LISCR appoints Humera Ahmed as VP of Legal and Business Development

F Humera Ahmed has been appointed Vice-President of Legal and Business Development of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry.

Mrs Ahmed brings to her new role at LISCR nine years of experience as an attorney at Blank Rome LLP where she focused on maritime transactions, finance issues and business development. She holds a law degree from the School of Law at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

LISCR’s Chief Operations Officer, Alfonso Castillero, says, “Humera is a very energetic, self-confident, knowledgeable and proactive person. Her enthusiastic personality and legal / shipping background will significantly benefit and strengthen the presence of LISCR in the New York and Connecticut markets.”

Before joining LISCR, Humera Ahmed helped clients to negotiate and structure transactions under US and foreign law, and regularly advised on vessel-secured financings, ship purchases and sales, maritime bankruptcies and restructurings, vessel charters and corporate governance for domestic and foreign companies.

She will be based in LISCR’s New York office, from where she can expand the LISCR global team and bring the Liberian Registry closer to the international legal community in general, and to the New York legal market in particular.

Humera Ahmed says, “I am thrilled to be joining the Liberian Registry, which has consistently been one of the most reputable ship and corporate registries in the world for more than 70 years. I also welcome the opportunity to work with the legal community, both internationally and domestically, and to help ensure that the Liberian Registry continues to provide first-class expertise to the wide variety of stakeholders who rely on its services.”

The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

Liberia underlines commitment to seafarer wellbeing on IMO Day of the Seafarer

The Liberian Registry has underlined its commitment to protecting the welfare of seafarers on the occasion of the International Maritime Organization’s Day of the Seafarer, which this year takes ‘seafarer wellbeing’, and mental health in particular, as its theme.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “Our seafarers are the lifeblood of our industry. Without them, shipping is nothing, and yet their commitment and efficiency is such that the industry is sometimes in danger of taking them for granted. It is therefore right that IMO should dedicate a specific day each year to recognise this remarkably dedicated workforce, and to highlight the issues they face on a daily basis.

“The Liberian Registry is dedicated to protecting the welfare of seafarers and to ensuring that the maritime industry maintains its commitment to promoting greater understanding of mental health concerns and awareness of the issues facing all onboard personnel. There are over 270,000 active seafarers who are certified by Liberia, of which nearly 100,000 are currently employed on Liberian-flagged ships. In addition, Liberia has taken a leading role in ratifying, implementing and overseeing the application of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).

“Everything we do, from our everyday operations to the ongoing development of technical innovation, is designed with the interests of our seafarers in mind. Moreover, our MLC 2006 training programme for Liberian inspectors includes a module on seafarer welfare, developed in co-operation with The Mission to Seafarers, an organisation with which the Liberian Registry enjoys an excellent and highly productive relationship.

“In addition, The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI S.C), part of YCF Group, the parent organisation of LISCR, has successfully trained thousands of cadets and officers, who are now employed on vessels around the world. LISCR also manages the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI), which opened earlier this year.

“Whatever advances are made in shipping over the coming years, the maritime workforce will remain the industry’s biggest and most valuable asset. Liberia is dedicated to protecting the interests of that workforce, on IMO’s Day of the Seafarer and on every other day.”

Gerard Kenny, Technical Manager of LISCR’s offices in London, recently completed the 106km NightRider charity bike ride around London as a member of the IMO team raising funds for The Mission to Seafarers. He says, “Needless to say, I’m feeling rather fragile and a little weary today, but that’s nothing compared to what seafarers go through every day over prolonged periods at sea.”


The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

USCG report confirms Liberian Registry’s stellar PSC record

The Liberian Registry has seen a 62 percent reduction in vessel detentions in the United States over the past three years and, for the fifteenth year in a row, is not among those flags targeted by the US Coast Guard (USCG).

Alfonso Castillero, CCO of the Liberian Registry, says, “Despite efforts made by other flags to confuse the industry, the USCG 2017 Annual Performance Report for Port State Control (PSC) makes it clear that, far from being targeted by the US Coast Guard, Liberia continues to provide effective, quality compliance solutions for its fleet. Liberia is not on the list of USCG-targeted vessels.”

The Liberian Registry continues to improve its PSC performance year after year, and currently has the fourth most vessels of any flag state enrolled in the USCG’s Qualship 21 programme. In addition, it is White-Listed by the Paris MoU and the Tokyo MoU. Indeed, it had the lowest detention rate of all major flags (1.67%) in the 2017 Paris MoU. It has also recorded a 20% reduction in detentions over the last three years under the Tokyo MoU, thanks to a 2% detention ratio change during that period which is the is the biggest positive increase among all major flags in the Tokyo MOU.

