Archive for November, 2011
Dispatches 81
Please visit our website and submit your petition to your local government to END THE PIRACY
www.intermanager.org
———————————
Ballast Water Management: The Guide – ONLY £95 Pre-Order Your Copy Now And Receive A 10% Discount
Fathom, publishers of the ground breaking Ship Efficiency: The Guide are pleased to launch Ballast Water Management : The Guide, supported by ABS. This comprehensive publication provides a vital support tool for making the crucial decisions on ballast water management. Practical and informative, it not only examines the operational implications of the regulations but critically examines ballast water treatment technologies and the companies that provide them.
Each Copy Comes With Free On-Board Manual
To pre-order your copy please email craig@fathomshipping.com
Intermanager activities:
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Last week:
22 November – Hong Kong – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
24 November – Singapore – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
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This Week:
30 November – London – Security Conference – Citadel Concept – Kuba Szymanski attending
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Looking forward:
07 December – London – SOS meeting – Alastair Evitt representing
12 December – Geneva – ICSW – ICSW International Seafarers Welfare Awards 12 December – Kuba Szymanski representing
Discounts for Members:
——————————
Digital Ship is pleased to announce their autumn conferences and exhibitions.
Taking place in:
Istanbul (1 December 2011) these are the leading events for maritime IT, satcom, technical,
electronics and navigation managers who want to know about the latest developments in satellite
communications, maritime software, bridge electronics and technology.
Admission is free of charge for employees of shipping companies.
There are also plenty of networking sessions to meet with business partners, customers and peers.
Please go to www.thedigitalship.com or call +44 20 7017 3411
—————————-——————-
5th-6th December – Marine Coatings – Informa, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2283TT
———————–
5th-6th December – A Practical Guide to Fuel Management, Ship Performance and Energy Efficiency: Understanding Operational Savings for Shipping – Bonhill House, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2284TT
————-
19 – 20 January 2012, London – Riviera – Passenger Ship Safety Conference Millennium Gloucester Hotel,
A two day event focussed on all aspects of operational safety, security and emergency response in the passenger shipping industry and offering an opportunity to discuss current and future issues, gather intelligence and network with key industry stakeholders
www.rivieramm.com/events
Quote members code IM-003 to claim your 10% Discount
Capt. Kuba Szymanski
Secretary General
InterManager
+44 7624 498 266
web: www.intermanager.org
Greece To Allow Armed Guards On Cargo Ships Against Piracy
Greece will let its large commercial fleet employ armed guards to ward against a surge in pirate attacks, the ministry in charge of security said on Friday, satisfying a long-standing shipowner demand.
“To improve safe sailing and crew safety aboard Greek ships crossing seas with increased piracy cases, an initiative has been taken to draft legislation for the embarkation of armed individuals on commercial ships,” the ministry said.
The legislation will enable the hiring of a minimum of six guards per ship on six-month contracts that can be renewed, a ministry source said.
The new arrangement will mainly apply to Greek-flagged ships but could be extended to vessels sailing through Greek waters, the source told AFP.
This modification will enable Greek-owned ships flying flags of convenience – around 500 vessels according to the union of Greek captains – to also be eligible.
Greek authorities had initially resisted shipowner calls to beef up security, a move opposed by crews fearing the presence of armed guards will ultimately only result in pirates switching to heavier weaponry to secure their prize.
“This measure threatens to set off an arms race with the pirates,” said George Tsouris, the head secretary of the Greek captains’ union, who has himself fallen victim to pirates on his voyages.
“It could also disrupt the chain of command on board,” he told AFP.
But the failure of international efforts to address the problem has led to a change of policy with Greece now following the example of Britain, the first European Union state to arm its merchant vessels.
Many Greek-owned vessels have been seized by pirates in recent years, resulting in long period of captivity for crews and heavy insurance and ransom costs for shipowners.
The International Maritime Organisation has recorded 352 piracy attacks between January and September this year.
