Month: July 2015

Mersey Maritime Host Maritime London Visit

Phil Page

Mersey Maritime has hosted a visit by Maritime London as part of an initiative to develop ways in which the two bodies can encourage maritime organisations to work more closely together.

Maritime London Chairman Alderman the Lord Mountevans of Chelsea, and Chief Executive Doug Barrow spent the day in Liverpool meeting with local maritime businesses and key business leaders.

The day included a tour of Liverpool2, Peel Ports’ new £300 million deep water container terminal at the Port of Liverpool which is due to open at the end of 2015.

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Videotel Receives Norwegian Maritime Authority Approval

Phil Page

With this approval, Videotel’s highly regarded training courses have official recognition from the top entity in Norway devoted to maritime issues

MIDDLETOWN, RI, USA, and LONDON, UK – July 13, 2015 – VideotelTM, the leading international provider of e-Learning maritime training solutions and a company of KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), has received the approval of the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) for its security training courses.

Videotel’s “Maritime Security Awareness,” “Designated Security Duties,” and “Shipboard Security Officer” training courses have been approved in their entirety by the NMA for meeting the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) codes, and seafarers completing these courses will receive the necessary qualifications and certificates for shipboard duty. The NMA approval enhances Videotel’s reputation with Norwegian ship owners, ship managers, and the offshore sector, which are guided by the Authority on maritime issues. A major maritime center, Norway has a merchant fleet of approximately 1,400 vessels; in 2013, it had one of the top 10 merchant fleets in the world according to deadweight tonnage.

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Shipping Industry Updates Guidance on Large Scale Migrant Rescue as Mediterranean Crisis Continues

Elaborate Communications

The global shipping industry, represented by a wide cross section of international shipowners’ associations and seafarers’ unions, has collectively updated the industry’s Guidelines on Large Scale Rescue Operations at Sea.

This is in response to the continuing crisis in the Mediterranean, in which merchant ships and their civilian crews have so far assisted in the rescue of over 50,000 people.  But the Guidelines are also applicable to other regions where ships may have to assist with rescue operations involving large numbers migrants or refugees, including South East Asia.

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Bibby Ship Management Appoints New SHEQ Director

Phil Page

Bibby Ship Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Donald Macfarlane as Director responsible for managing and developing Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) related initiatives across the Group.

With over 20 years’ experience in the Oil & Gas industry, Mr Macfarlane has previously worked at Archer as a QHSE Manager where he completed a NVQ 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

In 2005 he became a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and is involved with IOSH Scotland, as well as being Chairman of the NE of Scotland Branch. He is also a member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, an Associate Member of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI).

Chris Stone, Chief Operating Officer, said: “The safety and wellbeing of all our employees, both onshore and on board our ships, is of paramount importance to Bibby Ship Management and as we are fully committed to maintaining high levels of achievement in these areas, we are very pleased to have Donald Macfarlane join the senior management team.”

Mr Macfarlane added: “Bibby Ship Management has a fantastic reputation for safety so I am thrilled to be joining the team and I am looking forward to maintaining and developing Bibby Ship Management’s high standard of safety, health, environment and quality initiatives.”

KVH’s NEWSlink Team Now Producing 100 Different Newspaper Titles

Phil Page

A weekly business edition called “Philippine Business” is the 100th title in the NEWSlink roster of high-quality daily and weekly newspapers for seafarers

MIDDLETOWN, RI, USA – July 1, 2015 – KVH Media Group, part of KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), has launched “Philippine Business,” the 100th unique newspaper title produced under the NEWSlinkTM brand. The new title joins NEWSlink’s roster of high-quality daily and weekly newspaper digests, which are currently enjoyed by seafarers and cruise guests on more than 8,500 vessels around the world.

Produced for the multinational audience common to the seafaring world, the NEWSlink titles cover news, sports, finance, and entertainment news in 17 languages tailored to 80 different regions and countries. The titles are produced in NEWSlink newsrooms located in Liverpool, Delhi, and Manila, where a near 24-hour news monitoring service ensures the most current information is included in every edition.

KVH Media Group delivers the NEWSlink titles in a range of formats and through a range of technologies, and specializes in compact formats for maritime and other industries where bandwidth is limited or delivery costs are high. The newest delivery method for NEWSlink titles is KVH’s recently introduced IP-MobileCastTM content delivery service, which utilizes multicasting technology to broadcast a wide range of news and entertainment content to ships at sea.

The latest NEWSlink title, “Philippine Business,” is a weekly edition containing stock market and company news plus financial hints and tips, written for a seafarer audience. “Launching this specialist weekly NEWSlink edition is a direct response to requests by Filipino crew, who contacted us to ask for more business and financial coverage so that they can be better informed on how to invest their money,” says Mark Woodhead, managing director of KVH Media Group.

Of the 100 NEWSlink titles in the portfolio today, “Philippines,” a general-interest, four-page title, is the most highly subscribed national edition. Other titles include: “The International,” an eight-page daily edition; and “Maritime News,” a four-page daily newspaper focusing on everyday shipping news for crew. Special-interest editions are also produced, such as an overview of national election contests, and “Boxing Special,” which included a report on the Mayweather versus Pacquiao fight.

“The NEWSlink service is particularly important to crew, many of whom do not have access to regular contact with family when at sea,” says Mr. Woodhead. “MLC-2006 has targeted some key welfare requirements for seafarers, and regular up-to-date local news provides an important and cost-effective morale booster for many crew members, giving them a sense of closeness to home.”