In China, meanwhile, Liberia has achieved a 41% reduction in detentions thus far in 2018 compared to last year and is the only major flag able to show a decrease in detentions over the past three years in China. Finally, in Australia, there has been a 49% reduction in detentions of Liberian-flag ships over the last three years and a 6.4% detention ratio change over that period which is the biggest positive increase of all major flags in Australia.

Alfonso Castillero says, “With the use of a fully staffed Risk Assessment Department at its US head office, and an automated LRIT-based Compliance Assistance Program, the Liberian Registry works with its clients to ensure that their vessels are well-prepared for port calls in the world’s high-focus jurisdictions, and that any issues are properly reported and addressed.

“This is one reason why the registry has seen such an impressive increase in growth recently. Owners have benefited tangibly from Liberia’s SeaSafe System and Compliance Assistance Program, without additional cost, and this has helped us expand into new markets. For example, last year we were the fastest growing flag in South Korea, a new and expanding market for us. In China we have had opened three new offices simply to keep up with demand. And value-added services such as SeaSafe help us maintain our position as the largest open registry in Greece.

“The Liberian Registry continues to invest in improving and maintaining quality, working closely with owners and managers to keep their vessels operating safely and efficiently. Out Port State Control record shows how effectively this is working, both in the US and elsewhere around the world.”


The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment www.liscr.com

Liberia honours Greek shipping partners as it celebrates 70th anniversary

The Liberian Registry has presented five of its Greek shipping partners with the Liberian Maritime Authority’s Commissioner’s Award for Excellence during celebrations in Athens to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Liberia’s maritime programme.

The awards presented in Athens on 30 May to George Procopiou, Vangelis Marinakis, Panagiotis Tsakos, Panos Laskaridis, and Dimitris Lemonidis recognised contributions not only to Liberia but also to shipping and the community at large. All the recipients have diversified activities in other sectors as well as shipping and are recognised for their contributions to culture and public interests. Moreover, most have been identified on the so-called Top 100 lists of most influential shipping personalities.

George Procopiou, founder of Dynacom Tankers Management, started his active co-operation with the Liberian Registry in 2001 shortly after LISCR took over as the administrator of the Liberian flag. Since then, Dynacom has become Liberia’s largest client in Greece in terms of numbers of ships and deadweight tonnes.

Vangelis Marinakis has developed Capital Ship Management into a diversified shipping enterprise. Most notably, Capital Shipmanagement, with a very large fleet of Liberian-flagged ships, has one of the best safety records in the Greek-owned fleet as determined by both flag state and port state inspections.

Captain Panagiotis Tsakos, founder of Tsakos Shipping & Trading, has built one of the largest shipping companies in Greece. The Tsakos Group is also one of Liberia’s largest clients. The Tsakos-owned tanker ISE PRINCESS became Liberia’s 3,000th active vessel in 2009, exactly 60 years after the registration of Liberia’s very first vessel in 1949.

Panos Laskaridis, current President of the European Community Shipowners Association, is the driving force that led Liberia to become involved in regulating the fisheries transhipment business. This in turn resulted in Liberia becoming an active member of six Regional Fishery Monitoring Organisations globally. Similarly, Liberia is now in the process of completing its fisheries accreditation by the European Union.

Dimitris Lemonidis established Element Shipmanagement, his second start-up after co-founding Ciel Shipmanagement together with Kostis Konstantakopoulos. Dimitris has been one of the strongest and most vocal independent advocates of the Liberian flag both in Greece and globally.

Michalis Pantazopoulos, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director of LISCR Hellas, says, “Liberia is proud to honour these trusted Greek shipping partners with this award as a mark of gratitude for their continued support.”


The Commissioner’s Award was established by Liberian Commissioner James F Kollie to recognise the outstanding achievements of shipping industry leaders with a notable connection to Liberia’s maritime programme. The first such award was presented to Angeliki Frangou, CEO of Navios Holdings Inc in March this year.

The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry wins Maritime Services Award for electronic oil record book

LISCR, the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, has won the Lloyd’s List Maritime Services Award 2017 for the innovative electronic oil record book (ε-ORB), which is now accepted for use on board Liberian-flag ships.

The ε-ORB, launched in 2016, is a Lloyd’s Register-certified maritime software application which has gained wide support in the shipping industry. It has been developed with the intention of enhancing onboard efficiency by ensuring compliance with MARPOL in relation to paper Oil Record Books.