Dispatches No. 80
Please visit our website and submit your petition to your local government to END THE PIRACY
www.intermanager.org
———————————-
InterManager Vice President George Hoyt has been presented with an industry Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his services to shipping and to seafarers.
Executive Committee member Mr Hoyt chairs InterManager’s Key Performance Indicators Committee and is a director of KPI Association Ltd. He has been instrumental in progressing the KPI Project to produce an industry-wide performance management tool.
Mr Hoyt has been a member of the international shipping community for more than 30 years. In his role as founder of Newslink and The Face Of Shipping website, Mr Hoyt pioneered the production of daily electronic newspapers for crew members, ensuring seafarers were up to date with latest industry initiatives and news. In addition he is a non executive director of computer-based training provider Seagull and a Cyprus Shipping Chamber committee member.
He was presented with his Lifetime Achievement Award during this week’s Asia-Pacific Manning & Training Conference in Manila, Philippines (Nov 16-17). Presenting him with the award, conference chairman and InterManager President Alastair Evitt said: “I have known George for many years and I am delighted to present this award to him in recognition of his commitment to seafarers and to the shipping industry.”
Mr Hoyt told delegates: “I thank InterManager for the trust they have shown in me. We in the shipping industry all need to work together and to trust one another to do all we can for this industry and for the seafarers who are at the heart of it.”
————–
Last week:
14 November – Manila – KPI Association ltd – Board Meeting – Alex Albertini, George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski attending
15 November – Manila AGM
15-16 November – Dubai – ShipTech – KPI presentation – Simon Pressley representing InterManager
16-17 November – Manila – Manning and Training Conference – Alastair Evitt, Ole Stene, George Hoyt, Markus Schmitz and Kuba Szymanski representing
———————–
This Week:
22 November – Hong Kong – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
24 November – Singapore – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
————–
Looking forward:
30 November – London – Security Conference – Citadel Concept – Kuba Szymanski attending
07 December – London – SOS meeting – Alastair Evitt representing
12 December – Geneva – ICSW – ICSW International Seafarers Welfare Awards 12 December – Kuba Szymanski representing
Discounts for Members:
——————————
Digital Ship is pleased to announce their autumn conferences and exhibitions.
Taking place in:
Istanbul (1 December 2011) these are the leading events for maritime IT, satcom, technical,
electronics and navigation managers who want to know about the latest developments in satellite
communications, maritime software, bridge electronics and technology.
Admission is free of charge for employees of shipping companies.
There are also plenty of networking sessions to meet with business partners, customers and peers.
Please go to www.thedigitalship.com or call +44 20 7017 3411
—————————-——————-
29th November – 1st December Intermodal Europe 2011 takes place in Hamburg
Bringing together a mix of high quality speakers and key exhibitors providing visitors with an invaluable industry forum and promises to be the most successful yet. FREE to attend exhibition & conference. Register at www.intermodal-events.com/im
——
5th-6th December – Marine Coatings – Informa, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2283TT
———————–
5th-6th December – A Practical Guide to Fuel Management, Ship Performance and Energy Efficiency: Understanding Operational Savings for Shipping – Bonhill House, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2284TT
————-
19 – 20 January 2012, London – Riviera – Passenger Ship Safety Conference Millennium Gloucester Hotel,
A two day event focussed on all aspects of operational safety, security and emergency response in the passenger shipping industry and offering an opportunity to discuss current and future issues, gather intelligence and network with key industry stakeholders
www.rivieramm.com/events
Quote members code IM-003 to claim your 10% Discount
Capt. Kuba Szymanski
Secretary General
InterManager
+44 7624 498 266
web: www.intermanager.org
BIMCO Creates Contract For Armed Guards
BIMCO has created a standard contract for the private maritime security industry and the first draft should be confirmed for early 2012, providing the industry with a much-needed benchmark on which to judge PMSCs.
Chief maritime security officer at the shipowner trade association Giles Noakes said that the contract had taken into account the concerns of the P&I clubs as well as underwriters, shipowners and lawyers. He added that the trade body had worked closely with all interested parties to ensure that all views were heard.
