Vessel operating costs expected to rise over the next two years

Vessel operating costs are expected to rise by more than three per cent in both 2013 and 2014 according to a new survey by international accountant and shipping consultant Moore Stephens.

The survey is based on responses from key players in the international shipping industry, predominantly shipowners and managers in Europe and Asia. Those responses revealed that vessel operating costs are expected to rise by 3.0 per cent in 2013, and by 3.2 per cent in 2014, with crew wages and P&I insurance the cost categories likely to increase most significantly.

Crew wages are expected to increase by 2.4 per cent in 2013 and by 2.5 per cent in 2014, with other crew costs thought likely to go up by 2.1 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively for the years under review. The cost of P&I insurance is also expected to escalate by 2.4 per cent in 2013 and by 2.5 per cent in 2014, this compared to the increases of 2.0 and 2.3 per cent respectively predicted in respect of the cost of hull & machinery insurance.

Expenditure on spares is expected to increase by 2.1 per cent and 2.3 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively, while respondents anticipate a 2.2 per cent increase in the cost of lubricants in both years under review. The cost of stores is expected to increase by 1.9 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively for 2013 and 2014, while repairs & maintenance expenditure is predicted to increase in those two years by 2.3 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.

Drydocking costs over the same period are expected to rise by 2.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, as was the case in the 2012 survey, management fees are deemed likely to produce the lowest level of increase in both 2013 and 2014, at 1.4 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively.

One respondent noted, “Cost-cutting and belt-tightening have gone as far as it is possible to go. The next few months will see the service industries return to profit, and they will do that by increasing costs.” Another said, “It is clear that the cost of sustaining our industry will go up, funding will become increasingly difficult, and more small and medium-size companies will disappear.”

“Owners are bleeding money,” said one respondent, “but this is not having any impact on the likes of class surveyors, spares manufacturers and service engineers as they continue to charge heavily. Moreover, the quality of the product is going down while maintenance costs are increasing.” Other comments included, “Operating budgets are being maintained but not increased,” and, “If the market shows a significant improvement over the next two years, we can expect a surge in operating costs, driven mainly by owners’ efforts to achieve improved performance from their ships.”

The cost of fuel occupied the thoughts of a number of respondents, one of whom noted, “Fuel costs remain the biggest chunk of our operating expenses due to surging price increases.” Referring to political volatility in the Middle East and increasing regulation on sulphur emissions levels, another respondent predicted that many owners would “have to switch to Marine Gas Oil, which will involve a very big cost increase. We have already seen how the switch between high and low-sulphur fuel is causing problems for some ships, and instances of black-outs and loss of power are on the increase.”

Elsewhere, a number of respondents referred to the effect on operating costs of a significant number of older vessels still operating in the market, with one predicting, “A number of these will be squeezed out by 2014, particularly those over 25 years of age.”

Moore Stephens also asked respondents to identify the three factors that were most likely to influence the level of vessel operating costs over the next 12 months. Overall, 21 per cent of respondents (compared to 27 per cent in last year’s survey) identified finance costs as the most significant factor, followed closely by crew supply (20 per cent). Competition was in third place, with 18 per cent, followed by demand trends (16 per cent) and labour costs (13 per cent). The cost of raw materials was also cited by ten per cent of respondents as a factor that would account for an increase in operating costs.

Moore Stephens shipping partner Richard Greiner says, “Ship operating costs fell by an average of 1.8 per cent across all the main ship types in 2012, so at first blush the predicted increase in costs for this year and next might come as something of a disappointment. In truth, however, the levels of increase anticipated for 2013 and 2014 are still way below many of those we have seen in recent years. Moreover, they have to be viewed against a number of serious challenges facing the owners and operators of vessels in today’s shipping industry.