The ε-ORB has been designed to replace the traditional paper Oil Record Book and to establish software transparency, credibility and traceability. It addresses a variety of issues, including ORBs being reported missing on board, failure to document entries in the ORB of internal transfer of oily mixture, discrepancies between entry into the ORB and actual capacity of the oily water separator, and falsification of log entries.

Christian Mollitor, vice-president of the Liberian Registry, says, “Liberia is actively planning for the wider dissemination of the IMO-compliant ε-ORB throughout its fleet, with the knowledge of a variety of international organisations, including the IMO, US Coast Guard, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), Paris MOU, Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and numerous other flag states, including Germany, Malta, Luxembourg, Japan and Denmark, each of which has provided extremely positive feedback.”

Liberia has published a marine notice providing guidance on the use of the ε-ORB, and issues a MARPOL Electronic Record Book Declaration which must be carried on board as proof that vessels have the necessary flag approval to use the ε-ORB. A transitional period running for one year from 1 January, 2017 will facilitate inspection by Port State Control authorities which may not be fully familiar with electronic oil record books. The ε-ORB can also be utilized as a training tool.

Christian Mollitor says, “The Liberian Registry believes in implementing innovative technology in all areas of its operations. The ε-ORB is widely accepted by major Port State Control authorities throughout the world, and more than 120 shipowners and operators are already benefiting from its onboard application.”

The Liberian Registry is the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

Alfonso Castillero appointed CCO of Liberian Registry management team

Alfonso Castillero has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of the Liberian International Ship &Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry.

Alfonso will be responsible for managing the development and implementation of the Liberian Registry’s global sales, marketing, and service assurance strategy. Together with the Registry’s business development group and regional managers, he will further enhance co-ordination of business development and service initiatives, while expanding the Liberian Registry’s leading position in an increasingly competitive shipping industry.

LISCR CEO Scott Bergeron says, “Alfonso’s unrivalled experience will be invaluable in managing the Registry’s development of new, strategic markets and of new products and services for our clients, helping the Liberian Registry continue its impressive evolution and growth. While his role as CCO will have a global perspective, Alfonso will continue to provide direct day-to-day management for the Japanese and Central & South American markets.”

Alfonso Castillero, who served as Director-General of the Panama Registry for 16 years before joining the Liberian Registry as Vice-President in 2014, says, “I am honoured to accept this new position, and excited at the prospect of helping to further strengthen the global presence and reputation of the world’s most innovative and successful ship registry.”

The Liberian Registry has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. The Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry makes key appointments in Tokyo

The Liberian Registry has appointed Eiji Okazaki as president of the Tokyo office operated by its US-based manager, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).

Mr Okazaki was formerly president and CEO of Japanese ship owner and ship manager IMECS Co Ltd, a subsidiary company of the Japanese major trading house, ITOCHU Corporation. He has nearly forty years’ experience of working at an executive level in the shipowning and ship sales and purchase sectors in Japan, Korea, and Europe. He replaces Takeshi Okamoto, who will return to ClassNK in June after more than five years at the Liberian Registry.

The Liberian Registry is also pleased to announce that Yoshimi Uraguchi has joined LISCR from ClassNK, as technical manager of its Tokyo office. Mr Uraguchi has accumulated extensive experience of class and statutory surveys, condition and risk assessment programmes, and class maintenance surveys since joining the Japanese classification society in 2003.

Alfonso Castillero, Global Vice-President of the Liberian Registry and LISCR Japan Executive Chairman, says, “We are naturally sorry to be losing Takeshi Okamoto back to ClassNK, with whom we continue to enjoy an excellent relationship. Takeshi did an outstanding job of helping to strengthen LISCR’s presence in Japan, and he leaves with our very best wishes for his future career.

“Meanwhile, we are delighted to welcome Eiji Okazaki and Yoshimi Uraguchi to LISCR, and are very confident that their experience, expertise and global contacts will serve to strengthen still further LISCR’s strong presence in Japan and the Far East generally.”

The Liberian Registry broke all records in the Japanese market during 2017 and is the second largest open registry in the world. It has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. The Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

www.liscr.com

Liberia Registry makes key appointments in UK, Panama, US and Turkey

The Liberian Registry has announced strategic new appointments in a number of the key areas within the global network of offices operated by its US-based manager, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).

Gerard Kenny has been appointed Technical Manager of the Liberian Registry’s London office, where he will primarily serve as a technical advisor to the Liberian delegations to the IMO. A former technical manager and class surveyor with Lloyd’s Register in London and DNV in Sydney, Gerard was most recently Chief Marine Surveyor with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.

Rafael Cigarruista has been appointed Manager of the Registry’s regional office in Panama which, in common with other flags, Liberia established to provide direct services to ships transiting the Panama Canal. Rafael is a former independent nautical engineer with extensive experience of class and statutory surveys.

