analysis and warranty of structures for ports, inshore and offshore projects, whilst over the last 15 years he has focussed on providing expert opinion to marine solicitors, P&I Clubs, terminal owners and insurers. He advises on issues such as the extent of damage, repair methods, repair costs and methods of mitigation. He also provides expert opinion on unsafe berth cases considering aspects such as jetty layout, fendering, moorings and structural adequacy. He has acted on nearly 100 dock damage and marine incidents around the world and has on many occasions given expert evidence in court and arbitration hearings. He has also undertaken numerous shipping studies, operational simulations and delay analyses for several ports and projects. Aspects considered include risk analysis of the proposed developments, vessel throughput, berth occupancy and downtime, optimal dredged depth and optimisation of tug and pilot numbers.

Ports & Harbours is a new business line within Braemar SA’s marine consultancy practice and is further evidence of the Company’s commitment to growing its marine consultancy capability. Based in the Company’s London office Mr Lewis will be responsible for expanding the Ports & Harbours business globally and additional recruitment to the team will follow.

Nigel Clark, Braemar SA Managing Director, said; “I am delighted we have been able to attract a marine professional of Tim’s calibre to Braemar SA to head up our new Ports & Harbours technical consultancy. Tim is extremely well regarded within the industry and under his direction we anticipate being able to offer clients a very creditable and professional alternative to their current providers of the full range of these services going forward. Tim will continue to use his technical engineering and expert witness skills and experience to personally handle disputes and cases on behalf of clients whilst also managing what we expect will be a rapid growth of the newly formed Ports & Harbours department within Braemar SA.”

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.

PORT & SHIPYARD FAMILIARISATION COURSES HELP DEVELOP EXPERT KNOWLEDGE FOR MARINE PROFESSIONALS

Lisa Jacobs

Marine insurance professionals have a number of opportunities this year to go behind the scenes at ports in Piraeus, Greece, Falmouth, UK and Singapore, to understand at first-hand the technical aspects of damage encountered in marine losses, as well as their surveying, investigating and reporting techniques.

Hosted free of charge by Braemar (Incorporating The Salvage Association), (“Braemar SA”) each course will enable invited participants from the marine insurance market the opportunity to gain basic practical knowledge and background which will help them to interpret surveyor’s reports when dealing with marine claims and insurance.

Braemar SA has been running this popular initiative for many years, reinforcing its commitment to the industry by providing background knowledge and understanding to marine insurance professionals on important aspects of ship construction, shipyard operations, and their repair procedures.

The courses offered for 2015 include:
Port & Shipyard Familiarisation 3 Day Course, Piraeus, May
• Tour of local dry and floating docks
• Tour of Perama repair zone to see underwater hull sections and slipway where vessel is under construction
• Visit to Elefsis Shipyards
• Guided tour of a Hellenic Navy Fast Attack Craft
• Potential guided tour of a Mega Yacht
• Visit to Drapetsona repair zone and guided tour of inter-island ferry, seeing a full active engine room
• Trip to local machinery workshop to see engine components under repair
• Opportunity to board local salvage tug to see towing and salvage equipment

Port & Shipyard Familiarisation 2 Day Course, Falmouth, May
• Tour of A&P Falmouth shipyard operations, including dry dock and repair workshops
• Guided tour of local superyacht building yard
• Boat trip around anchorage to see ships being bunkered and in lay-up
• A visit to the MCA Marine Coastguards and tour of their local facilities and operations

Port & Shipyard Familiarisation Course, Singapore, November
• One-day intensive course
• Visit to ship under repair
• Course partners include Smit International and Sembawang Shipyard

All the above itineraries are subject to availability and weather conditions nearer the time.

All of the courses include a range of technical presentations given by industry specialists and Braemar SA’s technical personnel. Feedback from previous participants has been extremely positive with attendees praising the level of detailed information delivered and the superb opportunities for vessel and port visits provided.

Nigel Clark, Managing Director of Braemar SA, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer these courses. We believe the detailed industry knowledge provided by our free courses benefits all participants who gain a deeper understanding of all aspects of marine claims and we are pleased to be able to provide this service for the benefit of the shipping community.”