“Crew costs, as always, emerged as a major concern for respondents, which is no surprise given the potential budgetary implications of the entry into force of MLC 2006 and the increasing involvement of both international and regional bodies in the oversight of crew competence and its effect on safety. Continuing the theme of previous surveys, fuel costs again featured prominently as a cause for concern, as did the cost of having to comply with increased regulation generally in the shipping industry. The latter, unfortunately, cannot be addressed by the expedient of applying new rules and regulations only to new ships, as suggested by one respondent. The regulators want a clean and safe shipping industry, and it is the industry itself, which includes a significant number of older vessels, that will have to underwrite the budget needed to achieve compliance.

“Speaking of underwriting, the projected rise in P&I premiums for 2013 and 2014 can be attributed, among other things, to a number of major casualties to which the clubs and their reinsurance underwriters have had to respond, as well as to the escalating cost of wreck removal. For these reasons, the anticipated cost increases are not unexpected. The fact that the projected increases for hull & machinery cover are lower than those for P&I is perhaps an illustration of the difference between physical loss & damage cover and third-party liability cover, and of the distinction between commercial and mutual insurance.

“The projected increases in vessel operating costs for the next two years will be difficult for owners, operators and managers to absorb. The good news, however, is that the global economic environment is showing continuing signs of recovery. The freight markets should feel the benefit of that, and that is what pays the bills.”

Bone fide journalists can request an electronic copy of the Future Operating Costs survey by emailing chris@merlinco.com

Moore Stephens LLP is noted for a number of industry specialisations and is widely acknowledged as a leading shipping and insurance adviser. Moore Stephens LLP is a member firm of Moore Stephens International Limited, one of the world's leading accounting and consulting associations, with 624 offices of independent member firms in over 100 countries, employing 21,224 people and generating revenues in 2012 of $2.3 billion. www.moorestephens.co.uk

For more information:
Richard Greiner
Moore Stephens LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7334 9191
richard.greiner@moorestephens.com

ITIC issues warning on forged documents

ITIC has warned shipping intermediaries to be on the look-out for cleverly forged documents which could result in them being held liable for substantial claims by cargo interests.

In the latest issue of its Claims Review, ITIC refers to the case of a Belgian ship agent which released six containers of castor oil valued at $270,000 against a fraudulent bill of lading. The containers were to be shipped from India to Belgium, and although the bill of lading against which the ship agent released the cargo to the consignee appeared at first glance to be genuine, it was in fact a clever forgery.

The shipper claimed that it had not been paid for the cargo, for which it still held the original bills of lading. It duly arrested one of the carrier’s vessels in India and obtained a bank guarantee from the carrier as security for its claim. In turn, the carrier looked to the ship agent for indemnity.

Examination of the bills of lading that had been presented established that the agent should have spotted the forgery. The forged bills included clearly incorrect details, such as the name of the load port, and also spelling errors, including the name of the carrier. The agent had therefore been negligent in releasing the cargo against the documents.

The claim brought against the carrier by the shipper was for the cargo value plus costs and interest. The case was fought in the Indian courts, which is usually a slow process. As it was unlikely that the claim could be successfully defended,
ITIC and the carrier pushed the shipper to settle the matter. Finally, after almost four years of negotiation, a settlement of $160,000 was agreed - $100,000 less than the original amount claimed. ITIC also reimbursed the carrier’s legal costs and the bank charges incurred in maintaining the bank guarantee.

ITIC says it has never been easier for documents to be cleverly forged, and warns ship agents that they need to ensure that they thoroughly check the details on bills of lading and other such documentation.

Copies of the ITIC Claim Review can be requested from: chris@merlinco.com

ITIC is managed by Thomas Miller. More details about the club and the services it offers can be found on ITIC’s website at www.itic-insure.com


For more information:
Charlotte Kirk
ITIC
Tel. +44 (0)20 7338 0150
Fax. +44 (0)20 7338 0151
charlotte.kirk@thomasmiller.com

Multraship’s Muller appointed president of ISU

LEENDERT Muller, managing director of leading towage and salvage specialist Multraship, has been appointed the new president of the International Salvage Union (ISU).