Pinar Saglam has been appointed Corporate & Registrations Co-ordinator for the Liberian Registry’s office in Istanbul. Previously a Financial Planner with Furtrans Shipping Group, Pinar will be closely involved in daily operations and will also serve as a Special Agent for the Registry.

In the US, meanwhile, Josiah Toepfer has been appointed Manager, Vessel & Company Compliance in the Liberian Registry’s main headquarters office, located in Virginia. His role will be to ensure compliance with Port State Control regulations, and to minimise deficiencies and detentions. A former USCG PSC inspector, Josiah joins the Registry from Sparrow Marine, a shipping audit and consulting company which he founded.

Also in the US, Kevin Smith has been appointed Manager for Vessel Compliance in the Liberian Registry’s Houston office. Kevin, who was previously Regulatory Compliance Manager with Noble Drilling Services, will oversee the regulatory compliance of vessels and managers operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

LISCR CEO Scott Bergeron says, “As the Liberian Registry grows from strength to strength, it is essential for us to ensure that we are able to maintain our ability to provide a high level of service regardless of fleet size. The real assets of the Registry are its people. That is why we are committed to enlisting the services of skilfully qualified personnel, who can bring added value to the Registry’s clients, providing expertise and advice when and where it is needed.”


For photos of other LISCR appointees, please email chris@merlinco.com


The Liberian Registry has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

www.liscr.com

Liberia remains number one open register for Greek shipowners

Figures released by the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (GSCC) show that Liberia has cemented its position as the undisputed leading open registry of choice for Greek shipowners.

The GSCC statistics show that, in the year to end-March 2016, the gross tonnage of Greek-controlled ships in the Liberian Registry increased by 995,781 gt. Liberia, with 744 vessels aggregating 54.74m dwt, is second only to Greece itself in terms of the number of Greek-owned ships flying its flag, and comfortably ahead of the Marshall Islands in third place. Eighteen per cent of Greek-controlled ships are registered under the Liberian flag, again second only to Greece (20 per cent).

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “There can be few stronger and more mutually successful relationships in international shipping than that which exists between Greek shipowners and the Liberian Registry. It is, moreover, encouraging to see that that relationship endures through good and bad times alike for the industry and for the global economy.”

Michalis Pantazopoulos, Senior Vice-President of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (Hellas) SA in Piraeus, says, “It is surely no coincidence that the world’s most innovative shipping register is the number one choice of open flag for shipowners from the world’s leading shipping nation. The Greek shipping community continues to demonstrate great loyalty to the Liberian Registry, which in turn continues to respond by providing the innovative service and guaranteed quality and safety which owners demand.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners.

www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry appoints new general manager for London

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, has appointed Kostas Ladas as general manager of its London office.

Kostas Ladas joins LISCR from London-based ship and insurance broker and agent Victoria Steamship Co Ltd, where he was vessel operations manager. Prior to that, he spent over 25 years with Coscon/Cosco (UK) Ltd in London, where he held a variety of executive roles, including Chartering & Shipbroking deputy general manager, commercial manager and company legal adviser.

LISCR CEO Scott Bergeron says, “London is one of the world’s leading centres of maritime commerce, and LISCR’s dedicated presence there is a vital part of the Liberian Registry’s global network which provides help and advice to ship owners and managers at all times of the day and night. Kostas’s extensive all-round experience of ship and chartering operations, together with his specialist legal and insurance expertise and his exhaustive industry contacts, makes him the ideal person to head up the registry’s London operation.”

Kostas Ladas says, “I have seen how the role of responsible ship registers has evolved and increased in importance over the past 25 years, and I am proud to be joining the most successful and proactive registry in the industry today.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

www.liscr.com

Liberian registry shortlisted for the Ship Efficiency Awards 2015

The Liberian Registry has been named as a finalist for the 2015 Ship Efficiency Awards.

After much consideration by the awards panel of judges, the Liberian Registry was selected to become one of the five finalists for the Initiative of the Year award. The nomination is in respect of Liberia’s Global Eco-Upgrade Financing Programme, an environmental initiative to help reduce global carbon emissions and to enhance fleet efficiency and competitiveness.

The initiative offers a complete energy-saving solution for ships on a global basis with an add-on specifically crafted for Emissions Control Areas (ECAs). The global programme includes an optimal mix of fuel efficiency retrofit solutions for each target vessel, based on its trading pattern, age, size, speed, and consumption. For ships trading within ECA zones, the programme can include the installation of exhaust scrubber systems or the conversion of engines to LNG dual-fuel, to comply with emissions requirements.

