InterManager's pioneering project to introduce a comparable set of Key Performance Indicators for the shipowning and ship management sectors has moved an important step forward by receiving widespread pan-industry support.
At a full-day meeting of principal stakeholders in London today (June 25) representatives from a wide-range of organisations and associations within the shipping industry, including BIMCO, Intertanko, Intercargo, ICS/ISF, OCIMF, the International Maritime Organisation and the European Commission and various industry interest groups, debated InterManager's KPI project aims and its endeavours received a pan-industry 'thumbs up'.
Dimitrios Theologitis, head of unit for Maritime Transport & Ports Policy, Maritime Security, at the European Commission's DGTREN, praised InterManager's KPI project describing it as “brilliant” claiming that “it goes straight down the path we have been thinking.”
He added: “In January we brought out our maritime strategy for the next 10 years, so we have regulated a lot and created one of the best regulatory environments in the world in terms of safety and environment. It is now the time to capitalise and look forward. This is why we want to ensure there are actions such as the KPI programme, which go beyond the regulations.”
InterManager also announced the signing of an agreement which will see intellectual ownership of the KPI project move from Wilh. Wilhelmsen to InterManager. Phase one of the project, which took three years to complete, has resulted in the production of a range of measureable key performance indicators which InterManager now aims to further develop for use throughout the shipping industry.
Phase two of the KPI project, which is jointly funded by InterManager and the Norwegian Research Council, now begins and leading members of InterManager have committed some 1,100 hours of their staff time to input data for comparison and benchmarking.
Roberto Giorgi, President of InterManager, said: “What was important about today's meeting was the unequivocal support the KPI project received from the shipping industry at large. It is now up to the stakeholders to finalise the project whereby the thirty five chosen KPIs will be available to owners and managers to ensure they manage and operate their ships to the highest standards.”