The appointment was confirmed at the annual general meeting of the ISU in Hong Kong on 24 October, 2013. Muller, who has been a member of the ISU Executive Committee since 2008, and vice-president since 2011, succeeds Andreas Tsavliris, who will continue as a member of the ISU Executive Committee.

Commenting on his appointment, Muller said, “It is a great honour to be named president of the ISU and I will do my best to represent our members’ interests as we continue working on the issues we face, engaging with our stakeholders to make sure that this industry continues to provide a vital service to world shipping.

“We all know Andreas Tsavliris’s great passion for the traditional salvage business and its heritage and history and I should like to thank him for his hard work during his presidency of ISU. Andreas has made the most of his deep understanding of the business to ensure that ISU has maintained a high profile and has been an effective trade association. He has also introduced an ISU Annual Review and a Meritorious Service Award and enabled us to publish again the annual statistics for our industry. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his experience and contributions to the Executive Committee and the wider ISU.”

Andreas Tsavliris said, “I am delighted to be handing over to Leendert Muller who, like me, comes from a family with a long and proud tradition in towage and salvage. Leendert has extensive experience of the industry and has demonstrated great commitment to the ISU and to marine salvage. I am sure the leadership of our association will be in good hands.

“It has been a great honour to be vice-president and then president of the ISU and to represent our members on the important issues facing our industry. I have tried to ensure, through numerous meetings, that the ISU is on a strong footing and has a good rapport with key industry players. Naturally, we cannot agree on all matters but I believe that we have made progress through dialogue, understanding, good communications and open discussions.”

John A Witte Jr, of Donjon Marine Co Inc in the US, was confirmed as vice-president of the ISU.

Leendert Muller is joint managing director of Multraship Towage and Salvage based at Terneuzen on the River Scheldt in the Netherlands. He is an Executive Committee member of the European Tug Owners’ Association (ETA) and a board member of the Royal Dutch Shipowners’ Association (KVNR). Multraship is a leading Dutch towage and salvage company. It draws on a century of experience in the maritime sector. Multraship’s core operations include salvage, wreck removal, harbour towage, ocean towage, services to the dredging, offshore and renewable energy industries, and support for inland navigation. It operates and manages a large fleet of tugs, salvage vessels, floating sheerlegs and other craft equipped with modern towage, salvage and fire-fighting equipment and manned by experienced and highly-trained masters and crew. www.multraship.com


For more information contact:
Eline Muller
Multraship B.V.
Tel. +31 (0) 115 645 000
emuller@multraship.com

Bureau Veritas classes Brazil's largest FPU

Petrobras’ P-55 Floating Production Unit (FPU), the largest and the first of this kind entirely built in Brazil, is on its way to the Roncador Field, Campos Basin, where it will be installed in a water depth of 1,790 metres.  The column stabilized semi-submersible has a capacity of 180,000 bopd and 6,000,000 cu m of gas. The unit is classed by Bureau Veritas. BV group companies also provided a wide range of verification and support services which made the major project possible.

Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice-President and head of Bureau Veritas’ Marine and Offshore division says, “We are immensely proud to see this major offshore production unit on its way to its deepwater site. It is a real demonstration of the capacity of Bureau Veritas to help offshore operators to develop safe and effective offshore capacity. We have very large and technically skilled teams in Brazil who have been working closely with Petrobras for the last six years to deliver this project. The range of services we have contributed brings together our skills and experience with marine floating units, risk and safety of energy plants and equipment and our ability to manage major multi-site complex projects.”

BV group services to the P-55 project include classification and statutory certification plus:

-        Design review for the entire project including structure, mechanical systems, electrical and automation, process, safety, hydrodynamics and the mooring system.

-         Independent Risk and Safety studies performed during the FEED and detailed design phases, including PHA, HAZID, HAZOP, SIL/LOPA, dropped objects and collision studies, gas dispersion, fire, explosion and flare CFD 3D simulations and noise studies.

-        Design review of lower hull structural integrity during assembling phase at Estaleiro Atlantico Sul.

-        Independent structural studies performed by Tecnitas for the lifting of P-55 lower hull megablocks (up to 2,500 tonnes).