The second annual Ship Efficiency Awards will recognise and celebrate the organisations and individuals within the maritime sector that excel in efficient operations, implement fresh thinking and offer proven efficiency benefits and technological innovation. The award ceremony takes place on 9 September at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London.

Scott Bergeron, chief executive officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the registry, says, “Efficient shipowners and managers in today’s highly regulated and ultra-competitive industry need to tick a lot of boxes in order to remain compliant and profitable. They have to be environmentally aware and commercially astute, and responsible ship registers work with good owners towards achieving those objectives. That is what the Liberian Registry has done with its Global Eco-Upgrade Financing Programme. This nomination confirms that Liberia is determined to remain the greenest fleet afloat.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners.

www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry establishes Istanbul regional office

THE Liberian Registry has established a regional office in Istanbul, Turkey, as part of the continued expansion of its global presence in major centres of international shipping and trade.

Erhan Esinduy has been appointed Regional Representative of the office and will be joining the Registry’s dedicated Special Agent Tevfik Çelepöven. Having gained a wealth of practical seagoing and shore-based experience during a ten-year career with P&O Containers / P&O Nedlloyd, Erhan subsequently held a number of executive positions in the shipping industry before setting up and serving as managing director of ESKO Marine Trading Ltd Co in 2014.

Erhan says, “A regional office of the Liberian Registry in Istanbul is a most welcome development for owners and management companies, who will be able to handle all their flag administration matters and ship registration issues locally.

“It's a great challenge for me personally, and I am proud to be involved in this exciting venture. I relish the opportunity to use my contacts and industry knowledge to the advantage of those owners and managers whose ships already fly the Liberian flag, and to help significantly increase the number of Turkish-owned vessels in the Registry. Building strong, long-lasting relationships is essential to achieving good results.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the registry, says, “Establishing a regional office in Istanbul is a natural step for the Liberian Registry. Istanbul is one of the great shipping centres of the world, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and its influence is growing all the time. Having an office there will bring the registry even closer to this vibrant market.

“Erhan Esinduy is the ideal choice as the registry’s representative in Istanbul. During a long and varied career ashore and afloat he has gained first-hand experience of the sorts of issues which shipowners and managers typically encounter, including supervision of drydockings, carrying out vessel inspections, and overseeing and co-ordinating external inspections by Port State Control and other regulatory bodies. He is a shipping person for a shipping city.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry provides MOL-funded medical supplies to Ebola-hit Liberia

The Liberian Registry has used a $10,000 donation from Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to procure medical supplies to help combat the spread of Ebola in Liberia.

The supplies, comprising essential materials and medical equipment such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) suits, gloves, goggles and respirators, arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on 5 November. They were shipped by air from the United States by TNT, which covered all shipment costs.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, the US-based organisation which manages the Liberian Registry, says, “We are extremely grateful to our client, MOL, one of the most powerful shipping companies in the world, for donating resources to the critical situation in Liberia. We are indebted, also, to TNT, for its generosity in covering all shipment expenses. For our part, we will ensure that all the materials are physically received and transferred to hospitals as directed by Liberia’s Minister of Health.”

The Liberian Administration is deeply saddened at the tragic loss of life resulting from the Ebola virus, and is committed to providing whatever assistance it can in these difficult times. Meanwhile, it has taken every precaution to ensure that the Ebola virus does not affect the Liberian Registry in either an operational or financial sense. The registry is managed from the United States, from where its global operations are administered. Its ships and crews, and its operations, are not directly affected by the virus in any way. The registry is operating as normal, and continues to offer the first-class service, innovation and financial strength with which it has become synonymous.

Meanwhile, the YCF Group, the parent organisation of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR, LLC), has been extremely active in the fight against Ebola, providing assistance to government, non-profit and community groups. Its ongoing help has included significant technical and equipment contributions towards setting up a national Ebola call centre in Liberia, and providing senior executives to manage a national Ebola task force. The YCF Group has also donated building materials to the C H Rennie Hospital in Kakata for improving its infrastructure and ability to quarantine Ebola patients more effectively.

Other initiatives undertaken by YCF include help in setting up community hand-washing stations, liaison with health authorities to publish Ebola awareness messages, the creation of a special radio bulletin designed to raise awareness about safeguards to protect health, and the launch of a Good Morning Liberia marketing campaign, which provides free credit every morning to enable subscribers to check on friends and family.

The Liberian Registry and the YCF Group are committed to providing a sustainable and state-of-the-art communications network during this emergency period. The registry is maintaining business as usual, while taking all necessary precautions to protect its employees, as well as providing meaningful support to the Ebola plight in Liberia, wherever it has the ability to do so.