Mr Noakes explained that the standard would provide and take account of the International Maritime Organization’s MSC.1/ Circ.1405/Rev.1 and MSC1/ Circ.1406/Rev.1 but would provide more detail because IMO members could not be as prescriptive as the industry needed them to be.
“The industry is happy with 1405 and 6; it is good advice, and while it has quite a lot of detail it is not quite enough. Law firms currently have to draw up a contract per voyage and part of BIMCO’s role is to provide standards that can be used in this manner. We felt drawing up a standard contract for PMSCs was the quickest way of dealing with a difficult problem,” he said.
The standard is expected to come into force as soon as possible and the drafting committee is meeting shortly to get things under way. However, Mr Noakes said the contract alone was not a sufficient indicator of a reputable PMSC.
“Just because a security company signs the contract, it doesn’t mean that they are a good company,” he said. “Signing means that they agree to abide by the standards and then organisations like the Security Association for the Maritime Industry will have a baseline of standards to judge PMSCs on. It will at least give everyone a bottom line to work with.
“There is a concern that there is an increasing amount of companies offering independent audits but who is policing the policemen? At least the standard contract is a way of starting this. Questions have to be raised over the competency of any PMSC that is not prepared to sign the contract.”
Mr Noakes said that he was in no way saying that these audit services should not be developed but only that some firms were moving faster than others in response to the rapidly growing sector and that there were “too many known unknowns” and therefore the industry needed some kind of benchmark.
He questioned whether classification societies would eventually conduct PMSC audits but said that there did not seem to be much interest from this quarter.
“It is an issue people are willing to address and the IMO has worked hard to do this but there isn’t the technical competence and why should there be? We are dealing with an area where there is no precedent. We have had this problem forced upon us and seafarers are quite rightly demanding protection,” he said.
400,000 Pinoy Seafarers Deployment Seen
A record 400,000 Filipino seafarers may be deployed worldwide by the end of this year despite the crisis in Europe, according to projections of the Philippine manning industry.
In a statement, Eduardo U. Manese, Joint Manning Group (JMG) chairman, said the projected seafarers deployment would have an expected foreign currency remittance of about US$ 4 billion to the Philippine economy.
JMG, which is the umbrella organization of the country’s crew management and overseas shipping industry, has vowed to strongly support and work together with the Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) and its line agencies in preserving the sector’s achievement as the top supplier of seafarers to the world’s merchant marine fleet.
“DOLE has been working closely with us to address pressing issues concerning the ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention and the Seafarers’ Identification Document, and the anti-piracy program to help our seafarers combat piracy in the high seas,” Manese said.
Manese said that despite the financial crisis affecting European economies, demand for Filipino seafarers to operate commercial ships of various flags had hardly diminished.
Figures from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration show that in 2010, the Philippines deployed 347,000 shipboard personnel, which was 5.06 percent higher than in 2009.
“We’ve maintained our position in the maritime manpower market as shipowners re-think strategies to cut costs while keeping their commitment to meet minimum standards of international conventions in view of the regulatory changes that will affect maritime manpower,” Manese said.
In 2012, changes in the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention of the International Maritime Organization and the Maritime Labor Convention of the International Labor Organization will be enforced.
These regulatory changes would affect the overall maritime manpower market, Manese said.
JMG is composed of the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment, the Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Shipmanagers, the International Maritime Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Japan Manning Consultative Council, and the Filipino Shipowners Association.
AGM 2011 Reports Progress And Provides Food For Thought
InterManager members enjoyed a successful Annual General Meeting in Manila, Philippines on November 15th.
Members from throughout the international maritime community enjoyed a full day’s programme of discussions and presentations in addition to the annual meeting and networking events.
InterManager President Alastair Evitt gave a report of his first year in office. He told members: “The past year has been a very busy one – but for me one topic has predominated in my presidency to date and that has been the issue of piracy. I feel it is appropriate to acknowledge it and to commit our resources and energy to continue to support anti-piracy initiatives.”