-        Design review and second party inspections on behalf of Petrobras for the assembly and installation of the P-55 Steel Catenary Risers (SCR) export lines.

-        P-55 flexible risers and flowlines Type Approved by Bureau Veritas.

The P-55 was designed by Petrobras R&D Department (CENPES) and GUSTO (deck box and topsides). It was built over several sites simultaneously. The main ones were the lower hull fabrication and assembly at Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS) in Suape, Pernambuco state and main production modules fabrication, integration and commissioning by QUIP at Estaleiro Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul state.

P-55 in numbers:

Column Stabilized unit platform of 50,000 tonnes lightship
Length: 104 m x Width 94 m (Foot Print)
Height: 130 m (including flare tower)
Spread / Semi-Taut mooring system with 16 mooring lines
Accommodation Module for 120 persons
Distance from the Brazilian Coast 127 km

100 MW Generator System + Waste Heat Recovery System – equivalent to a town of 400,000 people.

17 wells (11 production and 6 water injection)
110 km of subsea flexible lines and 70 km of umbilicals
Oil export for P-54 (12", 14 km extension) and PRA-1 (12", 46 km extension), a fixed offshore pumping platform also certified during construction by Bureau Veritas in Brazil.

 To download very nice photos of P-55 go to: http://bit.ly/pYqIVs

 or e mail john@merlinco.com

 l Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 61,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

 www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information                              www.veristar.com for marine information

 For more information:

  

Sergio Mello Commercial Vice President BV Brazil Marine and Offshore sergio.mello@br.bureauveritas.com

Moore Stephens welcomes EC decision to maintain maritime state aid guidelines

International accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens has welcomed a decision by the European Commission to keep in place in their current form the guidelines relating to state aid to maritime transport, which include EU tonnage tax regimes. The decision follows an EC review of the guidelines and has been formally communicated to the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA).

Sue Bill, a tax partner with Moore Stephens, says, “This is extremely good news for the shipping industry, both in the UK and elsewhere in the EU, which is facing severe competition from countries such as Singapore. It means they can now rely on a stable tax regime for the foreseeable future.

“It is understood that there are some outstanding issues relating to the guidelines which are still to be clarified. But it is believed that these are relatively minor points, and should not dilute the satisfactory overall conclusion of the review, which had generated widespread interest and concern in the shipping industry.”

Moore Stephens LLP is noted for a number of industry specialisations and is widely acknowledged as a leading shipping and insurance adviser. Moore Stephens LLP is a member firm of Moore Stephens International Limited, one of the world's leading accounting and consulting associations, with 624 offices of independent member firms in over 100 countries, employing 21,224 people and generating revenues in 2012 of $2.3 billion. www.moorestephens.co.uk

For more information:
Sue Bill
Moore Stephens LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7334 9191
sue.bill@moorestephens.com

Bureau Veritas launches pipeline damage assessment tool

Tecnitas, the marine advisory arm of leading international classification and verification group Bureau Veritas, has launched a major new technology simulation system for pipeline damage assessment, in collaboration with Total. This new technology system, called EMPREINTE, allows pipeline operators to quickly determine safe operating pressures after a pipeline is damaged. It is a software suite which provides a vital decision making tool which will save operators money and cut downtime for pipeline repairs.

Offshore energy pipelines can sustain all sorts of damage like dents and gouges due to external injuries, internal or external corrosion due to a corrosive effluent and failure of coating or cathodic protection, weld defects and straining due to ground movements. Operators need to know if the pipeline is safe to continue operating or if some pressure reduction or shutdown is required. EMPREINTE does that very quickly.

Level 3 assessments of pipeline damage are based on advanced calculations such as finite elements. The advantage of finite element calculations is that they give a more accurate assessment of the state of the pipe and the safe operating pressure but they need usually detailed material data and are very time consuming. EMPREINTE is a pre and post processor to Abaqus finite element calculations which will perform reasonably conservative level 3 assessments in a very short time period, typically within 48 hours from defect discovery to assessment. That will typically permit pipeline use to continue when it might otherwise have needed to be shut for repairs. EMPREINTE can also be used in the design phase of the pipeline.