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. www.liscr.com

Guidance to help shipowners and vessel masters prepare for the prevention of the spread of Ebola is available at:
http://www.liscr.com/liscr/Maritime/DocumentsNoticesAdvisories/tabid/87/Default.aspx#163

LISCR appoints new general manager for London

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, has appointed Robert Twell as general manager of its dedicated London office, in succession to Jonathan Spremulli.

Robert Twell joins LISCR from CMA Ships UK Ltd/CMA CGM Group, where he was the Safety and Security Manager and DPA/CSO based in London. Prior to that he was with the National Sea Training Centre, a leading provider of maritime education and practical training, where he was Head of Department in Marine Studies and Fire Fighting. Robert also has extensive seagoing experience as a deck officer with, among others, Carnival UK, and Stena Ferries.

David Pascoe, Head of Maritime Operations & Standards at LISCR, says, “Robert’s expertise in safety, security, health, environmental and quality policy covering a wide range of vessels ideally suits him for the manager’s role in London, as does his experience of dealing with masters, internal managers, flag and port state control and class societies,. In addition to the traditional responsibilities of the London office, Robert will focus a significant amount of his time at the IMO in co-ordination with myself and the Permanent Representative and staff of the Liberian Permanent Mission.”

Robert Twell says, “I am excited to be joining the most innovative and proactive ship registry in the world. And I am looking forward to the challenge of using my industry knowledge and experience to the benefit of the Liberian Registry’s continually expanding client base.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. www.liscr.com

Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry appoints new vice-president

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), a member of the YCF Group of companies and exclusive administrator of the world’s largest quality ship register, has appointed Christian Mollitor to the position of vice-president.

This newly created role represents a return to LISCR for Mollitor. Having formerly held the position of Assistant Department Head of Seafarer Certification & Documentation, he left the registry in 2001 to further develop his career. This included practising law in Alaska and carrying out maritime and environmental regulatory compliance roles at Royal Caribbean International and Holland America Line.

During that time, he served as the NorthWest Cruiseship Association’s representative to Washington State’s ballast water policy work group and as co-director of the joint US Coast Guard/Holland America Line cruise ship mass rescue operation exercise held in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Mollitor, a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Tulane University Law School, also recently earned his Master of Business Administration from Western Washington University. He is a member of the Alaska Bar and the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

In his new role, Christian Mollitor will augment the registry leadership team’s marketing and business development efforts, oversee head office support of the global network of regional offices, and manage special projects. He says, “I am pleased to have the opportunity to return to LISCR. The last twelve years of my career have given me a greater perspective of the needs of the shipping industry and a specific view of how the premier maritime administrator, LISCR, can best provide regulatory compliance services.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO, says, “We are delighted to have been able to recruit Christian back to the registry. His experience and academic achievements will serve us well as the registry continues its global expansion. It is always deeply satisfying to have great employees return to the company after further developing their credentials.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 133 million gross tons. www.liscr.com


For a photo of Christian Mollitor, please go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/LiberianRegistry

YCF Group expands management team in Germany

The YCF Group has appointed Carsten Gierga as managing director responsible for its activities in Germany. Suwarie Topaz, general manager, has also been promoted to vice-president, global marketing and business development with worldwide responsibilities.

The YCF Group of companies includes the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the exclusive administrator of the world’s largest quality ship register, EuroFlag Services (EFS), a Luxembourg-resident company which performs ship registration and management services for shipowners seeking to register vessels under the Luxembourg flag, and EMA Manning Agency, a specialised provider of marine engineers and electricians.

Carsten Gierga was previously managing director of Hamburg-based shipmanagement specialist Interorient Marine Services (Germany). He has extensive executive experience of the shipping industry, having also served as fleet personnel manager for various shipmanagers, including Dobson Fleet Management, and E R Schiffahrt. In addition, he enjoyed a distinguished career in the German Navy.

In his newly created role, Carsten will oversee and direct YCF’s operations in Germany. He says, “I am excited at the prospect of working with the YCF Group, which has established itself as the leading name in both ship registry and engineering manning services.”

Suwarie Topaz, well-known in shipping circles, has been leading the ship registry operations in Germany for the past year as general manager of YCF’s dedicated office in Hamburg. She will now begin to focus her attention on overseeing the global marketing and business development activities of the group. Suwarie says, “I am pleased that the YCF Group was able to recruit someone with as much experience and passion for shipping as Carsten has demonstrated throughout his career. He is well-positioned to make our strong team even stronger. We provide a high level of service to the shipping industry and I am proud to take a leading role in spreading our message.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO says, “We are delighted to welcome Carsten into the YCF Group. His specific knowledge of the German maritime sector, and indeed of the international shipping industry, will strengthen still further YCF’s leading role as a provider of high-quality maritime services.”