SSA’S INVOLVEMENT IN MARITIME WEEK SET TO BENEFIT SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY IN SINGAPORE

Lisa Jacobs

The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) is fully committed to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) which will run from 19 – 24 April 2015. The Association will be hosting and participating in a multitude of maritime related events, ranging from high-profile meetings discussing key issues affecting the maritime industry, to business networking and corporate social responsibility.

The SSA’s Young Executives Group (YEG) will kick start the week by volunteering at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen on Saturday 18 April, prior to the launch of SMW. Some 60 shipping industry volunteers will assist in the preparation, cooking and packing of food to be distributed to the less fortunate beneficiaries across the island that day.

On Monday 20 April, SSA will co-host an industry forum with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to discuss the issue of ‘Maritime Regulatory Landscape – 2015 and beyond’.
ICS Chairman Mr Masamichi Morooka will be delivering a keynote speech, whereby he will address key concerns of maritime transportation, with a focus on compliance from the shipowners’ perspective. He will also discuss the impact of environmental legislation on shipping and review some of the recent environmental regulations adopted, agreed or under development at the IMO.

Working through the ICS and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SSA has been actively contributing to discussions at the IMO, including the Ballast Water Convention.

A discussion panel will ensue, chaired by SSA Honorary Secretary and ICS Vice Chairman Mr Esben Poulsson. Other panelists include ICS Secretary General Mr Peter Hinchliffe, Chairman of the SSA Maritime Security Sub-committee Capt. George Solomon and Mr Morooka himself.

Immediately following the forum discussion will be a presentation ceremony of the United States Coast Guard’s AMVER Awards. The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) is a computer-based voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. The AMVER Awards Program recognises those vessels which regularly participate in the AMVER system and awards them coloured pennants in recognition of that ship and company’s commitment to safety at sea. At this ceremony, some 90 Singapore based companies will receive AMVER awards for the 1,250 ships under their care.

On Wednesday 22 April, 80 representatives of SSA member companies will embark on an exclusive “Maritime Learning Journey” to gain further insights into Maritime Singapore. Starting off with a tour of the Singapore Maritime Gallery, participants will go on to visit restricted access areas – such as, Keppel Shipyard’s extensive ship and rig building facilities, as well as a ferry ride to Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu, Singapore’s southernmost island, for a once-in-lifetime climb up its 160-year old lighthouse tower.

SSA President, Mr Patrick Phoon, said: “Singapore Maritime Week is a high profile and influential occasion and the Singapore Shipping Association is pleased to be playing a significant role in ensuring that this wide range of events benefits both the maritime industry and the Singapore community as a whole.”

SSA APPOINTS NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE ITS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TECHNICAL OBLIGATIONS

Lisa Jacobs

The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) has appointed a full time Technical Director who will be responsible for ensuring the Association maintains its pledge of delivering a high level of technical advice and service to its members against a rapidly changing international regulatory landscape.

Capt Ang Chin Eng, who joins the SSA today (April 15th), has over 40 years of experience in the maritime sector initially as a Seafarer, Port Captain and, later, as an Academic. He is a qualified Master Mariner (NZ) and an Accountant – FCA (Singapore) and FCPA (Australia). He holds an MBA from the University of Queensland, the MCILT (UK), and the OND in Nautical Science (UK).

In his capacity as Technical Director, Capt Ang is tasked to:
• Monitor and raise visibility on technical, legal/policy matters that affect the maritime industry
• Manage and articulate on technical, legal/policy with SSA members
• Liaise with relevant industry bodies and government organizations to facilitate co-operation between different sectors of the maritime industry
• Be responsible for managing the SSA Secretariat’s obligations of Maritime/Shipping compliance matters
• Identify technical trends, develop programs / initiatives / activities to enhance SSA members’ knowledge
• Act as Secretary to various SSA technical committees
• Develop training course materials / contents and conduct training deemed relevant to maritime needs
• Build an in-house library of technical advisory / papers / reference materials for SSA members
• Act as an advisor on all technical content in secretariat corporate communications and publicity matters
• As and when required, serve as a technical advisor to the SSA Executive Director in his capacity as FASA (Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Associations) Secretary General and ASF (Asian Shipowners Forum) Safe Navigation and Environment Committee Secretary

Capt Ang has been in academia over the last 20 years and was, until recently, the course manager of the Diploma in Maritime Business and, earlier, the Diploma in Nautical Studies. His other poly-wide contributions earned him the Singapore Polytechnic (SP) Excellence in Teaching Award. He was the Lecturer-in-Charge of SP Yachting Centre and oversaw all sailing activities. He is a qualified NCAP Level 3 Coach (Theory).