InterManager has supported a number of pan-industry piracy-related initiatives including the international Save Our Seafarers Campaign (where InterManager is an active member of the steering group and one of the 30 supporting organisations) and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) which is producing a series of guides and training programs for the industry to prepare seafarers and their families for the possibility of being kidnapped and held ransom, as well as guiding shipping companies on how to assist crew upon their release.
Working together the shipping industry has identified key objectives which it believes governments and legislative bodies should address as part of the fight against piracy. These include:
• Reducing the effectiveness of motherships (which are easily identifiable)
• Enacting legislation to ensure that pirates can be held and prosecuted
• Enacting international legislation to ensure the full criminalisation of acts of piracy
• Tracing and criminalising organisers and financiers of piracy
• Ensuring appropriate naval resources are committed to piracy areas, particularly in the Indian Ocean
• Protecting and supporting seafarers and their families
Working with its own membership, InterManager has launched a campaign, entitled ‘Armed Guards – the freedom to choose’, to bring pressure on Flag States and charterers to allow owners and managers the freedom to choose whether to put armed guards onboard their vessels where their risk assessment (and in compliance with BMP4 guidance) shows it to be necessary.
Mr Evitt urged members to visit the Save Our Seafarers’ website and click on the link to send a letter to their local politician. He said: “This is not a petition – it is much more than that. It is a letter in your own name to the government in your country of domicile and I hope that, with more than 26,000 letters to date, we are starting to become a real thorn in their side.”
The President reported on the Association’s progress over the past year, advising members that InterManager has:
• Grown – attracting two new ship manager Full Members and five new Associate Members
• Represented members’ interest at numerous industry bodies, including IMO
• Identified and addressed the important issues facing our sector
• Worked for the improvement of the whole industry, particularly in partnership with Round Table organisations and other international shipping associations
• Raised the Association’s profile – attending over 50 conferences attended by more than 2,000 people as well as delivering lectures and classes in ship management topics and on KPIs
• Improved communications with members by revamping the Association’s website – www.intermanager.org The new website has received more than 7,000 visitors over the past six months
Members also heard progress reports from members of the KPI Project. Mr Evitt said: “This is itself a great success story of a project that has now outgrown our Association but continues to be fully supported by it and I particularly thank George, Alex, Markus and Kuba for their massive contribution.”
Another area where InterManager members have committed time and resources is that of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and this is an area that we will be addressing further through 2012.
Urging members to become more fully involved in the work of the Association, Alastair Evitt praised the work of the Secretary General, Captain Kuba Szymanski, but pointed out: “Kuba, although super, is not superman.”
He asked: “How do we maximise the benefits of our limited resources to benefit our Association and its members best? We punch well above our weight in this industry and that is thanks to the work of a small team supported by our membership, but there is always room for more of you to take part and help us — for example by representing InterManager at industry events or by taking part in working group discussions – so please guys, get in touch and get involved.”
Representatives at the AGM heard presentations from Neil Ferrer, Dr. Toby Abaya, Roger Adamson and Roger Ringstad who all addressed very important aspects in the field of safety, training and welfare. Mr Evitt said: “It goes without saying that our seastaff are the backbone of our industry and our crew managers, our seafarers and their safety and well being are a primary concern of InterManager.”
The AGM’s networking opportunities were sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Aboitiz Jebsen and Thome Members were particularly grateful to Dito Borromeo of Philippine Transmarine Carriers and his staff for helping to organise the event.
There was some disappointment at the number of members able to attend the AGM and the corresponding Executive Committee meeting which immediately followed it. As a result the Secretary General will be contacting all members to identify suitable locations for next year’s ExCom meetings and AGM to ensure a higher turnout. “Lets make 2012 a pilot year, where we try things differently,” said Mr Evitt.
Care For Crew As Well As Environment Says InterManager
Modern corporate social responsibility should include measures to care for crew as well as the environment, says InterManager Secretary General Captain Kuba Szymanski.