Regarding Suwarie Topaz’s promotion, Bergeron says, “With Carsten’s appointment, Suwarie will be able to focus her unparalleled skills on her professional passion – developing synergetic relationships that lead to satisfied clients and growth in business.”

www.ycfgroupllc.com

Liberia launches online MLC complaints resolution form for seafarers

THE Liberian Registry has launched an online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form for seafarers, ahead of the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on 20 August, 2013.

Liberia is committed to ensuring that seafarers who serve on Liberian-flag ships have decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace and fair employment. Seafarers are encouraged to use the ship’s onboard complaint procedures to resolve complaints at the earliest possible opportunity in accordance with MLC 2006. However, in the event that a complaint is unable to be resolved on board, Liberia has provided the online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form to help seafarers resolve all genuine and valid complaints.

Seafarers can utilise the online form to lodge a general complaint affecting specific working or living conditions on board the ship, or a complaint relating to a single seafarer. The Liberian Administration will take all necessary steps to investigate complaints and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to rectify any deficiencies. All information provided to the Administration will be treated as strictly confidential.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “Liberia was the first country to ratify MLC 2006, and intends to do everything in its power to ensure that it is properly enforced. This is not just a tick-box exercise. If effectively implemented, MLC 2006 will improve and standardize working conditions for seafarers and shipowners alike.

“Liberia’s online Maritime Labour Complaints Resolution Form is a way of ensuring that seafarers on Liberian-flag ships have all possible resources available to them for reporting any genuine grievances to those who have the authority to resolve such matters in accordance with the letter and spirit of MLC 2006.”

The Liberian Registry’s Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form can be accessed from the homepage of its website, www.liscr.com


The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 133m gross tons. www.liscr.com

Time for openness on ship registries, says Liberia

THE Liberian Registry says it is time to put an end to the outdated thinking which results in all open registers, irrespective of their safety record, being referred to pejoratively as ‘flags of convenience.’

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (ISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “Liberia is one of thirteen flags which have just been given a clean bill of health by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in its flag state performance table.  This means it has earned positive indicators from the ICS with regard to its performance in relation to port state control, convention ratification, recognised organisations, age of vessel, IMO attendance, and completion of STCW and ILO reports.

“The ICS itself says, ‘There is nothing inherently unusual in an international ship registry system in which the owner of a ship may be located in a country other than the state whose flag the ship flies.” It also points out, quite rightly, that ‘a balance has to be struck between the commercial advantages of selecting a particular flag and the need to discourage the use of flags that do not meet their international obligations.’

“Liberia fully agrees with this, and endorses the ICS performance table as an effective way to encourage shipowners and operators to examine whether a flag state has sufficient substance, and to put pressure on flag administrations to effect any necessary improvements, especially in relation to safety of life at sea, protection of the environment, and the provision of decent working and living conditions for seafarers.

“There is no longer any need in shipping for the term ‘flag of convenience’. It has purely negative connotations, which is especially perverse in light of the positive indicators accorded to Liberia and to certain other open registries by the ICS. It would be more meaningful to refer instead - as does the ICS - to open registers, in order to distinguish them from national registers, many of which perform well below the level of the best open registries and yet enjoy an undeserved reputation for excellence. It would be more meaningful still – and more accurate – to refer simply to ship registries, and to judge those registries on how they rate under independent performance monitoring guidelines, such as those produced by the ICS.

“The monitoring and policing of ship safety on an international basis is now tighter than ever before, and the book on registering ships under the flags of their domiciled owners has long been rewritten. It is time the language of the industry was changed to reflect this.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 131m gross tons. www.liscr.com

LISCR appoints new president and managing executive officer for Japan

THE Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, has appointed Takeshi Okamoto as president and managing executive officer of its dedicated office in Tokyo with effect from January 4, 2013. He succeeds Shigeki Fukuda, who will now assume the role of chairman of LISCR Japan, in which capacity he will continue to be active in the strategic management of the registry. 

Takeshi Okamoto joined the Liberian Registry from ClassNK in 2012 as director of LISCR’s Tokyo office. During his time with ClassNK, one of the world’s largest classification societies, he served as a member of the technical rulemaking team and as a manager handling international issues such as IMO discussion, as well as a field surveyor and auditor for shipbuilding and ship operations in Hiroshima and Piraeus, Greece. Mr Okamoto is a graduate of Kyusyu University, where he earned his master’s degree in naval architecture.  