He has always maintained close links with the industry. He served extensively on the Council of the Singapore Nautical Institute (SNI) holding a number of key appointments including Honorary Secretary, President and finally as Honorary Advisor. During this time, he authored/presented a number of technical reports. At the national level and on a voluntary basis, he served as Member, Technical Committee for Bunkering, SPRING Singapore & Working Group on Code of Practice for Bunker Surveyors. At the international level, he served as a Competent Person to the IMO STCW Panel of Expert. On a voluntary basis, he commandeered the civil resource units deployed to clean-up two of Singapore’s worst oil spills caused by Evoikos/Orapin Global and the Natuna Sea.

SSA APPOINTS NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE ITS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TECHNICAL OBLIGATIONS

Lisa Jacobs

The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) has appointed a full time Technical Director who will be responsible for ensuring the Association maintains its pledge of delivering a high level of technical advice and service to its members against a rapidly changing international regulatory landscape.

Capt Ang Chin Eng, who joins the SSA today (April 15th), has over 40 years of experience in the maritime sector initially as a Seafarer, Port Captain and, later, as an Academic. He is a qualified Master Mariner (NZ) and an Accountant – FCA (Singapore) and FCPA (Australia). He holds an MBA from the University of Queensland, the MCILT (UK), and the OND in Nautical Science (UK).

In his capacity as Technical Director, Capt Ang is tasked to:
• Monitor and raise visibility on technical, legal/policy matters that affect the maritime industry
• Manage and articulate on technical, legal/policy with SSA members
• Liaise with relevant industry bodies and government organizations to facilitate co-operation between different sectors of the maritime industry
• Be responsible for managing the SSA Secretariat’s obligations of Maritime/Shipping compliance matters
• Identify technical trends, develop programs / initiatives / activities to enhance SSA members’ knowledge
• Act as Secretary to various SSA technical committees
• Develop training course materials / contents and conduct training deemed relevant to maritime needs
• Build an in-house library of technical advisory / papers / reference materials for SSA members
• Act as an advisor on all technical content in secretariat corporate communications and publicity matters
• As and when required, serve as a technical advisor to the SSA Executive Director in his capacity as FASA (Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Associations) Secretary General and ASF (Asian Shipowners Forum) Safe Navigation and Environment Committee Secretary

Capt Ang has been in academia over the last 20 years and was, until recently, the course manager of the Diploma in Maritime Business and, earlier, the Diploma in Nautical Studies. His other poly-wide contributions earned him the Singapore Polytechnic (SP) Excellence in Teaching Award. He was the Lecturer-in-Charge of SP Yachting Centre and oversaw all sailing activities. He is a qualified NCAP Level 3 Coach (Theory).

He has always maintained close links with the industry. He served extensively on the Council of the Singapore Nautical Institute (SNI) holding a number of key appointments including Honorary Secretary, President and finally as Honorary Advisor. During this time, he authored/presented a number of technical reports. At the national level and on a voluntary basis, he served as Member, Technical Committee for Bunkering, SPRING Singapore & Working Group on Code of Practice for Bunker Surveyors. At the international level, he served as a Competent Person to the IMO STCW Panel of Expert. On a voluntary basis, he commandeered the civil resource units deployed to clean-up two of Singapore’s worst oil spills caused by Evoikos/Orapin Global and the Natuna Sea.

SSA’S INVOLVEMENT IN MARITIME WEEK SET TO BENEFIT SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY IN SINGAPORE

Lisa Jacobs

The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) is fully committed to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) which will run from 19 – 24 April 2015. The Association will be hosting and participating in a multitude of maritime related events, ranging from high-profile meetings discussing key issues affecting the maritime industry, to business networking and corporate social responsibility.