Discussing corporate social responsibility (CSR) at this year’s InterManager Annual General Meeting, Capt. Szymanski said: “People talk of ‘hugging trees’, I say let’s hug seafarers first!”
Urging ship managers to embrace crew concerns when implementing a CSR programme, Capt. Szymanski asked: “Why do we care more about birds and whales than we do about seafarers?”
Demonstrating the effects of increasing amounts of legislation, former ship’s Master Capt. Szymanski stripped off an item of clothing for each official law that audience members’ could call out – stopping after tearing off his jacket and tie to the relief of amused delegates attending InterManager’s AGM in Manila, Philippines this week.
“Educate do not regulate,” Capt. Szymanski urged international organisations like the IMO and EU, vowing to ensure InterManager members will work to self-regulate to ensure mandatory regulation is minimised. He later explained: “I am all in favour of protecting wildlife and the environment of course but I want to make sure that it is achievable and manageable. I am a great believer in empowering ships’ crew and Masters to make sensible and correct operational decisions onboard without fear of unfair criminalisation.”
InterManager members, who already sign up to a Code of Conduct, are actively involved in discussions about industry-wide initiatives such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and corporate social responsibility. Capt. Szymanski told them: “In my opinion CSR goes hand in hand with the KPI project.”
InterManager Vice President Honoured
InterManager Vice President George Hoyt has been presented with an industry Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his services to shipping and to seafarers.
Executive Committee member Mr Hoyt chairs InterManager’s Key Performance Indicators Committee and is a director of KPI Association Ltd. He has been instrumental in progressing the KPI Project to produce an industry-wide performance management tool.
Mr Hoyt has been a member of the international shipping community for more than 30 years. In his role as founder of Newslink and The Face Of Shipping website, Mr Hoyt pioneered the production of daily electronic newspapers for crew members, ensuring seafarers were up to date with latest industry initiatives and news. In addition he is a non executive director of computer-based training provider Seagull and a Cyprus Shipping Chamber committee member.
He was presented with his Lifetime Achievement Award during this week’s Asia-Pacific Manning & Training Conference in Manila, Philippines (Nov 16-17). Presenting him with the award, conference chairman and InterManager President Alastair Evitt said: “I have known George for many years and I am delighted to present this award to him in recognition of his commitment to seafarers and to the shipping industry.”
Mr Hoyt told delegates: “I thank InterManager for the trust they have shown in me. We in the shipping industry all need to work together and to trust one another to do all we can for this industry and for the seafarers who are at the heart of it.”
Dispatches No. 79
Please visit our website and submit your petition to your local government to END THE PIRACY
www.intermanager.org
———————————-
AGM – Manila 15th November 2011 followed by Manning and Training Informa seminar
I am pleased to advise that we had a very successful AGM yesterday in Manila. It was a “long day” for all participants who first participated in the presentation and discussion part and then AGM itself, followed closely by the ExCom meeting.
Full report and minutes will be available on the website within next few days.
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Last week:
9 November – Brussels – CDI Convention – Kuba Szymanski attending
11 November – Lisbon – EMSA Maritime Conference – Kuba Szymanski attending
———————–
This Week:
14 November – Manila – KPI Association ltd – Board Meeting – Alex Albertini, George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski attending
15 November – Manila AGM
15-16 November – Dubai – ShipTech – KPI presentation – Simon Pressley representing InterManager
16-17 November – Manila – Manning and Training Conference – Alastair Evitt, Ole Stene, George Hoyt, Markus Schmitz and Kuba Szymanski representing
————–
Looking forward:
22 November – Hong Kong – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
24 November – Singapore – Shipping KPIs seminar – George Hoyt and Kuba Szymanski speaking
30 November – London – Security Conference – Citadel Concept – Kuba Szymanski attending
07 December – London – SOS meeting – Alastair Evitt representing
Discounts for Members:
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Upcoming GAC Training & Service Solutions (GTSS) Training Courses
22nd-24th Nov 2011-CORK-A Complete Guide to Bunkering-NEW COURSE!!!!