Mr. Okamoto says, “It is an honour to work for the Liberian Registry. Being part of the LISCR Tokyo staff and promoting the Liberian Registry in Japan is a rewarding challenge. I will strive to ensure that we continue to protect Liberian-flag vessels and their owners.”

Commenting on Mr Okamoto’s appointment, LISCR CEO Scott Bergeron says, “Japan is one of the world’s largest shipowning nations, respected internationally for its high standards. It is a very significant and growing market for Liberia, with strong historical origins. We are delighted that Takeshi Okamoto has agreed to lead our Tokyo office, and we are most confident that his skills and experience, in addition to his long-standing ties to the Japanese shipping community through his work with ClassNK, will further strengthen and develop our Japanese team.”

For a photo of Takeshi Okamoto, or of Scott Bergeron, go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/LiberianRegistry or email chris@merlinco.com

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards for vessels and crews with the highest standards of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 131m gross tons. www.liscr.com

 

Liberian Registry uses advance vessel screening to cut detention rates

THE Liberian Registry has introduced a sophisticated programme to screen advance notice of ship arrivals as part of a detention prevention plan to help maintain its independent ranking among the safest and most efficient ship registries in the world. The overall objective is to maintain and strengthen the already excellent safety record of the Liberian flag, and to further reduce detention rates, especially in Australia, China, the EU and the United States.

Liberia’s Advanced Notices of Arrival and Zone Notification schemes build on the mandatory IMO Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system introduced in 2009, under which all flag states are required to ensure their flagged vessels transmit their location. The objective is to be proactive in terms of preventing a vessel detention by Port State Control or by other inspection bodies. The schemes are designed to increase awareness on the part of shipowners and operators with a view to ensuring compliance with international requirements governing safety, security and environmental protection.

All Liberian vessels calling at US, EU, Australian and Chinese ports must provide an Advanced Notice of Arrival (ANOA), which can be used by the Liberian administration to assess the probability of a PSC boarding. Thereafter, appropriate steps can be taken if necessary to prevent a detention. Under Liberia’s Zone Notification programme, meanwhile, if the Liberian administration has not received an ANOA from vessels entering LRIT zones which Liberia has established around the US, China, Australia and the Paris MoU countries, it can use their LRIT notification system to assess the probability of a PSC boarding, and take appropriate steps where necessary.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “In the interests of both safety and commercial expediency, we are committed to minimising the number of Liberian-flag ships placed under detention. We are proactive at all times, with the intention of preventing deficiencies and detentions rather than responding to them. In addition to our ANOA and Zone Notifications programmes, we inform shipowners and operators of PSC Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) and recommend action where necessary. Ship’s masters are very busy when preparing to enter port. The point is to provide the master and the shore staff with timely and relevant information to help ensure compliance with regulations during periods of increased onboard activity. Based on feedback from the various MoUs, Liberian-flagged ships have performed very well during the CICs.

“We also contact PSC directly when there is an issue or a misunderstanding, and appeal detentions where they are considered unwarranted. We conduct ongoing initiatives designed to decrease detention rates, and to increase awareness of what is required in order to comply with international requirements.

“Prior to arrival for every vessel, we use an innovative risk analysis tool that we have developed to calculate whether a particular vessel may be a high target for PSC boarding. Subjective risk criteria cover both the ship and the company, drawing on PSC deficiency and detention histories. If we have concerns that a vessel may not be in compliance, we have several proactive support services that will be implemented. 

“Our goal is to ensure that Liberian-flag ships are in compliance with all applicable international regulations covering safety, security and the environment. Our objective is to continually improve and strengthen the excellent safety record enjoyed by the Liberian flag.”

For a screen shot of LRIT zones, or a photo of Scott Bergeron, go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/LiberianRegistry

Visitors are welcome to visit the Liberian Registry’s at Stand No 3.221 in the Metropolitan Exhibition Centre during the Posidonia exhibition in Piraeus, Greece, from June 4 to June 8, 2012, and request a demonstration of the ANOA and Zone Notification initiatives.

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with more than 3,880 vessels aggregating in excess of 129m gt. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards for vessels and crews with the highest standards of responsive service to owners. The latest annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table published by the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Shipping Federation awarded Liberia positive performance indicators in every category covered by the report - port state control, ratification of major international maritime treaties, use of compliant recognised organisations, age of fleet, reporting requirements, and attendance at IMO meetings. Liberia features on the White List of all Port State Control Memorandums of Understanding, worldwide, and is included in the US Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP (Quality Shipping for the 21^st Century) programme, to which only a small percentage of foreign-flag ships calling at US ports are admitted, based on the excellence of their port state control record. www.liscr.com