MAJ Welcomes New IMO Secretary-General

Lisa Jacobs

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) has welcomed the appointment of Mr Ki-tack Lim of the Republic of Korea as the incoming Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation.

Jamaica has been a Category C member of the IMO Council since 2007 and its Director General, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, chaired the IMO’s Standards of Training & Watchkeeping (STW) Sub Committee for almost 10 years and was Chairman of the Committee of the Whole at the Diplomatic Conference in Manila which amended the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and STCW Code.

Congratulating Mr Lim on his election as Secretary General elect of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Admiral Brady said: “Mr Lim Ki-tack brings great value to the position with a wealth of experience, education and training as a Master mariner, graduate of the Korean Maritime University and the World Maritime University; and as an executive manager with the Government in the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. He is currently the CEO and President of the Busan Port Authority. He was Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, UK and was also Chairman of the IMO’s Flag State Implementation Sub Committee. We look forward to working with him on global maritime matters”.

Jamaica’s membership in Category C enhances its capacity and that of the Region to contribute to major policy decisions, rule-making and the development of standards including representing the maritime interests of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in order to implement port, coastal and flag State obligations

Esben Poulsson Appointed As New SSA President

Lisa Jacobs

Association undergoes brand transformation to reflect its vision for the future

Esben Poulsson has been appointed as the new President of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) after the newly elected SSA Council (2015/2017) was voted into place at the Association’s Annual General Meeting yesterday (30 June 2015). The new Council elected him as successor to the outgoing SSA President Patrick Phoon.

Paying tribute to the work of the SSA and the Council, Mr Poulsson said: “I am honoured and humbled to be appointed President of this active and vibrant organisation, consisting in excess of 470 member companies.

“And as the SSA turns 30 years old, I would like to pay tribute to the work of the many Members who have served tirelessly on the Council and standing committees over the years, and, in particular, to my predecessor Patrick Phoon, who has served on the Council for no less than 24 years, the last four as President. His boundless energy, enthusiasm and sheer passion for our industry is there for all to see and stepping into his shoes will be a huge task for me – albeit he leaves the Association in good shape, and ready for the many challenges ahead. It is almost impossible to exaggerate his massive contribution to the SSA over so many years.

“I hope, during my tenure, to justify the faith the Council and membership has placed in me, I look forward to helping to represent our members’ interests to the best of my ability, and to continue our constructive relations with government agencies and other industry partners in Singapore and overseas in promoting and maintaining Singapore’s position as a leading International Maritime Centre.”

He added: “I feel our hard working Secretariat, ably led by Executive Director Michael Phoon, stands ready to help drive current initiatives forward, and to implement new initiatives introduced by the Council.”

INTRODUCING SSA COUNCIL (2015/2017)
The 19th SSA Annual General Meeting announced that the seven Ordinary Members nominated for the 2015/2017 Council, who were predominantly from the previous Council, were returned unopposed. The seven Members are:

Member Company Represented By

1 A. P. Moller Singapore Pte Ltd Mr. Rene Piil Pedersen,
Managing Director

2 Enesel Pte Ltd Mr. Esben Poulsson,
Chairman

3 Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd Ms. Caroline Yang,
Executive Director and Head of Legal & Finance,
Safety & Training, Administration and Human Resources

4 IMC Industrial Group Mr. Lim Sim Keat
Managing Director, Dry Transport Logistics

5 Iseaco Holdings Pte Ltd Ms. Katie Men,
Managing Director

6 Pacific Carriers Ltd Mr. Tan Chin Hee,
Executive Director

7 Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd Ms. Lisa Teo,
Executive Director (Corporate Development)

From amongst the seven Councillors, they appointed the following as office bearers of the SSA Council (2015/2017):

President: Mr. Esben Poulsson

Honorary Secretary: Ms. Lisa Teo

Treasurer: Mr. Tan Chin Hee

A further six SSA Ordinary and Associate members, may be co-opted into the new Council. The finalised list of SSA Council Members for the 2015-2017 term and their appointments will be released by mid-July 2015.
Patrick Phoon, outgoing SSA President, said: “Over the past four years, I have received tremendous support from all my fellow Council Members, who have selflessly committed their time and effort towards furthering the objectives and interests of the SSA. Their dedication, drive and hard work, often went beyond the call of duty, of which I am most grateful for. After 24 years in the Council, I leave with a touch of sadness, but am happy that the Association has grown in stature into a force to be reckoned with! I am proud to hand over a thriving association to the new SSA President. I hope you will give Esben the same enthusiastic support that you have given me.”

SSA’S NEW LOGO
The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) marks 30 years of service to the maritime industry this year. As an active voice representing 475 corporate members and growing, the SSA has been a positive force in representing the industry’s views at home and abroad.
The SSA has been actively engaged and working in synergy with its members and key stakeholders in dealing with issues of importance to the industry; in particular, the long-term interests of enhancing Singapore’s status as an International Maritime Centre.
To reflect the Association’s vision and drive as it embarks on its next lap, the SSA has rebranded itself with a new logo and embraced the tagline “Navigating the Future”. This was launched at the SSA’s cocktail reception held on the evening of the AGM at the Marina Mandarin Singapore with over 400 people from its membership and maritime community in attendance.
At the launch, newly-elected SSA President, Mr Poulsson said: “It is my honour to share with you our Association’s new brand identity that will inspire us to work towards our next milestones. The tagline “Navigating the Future”, was chosen to show the direction that the association will be heading – towards strengthening Singapore’s status as a leading International Maritime Centre, which will benefit all of us in the maritime community. This brand transformation represents where the association is today and our vision for the future.”