To enrol please log onto www.nmci.ie/gtss or contact Ms. Joanne Kelleher at nmci@gac.com
——————————–
Digital Ship is pleased to announce their autumn conferences and exhibitions.
Taking place in:
Athens (22 & 23 November 2011) and
Istanbul (1 December 2011) these are the leading events for maritime IT, satcom, technical,
electronics and navigation managers who want to know about the latest developments in satellite
communications, maritime software, bridge electronics and technology.
Admission is free of charge for employees of shipping companies.
There are also plenty of networking sessions to meet with business partners, customers and peers.
Please go to www.thedigitalship.com or call +44 20 7017 3411
—————————-——————-
17-18 November 2011, London – Riviera – Tanker Safety Conference, Millennium Gloucester Hotel
A two day event focussed on all aspects of operational safety, security and emergency response in the tanker industry, and of direct relevance for charterers, owners, regulators, industry associations, finance and insurance, class, system suppliers and service providers.
www.rivieramm.com/events
Quote members code IM-002 to claim your 10% Discount
——-
29th November – 1st December Intermodal Europe 2011 takes place in Hamburg
Bringing together a mix of high quality speakers and key exhibitors providing visitors with an invaluable industry forum and promises to be the most successful yet. FREE to attend exhibition & conference. Register at www.intermodal-events.com/im
——
5th-6th December – Marine Coatings – Informa, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2283TT
———————–
5th-6th December – A Practical Guide to Fuel Management, Ship Performance and Energy Efficiency: Understanding Operational Savings for Shipping – Bonhill House, London
InterManager members entitled to a discount of 50% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 7th October: £1299- 50% (£649.50) = £629.50 + Tax
Register by 11th November £1399-50% (£699.50) = £699.50 + Tax
Register after 11th November £1499–50% (£749.50) = £749.50 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2284TT
————-
19 – 20 January 2012, London – Riviera – Passenger Ship Safety Conference Millennium Gloucester Hotel,
A two day event focussed on all aspects of operational safety, security and emergency response in the passenger shipping industry and offering an opportunity to discuss current and future issues, gather intelligence and network with key industry stakeholders
www.rivieramm.com/events
Quote members code IM-003 to claim your 10% Discount
Capt. Kuba Szymanski
Secretary General
InterManager
+44 7624 498 266
web: www.intermanager.org
We Must Protect Crews From Horrors Of Piracy Says InterManager President
The “horrors” of piracy have dominated the first year of Meridian Marine Management Managing Director Alastair Evitt’s first year in his role as President of InterManager, the international trade association for the shipmanagement industry.
Summing up his first year representing the world’s third-party and in-house ship managers, Mr Evitt told the InterManager Annual General Meeting today (November 15th) that the fight against global piracy is a priority for his presidency and praised the way the shipping industry has united to fight it.
“With 273 seafarers held hostage at this time, I feel it is appropriate to acknowledge the horrors of international piracy,” Mr Evitt said. “This issue has brought the shipping industry together.” He praised industry initiatives, particularly the Save Our Seafarers campaign and the work of the Maritime Piracy Human Response Programme, and highlighted InterManager’s campaign urging Flag States to allow ship owners and managers the “freedom to choose” whether they wish to deploy armed guards onboard during transits through piracy zones like the Indian Ocean.
Mr Evitt, who has completed the first year of his two-year term of office, said: “Our sea staff are the backbone of our industry and their safety and well being are a primary concern for InterManager.” He also described the process of releasing pirates captured by naval forces as “appalling” and stressed the importance of “reducing the effectiveness of motherships” and of the international community putting in place credible measures to trace and criminalise the financiers of international piracy.
InterManager members have gathered in Manila, Philippines, for today’s AGM. Members will discuss key shipmanagement issues including piracy, the growth of maritime security providers, corporate social responsibility, crew manning and training, in addition to hearing updates on the industry-wide Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Project.
