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.”

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Liberia re-elected to IMO Council

LIBERIA has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation for 2012-2013, a distinction it last enjoyed in 1997. Liberia’s Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, Binyah Kesselly, says, “It is very gratifying to see Liberia returned to its rightful place at IMO. As a country, and as an integral part of the international shipping industry, Liberia has made enormous strides forward in recent years. It has also been a consistent and committed member of IMO, and a proactive supporter of initiatives to improve safety and seafarers’ welfare. It has earned the right to reclaim its place on the IMO Council.”

The Liberian-flag fleet currently comprises 3,750 ships aggregating more than 124m gross tons, easily making Liberia the second-largest ship registry in the world. It is also the fastest growing fleet, having more than doubled in size in the last ten years as the registry has pursued a policy of planned, controlled expansion involving quality shipowners and quality ships.

Liberia features on the White List of all Port State Control Memorandums of Understanding, worldwide. It is rated as a low-risk flag by the Paris MoU, and is included in the current US Coast Guard Qualship 21 programme.

Over the past six years, following the democratic election of Africa’s first female Head of State, Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia has overcome many of the economic and political problems which have blighted its past. Under the Presidency of Madame Johnson Sirleaf, who this year was awarded the Nobel Peace prize, the country has achieved quantum leaps in terms of political stability, economic growth and prosperity. Reforms have been introduced to help reduce corruption, increase transparency, and strengthen the rule of law, thereby making Liberia an attractive option for foreign investment.

Liberia is White-Listed by the OECD following its signature of the requisite number of Tax Information Exchange Agreements, and was recognised by the World Bank as one of the ten most improved business performers in 2010.

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. www.liscr.com