The SSA’s Young Executives Group (YEG) will kick start the week by volunteering at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen on Saturday 18 April, prior to the launch of SMW. Some 60 shipping industry volunteers will assist in the preparation, cooking and packing of food to be distributed to the less fortunate beneficiaries across the island that day.

On Monday 20 April, SSA will co-host an industry forum with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to discuss the issue of ‘Maritime Regulatory Landscape – 2015 and beyond’.
ICS Chairman Mr Masamichi Morooka will be delivering a keynote speech, whereby he will address key concerns of maritime transportation, with a focus on compliance from the shipowners’ perspective. He will also discuss the impact of environmental legislation on shipping and review some of the recent environmental regulations adopted, agreed or under development at the IMO.

Working through the ICS and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SSA has been actively contributing to discussions at the IMO, including the Ballast Water Convention.

A discussion panel will ensue, chaired by SSA Honorary Secretary and ICS Vice Chairman Mr Esben Poulsson. Other panelists include ICS Secretary General Mr Peter Hinchliffe, Chairman of the SSA Maritime Security Sub-committee Capt. George Solomon and Mr Morooka himself.

Immediately following the forum discussion will be a presentation ceremony of the United States Coast Guard’s AMVER Awards. The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) is a computer-based voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. The AMVER Awards Program recognises those vessels which regularly participate in the AMVER system and awards them coloured pennants in recognition of that ship and company’s commitment to safety at sea. At this ceremony, some 90 Singapore based companies will receive AMVER awards for the 1,250 ships under their care.

On Wednesday 22 April, 80 representatives of SSA member companies will embark on an exclusive “Maritime Learning Journey” to gain further insights into Maritime Singapore. Starting off with a tour of the Singapore Maritime Gallery, participants will go on to visit restricted access areas – such as, Keppel Shipyard’s extensive ship and rig building facilities, as well as a ferry ride to Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu, Singapore’s southernmost island, for a once-in-lifetime climb up its 160-year old lighthouse tower.

SSA President, Mr Patrick Phoon, said: “Singapore Maritime Week is a high profile and influential occasion and the Singapore Shipping Association is pleased to be playing a significant role in ensuring that this wide range of events benefits both the maritime industry and the Singapore community as a whole.”

SHIP OWNERS SHOULD STOP THEIR SEAFARERS EATING FISH CAUGHT WHILE THEIR VESSEL IS AT ANCHOR OR DRIFTING

Lisa Jacobs

Allowing seafarers to eat fish they have caught off the side of their ship is a sure way for the crew to contract food poisoning and it can take a whole ship out, according to one of the shipping industry’s leading voices on food quality and catering standards onboard ship.

This comment by Henry Anderson, Consultant Chef and Founder of Marine Catering Services, followed media reports that 14 crew from a Japanese bulker in Canada were hospitalised after they contracted ciguatera fish poisoning which is caused by eating tropical fish that consumed toxin-producing algae.

“When I am onboard vessels training the crew on menu preparation and food hygiene, I give clear instructions to all crew members not to go fishing for fresh fish when ships are at anchor as you don’t know if the fish has been caught in red tides. Nor are you able to detect whether any caught fish has toxins within their system, as that can only be obtained by laboratory examination of the product.

“Ship owners and managers should buy their fish products from reputable suppliers as this proves traceability of the product purchased and complies with due diligence procedures should anyone should become sick. This is also backed up by written food temperature controls in which any meal can be traced back to the menu,” he said.

Ship owners can find themselves privately sued for damages if a claimant can prove that the 1990 Food Act has been breached and due diligence has not been carried out, Mr Anderson warned.

Women’s Conference Aims To Establish Caribbean Association

Elaborate Communications

Jamaica is to host the Caribbean’s first ever Women in Maritime Association Conference as a first step towards establishing an IMO Women in Maritime Association for the region.

Taking place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from April 13-17, the Conference aims to support regional efforts to deepen the integration of women in the maritime sector through the establishment of a Women in Maritime Association (WiMA) for the Caribbean.