The principle of EMPREINTE, based on finite element calculations, is to use the defect pipe profile to design back a virtual tool from which the damaging process is modelled. The burst strength of the damaged pipe is determined after an iterative process to match the measured and calculated profiles. This actual burst strength is used to derive a safe operating pressure.

The tool has been validated with full scale tests in various conditions. It includes criteria to capture failure by plastic collapse and by ductile fracture after significant damage development. It has been recently extended to the assessment of dents submitted to cyclic loading conditions using the Dang Van criterion.
To download a graphic of a damaged pipeline model go to: http://bit.ly/pYqIVs or e mail john@merlinco.com

 Visit Bureau Veritas at Offshore Energy Amsterdam 15/16 October Stand No 9.011 (Hall 9)

 l Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 61,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information                              www.veristar.com for marine information

 For more information:

     

Julien Fontanabona Engineer Project Manager Tecnitas

+33 (0)1 55 24 79 29 julien.fontanabona@tecnitas.com

BV to class largest container ships built in China

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas is to class three Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCSs) to be built for China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and chartered to French operator CMA CGM. The ships are due for delivery in 2015. 

The 16,000 teu vessels will be the largest container ships built in China to date. One will be built at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) yard, and the other two at Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Heavy Industry, part of which came under the management of SWS this year.

In recent years, Chinese shipyards have secured orders for increasingly large box ships, and the three new 16,000 teu ships are only a fraction smaller than the largest container vessels being built today in Korea. The design was developed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC) in co-operation with BV, which performed the drawing approval and conducted a thorough structural examination.

The vessels will have an overall length of 399 m, a beam of 54 m, and a draft of 16 m. Special consideration has been given to hydroelastic design (whipping and springing) issues, which are so important for this size of ship. A hydroelastic examination was performed using BV’s HOMER software in order to take into account extreme whipping loads due to slamming and additional fatigue damage due to springing, factoring in the elastic structural response of the ship. This review provides a higher level of safety compared to the rigid approach traditionally adopted to such issues, and is mandatory under BV Rules for ULCSs of 300 m and above. On the strength of this examination, BV’s WhiSp2 notation has been assigned to the ships.

The vessels will be also granted BV’s VeriSTAR HULL DFL 25-year notation, which certifies various structural details, including hatch corners and coamings, for 25 years of fatigue life, following a spectral fatigue analysis with a 3D finite element analysis model. The importance of fatigue for large container ships, which generally lack torsional rigidity and become more elastic with size, has been confirmed by real measurements on board ULCSs classed by BV.

The 16,000 teu ships will be able to operate at a maximum speed of over 23 knots with a single-screw propeller directly coupled to a 69 Megawatt, 2-stroke electronic engine. The vessels’ environmentally friendly profile is attested to by BV’s class notations CLEANSHIP and FORS. The latter incorporates special arrangements to ensure that the ship’s fuel oil tanks are safely emptied in case of emergency, minimizing the risk of pollution. This is an important safety aspect considering the size of the fuel oil tanks of ULCSs

Steel cutting for the new vessels is due to begin next year and the ships are expected to be delivered in 2015. 

 l Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 59,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

 www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information                              www.veristar.com for marine information

 For more information:

    

Konstantinos Chatzitolios

Manager Containerships

Bureau Veritas

+33 1 55 24 72 34

konstantinos.chatzitolios@bureauveritas.com

RINA launches MaRINA Excellence yacht marina quality certification scheme

Leading international certification company RINA Services has launched a new certification scheme for yacht marinas. The MaRINA Excellence scheme focuses on the quality of the marina, sustainability and risk prevention.

Marinas and dedicated yacht harbours are a key part of the tourist infrastructure. RINA has always placed great importance on environmental and sustainability issues. In the field of marinas it provides services that are indispensable for reducing the environmental impact of facilities.