WiMA is the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) gender programme which this year marks its 27th year. One of the drivers of the programme has been the establishment of formal regional linkages between women managers in the maritime and port sectors, to provide a permanent channel for the exchange of information. To date six associations have been established in various regions globally under the auspices of IMO.

24 Caribbean States have been invited to take part in the Women in Maritime Affairs Conference which aims to:

· Establish a regional cooperation network that promotes information exchange, training and institutional strengthening

· Stimulate the integration and participation of women in the ports and maritime community of the Caribbean

· Enhance national and regional recognition of the role of women in the port and maritime sector of the Caribbean with a view to contributing to the implementation of IMO instruments through regional maritime strategies

· Strengthen the cooperation network among women in the port and maritime sector in the region, and

· Increase employment opportunities for women in national maritime administrations, port authorities and maritime training institutions.

The IMO’s decision to establish a WiMA in the Caribbean follows Jamaica’s participation in the 2nd International Conference on Maritime Women Global Leadership which was hosted by the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden in spring 2014. During that conference the benefits to be derived from such an association were highlighted.

Jamaica, represented by MAJ Deputy Director General Claudia Grant and Vivette Grant, Deputy Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute, presented a paper entitled “Women in the Maritime Sector: Surviving and Thriving in a Man’s World – a Caribbean Perspective”. The findings and recommendations of this paper were informed by a survey conducted over eight of the Caribbean States and involving some 40 female maritime professionals from various sectors of the industry.

One of the recommendations emanating from the survey was the need for the establishment of a national/regional association. A very significant 80% of the participants surveyed expressed the need for such an association, which would:

· establish an effective communication network to facilitate ongoing dialogue and the sharing of ideas and best practices among women in the sector

· be a primary forum for networking through the hosting of conferences and seminars on gender issues and industry development

· monitor standards and initiatives to encourage gender equity in employment, performance and qualifications opportunities at all levels

· promote the maritime sector as a viable career option for women in the Caribbean, and identify and promote the job opportunities in the industry to facilitate the career advancement of women

· foster the establishment of organizational mechanisms that orient and support women in the maritime sector

Following the Conference and a subsequent approach from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica to the IMO Secretary General, the IMO has committed its support to the Caribbean to enable the establishment of a regional association for female maritime professionals and this week’s Conference is the first step towards this goal.

MAJ Deputy Director General Claudia Grant said: “We are very excited to be hosting this important event on behalf of the wider Caribbean region. Women play an increasingly important role within the maritime sector, which is a significant economic driver for our region. We believe it is important to do everything we can to enable women to survive and thrive in the maritime industry and by working together in this way the whole Caribbean region is demonstrating the importance it places on women’s roles in this important and specialised sector.”

—ends—

Notes To Editors:

The inaugural IMO Women in Maritime Affairs (WIMA) Conference will take place at the

Holiday Inn Sunspree Hotel, Montego Bay, Jamaica from April 13-17, 2015.

BIBBY SHIP MANAGEMENT WINS ANOTHER NEW CONTRACT

Lisa Jacobs

Bibby Ship Management’s reputation as a key player in the offshore sector has been further strengthened through the securing of a contract with Marine Platforms Ltd to manage three support vessels for global use. The vessels will initially be operating in Nigeria but will be managed from Aberdeen.

Bibby Ship Management has been appointed as the technical and crewing manager for Marine Platform Ltd.’s African Vision multi-purpose support vessel; the African Inspiration multi-purpose support vessel; and the platform supply vessel Rem Supplier.

Chris Stone, Chief Operating Officer at Bibby Ship Management, said: “Bibby Ship Management’s focus on the offshore and oil & gas market is going from strength to strength and I’m pleased that our reputation for delivering excellence is being recognised. The African Inspiration and Rem Supplier came into our full management earlier this year and the African Vision will follow in the next few months. This is a great achievement for the team and we are looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with Marine Platforms Ltd.”

IS YOUR CATERING CREW TRAINED TO STICK TO A DAILY FOOD BUDGET?

Phil Page

Sounds familiar? Well Master Chef Henry Anderson of Marine Catering Services (MCS) has seen it all in his career both as a Catering Consultant and Chef onboard sea going vessels, oil rigs and land based units.