As a yacht marina is the place that welcomes the yachtsman and the contact point with the surrounding territory, particular care and attention are required to succeed in making it functional. At the same time it must be respectful of the environment and tourist resources so as to preserve its particular attraction.

MaRINA Excellence certification will be issued after an audit by specialised auditors who will score the marina on a scale from 1 to 5. The results will be subject to validation by a committee, appropriately established and dedicated to the issuing of the MaRINA Excellence certificate.

The overall judgement for the assigning of the MaRINA Excellence certification is based on the average of the evaluation of three macro-areas:

Port services: evaluation of the quality level and diversification of the relative services of a marina, such as berthing facilities, fuel supply, availability of accommodation for permanent yachtsmen and those in transit, provisioning, boat storage and repair yards.

Tourist services: evaluation of the tourism-related opportunities that the marina and the immediately surrounding area can offer. In this context, the marina is not considered as a stand-alone facility but as a port of access to the territory. RINA will verify the marina’s capacity to put its clients in contact with hotels and restaurants, sports and leisure facilities, archaeological sites and natural parks.

Sustainability: audit on the sustainable approach of the activities performed by the marina, and the commitment to environmental protection and safety.

The evaluation criteria are based on a points system assigned to various items on the checklist which are weighted in terms of criticality. A set of regulations guarantees objectivity in judgement in order to make the assigning of the final score absolutely independent and transparent.

The marina may publicise the results of the audit so as to give visibility to the quality level of the marina, enabling the service user to choose their port on the basis of objective data.

With a history dating back to 1861, RINA Group is a global provider of classification, certification, testing, inspection and training services to assist clients in a wide range of business sectors such as Marine, Energy, Transport & Infrastructures, Business Assurance, Environment and Innovation. RINA S.p.A. is the Group’s holding company which provides to the operating companies of the Group staff services such as administration and finance, HR, system management and communication, The main activities within the RINA Group are delivered by independent operating companies, having their own governance and organization aimed at complying with the requirements and standards applicable to each service. www.rina.org


For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385555
susanna.gorni@rina.org


Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385643
claudia.filippone@rina.org


Antonella Cotta Ramusino
Marketing & Communication
Ph. +39 010 0983090
acr@fastwebnet.it

Wood Forever Pact - new criteria for RINA Green Plus Yacht

A Monaco yacht show dedicated to the Green philosophy through numerous initiatives aimed at boosting environmental awareness in the world of pleasure craft.

On Saturday 28 September, aboard the 55-metre Ocean Paradise built by Benetti shipyards, an event was held which left a notable green footprint on the decks of the super yachts: leading classification company RINA Services and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation joined forces to promote the sustainable use of wood in the yachting industry.

Signed by Ugo Salerno, RINA Group CEO and Chairman, and by the CEO and vice-president of the Foundation, Bernard Fautrier, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, in addition to other joint initiatives for increasing global awareness on the part of yachting in protecting the environment, the agreement foresees the incorporation of the Wood Forever Pact into the evaluation criteria for assigning the now-famous environmental notation Green Plus RINA. Present at the event were the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayez, the Minister for Tourism of Mauritius, Karl Mootosamy, and the Italian Ambassador in Monte Carlo, Antonio Morabito, as well as Benetti CEO Vincenzo Poerio and the President of the Azimut Benetti Group, Paolo Vitelli.

Yacht builders who sign up to the pact agree to put in place a responsible purchasing policy for wood used in yacht construction and so contribute to combating deforestation and improving living conditions for local communities. RINA recognises that contribution to sustainability and environmental mitigation in its assessment of the Green Plus index of vessels built by members of the Wood Forever Pact.

RINA’s Green Plus Yacht is a voluntary Class Notation based on an environmental performance index which covers all aspects of the vessel’s impact on the environment, including carbon emissions. The Class Notation is granted to vessels which make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment, and operational procedures which contribute to lowering emissions beyond the minimum levels required by international regulation on environmental protection.

In June 2006, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco decided to set up his Foundation in order to address the alarming threats hanging over our planet’s environment. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation works for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. The Foundation supports initiatives conducted by public and private organisations within the fields of research, technological innovation and activities to raise awareness of the social issues at stake. It funds projects in three main geographical regions: the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least Developed Countries. The Foundation’s efforts focus on three main sectors: Climate change and renewable energies, biodiversity, and integrated and sustainable water management together with the fight against desertification.

To find out more: www.fpa2.com / www.facebook.com/FondationPrinceAlbertIIdeMonaco

With a history dating back to 1861, RINA Group is a global provider of classification, certification, testing, inspection and training services to assist clients in a wide range of business sectors such as Marine, Energy, Transport & Infrastructures, Business Assurance, Environment and Innovation. RINA S.p.A. is the Group’s holding company which provides to the operating companies of the Group staff services such as administration and finance, HR, system management and communication. The main activities within the RINA Group are delivered by independent operating companies, having their own governance and organization aimed at complying with the requirements and standards applicable to each service. www.rina.org



For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385555
Mail. susanna.gorni@rina.org


Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385643
Mail. claudia.filippone@rina.org


Antonella Cotta Ramusino
Marketing & Communication
Ph. +39 010 0983090
Mail. acr@fastwebnet.it

London P&I Club warns on need for ECDIS training

THE London P&I Club says the timetable for the mandatory implementation of ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) is advancing and that owners must take account of the potential risks involved in replacing more traditional means of voyage planning and monitoring with advanced technology.

In the latest issue of its StopLoss Bulletin, the club notes, “Ineffective use of any electronic navigational aid can lead to marine accidents. A causative factor in a number of recent grounding accidents is the incorrect operation of ECDIS. It is essential that the navigator is not only effectively trained in the proper use of ECDIS, but also understands the limitations of the equipment and its primary role as a decision-support system.”

The club adds, “The statutory requirements for ECDIS training are covered in the STCW Convention, the ISM Code and SOLAS Chapter 5. The IMO ECDIS Model Course 1.27 should provide the navigator with the required level of understanding, competence and confidence for application in all aspects of navigation. However, with a vast array of ECDIS manufacturers, there is a challenge for the navigator to reach an acceptable degree of competence in a specific onboard system.

“Familiarisation with type-specific ECDIS, whether provided by the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agent or a trainer, has been identified as a priority for training. The additional challenge is to ensure that the quality of both generic and familiarisation training is sufficient to reduce the risks associated with this transition to new technology, whilst satisfying the scrutiny of external parties, such as Port State Control, where the focus will be on demonstrating operational competence on the ship’s ECDIS equipment.” www.londonpandi.com

Vestdavit appoints UK Director of Operations

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has appointed Andy James as Director of Operations for the UK.
Rolf Andreas Wigand, Managing Director, Vestdavit, says, “The UK is an increasingly important market for the high quality boat handling systems we provide, both for warships and for the offshore energy industries. Andy James is an experienced marine engineer with a naval background who understands the needs of procurement authorities, how yards work and what operators need. He will supplement our existing agencies by providing a technically-competent point of contact for Vesdavit’s customers in the UK and its sphere of influence and help us develop new markets.”

Andy James served 25 years in the Royal Navy as an engineer including working ashore as a workshop manager in a shipyard and as a project manager for new equipment. At the VT Group (later BAE) he helped implement and provide a fully commercial model of support to a fleet of six RN warships.
For downloadable photo of Andy James and Vestdavit systems go to http://bit.ly/nfnCu5 or email john@merlinco.com

VIST VESTDAVIT at: INMEX, Mumbai 8-10 October, Stand G18; KORMARINE, Busan 22-25 October, Stand 4G10; DEFEXPO, New Dehli, 6-9 February 2014

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,900 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

For more information:
Rolf Andreas Wigand
Managing Director
Vestdavit
+ 47 99 46 48 62
rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no

Andy James
Director of Operations UK
+44 (0) 7447 034145
andy.james@vestdavit.no