He is the founder of MCS and is passionate about his profession. “It’s all about ensuring that proper procedures and structures are in place for the catering staff to implement and follow. Without these systems, some kitchens onboard vessels are not running correctly to industry standards and requirements when I first visit them,” he said.

“Cooks need to be organised and methodical in their approach to cut out unnecessary expenditure due to lack of preparation and poor planning.”

Mr Anderson is adamant you can deliver better quality and a higher culinary standard of food at sea, and in line with client’s budgets, through proper training. This includes basics such as correct defrosting procedures and ensuring that your catering staff never re-freeze any product as this can cause illness among the crew. Also a failure to follow correct procedures can create big problems for ship management companies with port authorities and private insurance claims if they do not fully comply with the 1990 Food Act.

“Every aspect of a vessel’s day-to-day budget should be scrutinised as implementing proper procedures can save ship management companies thousands of pounds per vessel each year,” he warned.

“If a ship with 20 crew wastes just 50 grams of Beef Topside (costing $12.00 per kg) per person, this equates to a loss of one kilo a day. This might not sound that much but the annual wastage cost per vessel works out at $4,380. Multiply that by the number of vessels in the fleet and it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that a lot of money is being wasted through this example of only one product line. So when you are working with large quantities it is important to be vigilant to ensure budgets are met.”

As a consultant, Henry passes on his vast experience and knowledge to train cooks, galley staff, stewards and stewardesses’ to ensure there is no unnecessary food wastage in the catering department – a pre-requisite to reducing overstocking. He can show catering staff how to create appetising menus containing the correct nutritional values while keeping within the set daily food budget. Henry is passionate about his profession and in passing on his vast experience to cooks and galley staff, stewards and stewardesses to ensure they receive the correct standard of knowledge required to attain their level of industry standards in line with ILO/MLC requirements.

All too often catering staff can fall into bad habits by relying too heavily on packet foods instead of cooking with fresh ingredients which is not only more cost effective but also produces tastier and more healthy meals. Bad stock rotation and poor food storage standards are also common issues that Henry and his staff find when visiting vessels which they rectify by training the catering teams to follow and implement correct procedures and systems.

According to Mr Anderson, MCS can always find ways to make savings in a client’s daily food costs by reducing food wastage. This ranges from teaching cooks which parts of meat to use so the yield is optimised, to showing them how to use the correct product for each prepared dish.

MCS also has a victualing programme to prevent food overstocking or to reduce a buildup of out-of-date stock while still providing nutritious menus to multinational crews on a budget. The programme includes financial indicators so a check can be kept on catering expenditure on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

“It’s all about ensuring that proper procedures and structures are in place for the culinary staff to implement and follow. Without these systems, it can result in problems with ILO/MLC regulations which can accrue financial problems for clients,” said Mr Anderson.

“MCS training ensures cooks are correctly organised and methodical in their approach to industry requirements. They are trained to cut out unnecessary expenditure due to a lack of preparation and poor planning.”

Henry has proved time and time again that you can deliver better standards onboard any type of vessel in all criterias and industry standards, through a proper training programme and development of all staff. He is passionate about passing on his exacting standards in food hygiene, food preparation, stock rotation, food quality, accommodation standards and requirements within industry laws.

MCS believes that a face-to-face training programme is far better than distance learning via a course on a computer. Only by being onboard in person can the trainer truly assess the knowledge gap of the catering staff and tailor the training accordingly. His enthusiasm is very infectious and this helps to re-energise catering teams who may have lost their way a little. Another advantage to being onboard is that MCS trainers can immediately answer any questions asked by trainees which distance learning training programme may not have considered. It also helps to break down language barriers as the trainer can check that all trainees have fully understood everything before moving onto the next section.

MCS will also ensure that catering staff, Masters and ship management teams are trained to the required level of ILO/MLC 2006 requirements and comply with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) which covers food safety management, stock rotation, menu planning and eliminating waste. So shipowners can be confident that using MCS to train their teams will cut costs, improve the quality of food being served and boost morale.

For more information on how MCS can help you contact: info@marinecateringservices.com or telephone +44 (0)1224 896 257.