THE SHIP SUPPLIER ISSUE 99

IForeword

Dear ISSA Members and Maritime Colleagues

speak to you just a few months after a very successful ISSA 65 Conference and Gala Dinner in Dubai. An event which not only brought hundreds of ISSA members and shipowners and managers together for high quality networking and debate, but which was the launch of our newly branded ‘Meet the Customer’ (MTC) initiative which proved to be a bigger success than we could have imagined.

Good ship supply is all about knowing your customer which is why our MTC initiative proved so popular with buyers as well as suppliers in Dubai, and we will be building on this momentum to produce an event even stronger during ISSA 66 in Seville.

This is also the last time I will be writing this Foreword as your President as my term has now come to an end. I am delighted to be handing over the Presidential baton to my friend and colleague Rafael Fernandez and I am delighted to have been asked to be his Senior Executive Vice President, a position I will take up on January 1st next year.

I look forward to supporting him and the rest of the Executive Board over the next three years and it remains for me to thank all of you, the ISSA members, for your help and support during my period as President. I am proud to have held the position and ISSA will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Thank you. u

You can keep up to date with the latest news on the ISSA website at www.shipsupply.org and send in your comments and views to the ISSA Secretariat either by phone on +44 (0)20 7626 6236; Fax +44 (0)20 7626 6234 or alternatively email secretariat@shipsupply.org

Saeed Al Malik ISSA President

North America & Canada

Robert Zeagman, ISSA Assembly Member for Canada, and Vice-President of the Canadian Ship Supply & Services Association, highlights the impact of a recent strike in his country’s vital St Lawrence Seaway and reviews the continent’s burgeoning ship supply sector

The ship supply industry serves as the backbone of maritime trade, ensuring the smooth operation of vessels, from cargo ships to luxury liners.

In North America and Mexico, this sector plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade and commerce.

However, recent events, notably the strike along the St. Lawrence Seaway, have sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving a lasting impact on the regional and national economies.

The ship supply industry in North America has a rich history, dating back to the early days of transatlantic trade. The region’s expansive coastlines and strategic positioning have made it a hub for maritime activities. Over the years, the industry has evolved, adopting advanced technologies and modern business practices to meet the ever-growing demands of global trade.

North America boasts a robust network of ship supply companies, ranging from small local enterprises to multinational corporations. These entities provide a diverse array of products and services, including fuel, spare parts, provisions, and maintenance services. Major ports such as New York, Los Angeles, and Vancouver serve as pivotal hubs, handling a significant portion of the continent’s maritime traffic.

The ship supply industry operates within a complex regulatory framework, with stringent standards set by national and international maritime authorities. Compliance with safety, environmental, and labor regulations is paramount, ensuring the well-being of both the crew and the marine ecosystem. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainability within the industry, with many companies adopting eco-friendly practices and technologies.

Mexico, with its extensive coastlines along the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, is emerging as a key player in the ship supply industry. The country’s strategic location makes it an attractive destination for maritime trade, and its growing economy has led to increased demand for ship-related services. Mexican ports, including Veracruz and Altamira, are witnessing significant developments to accommodate the rising trade volumes.

While Mexico presents lucrative opportunities for the ship supply industry, it also faces unique challenges. Infrastructure gaps, regulatory complexities, and the need for skilled labor are among the hurdles that industry players must navigate. However, these challenges also create opportunities for investment and innovation, as companies seek to address gaps in the market and enhance the efficiency of supply chain operations.

The St. Lawrence Seaway, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, serves as a vital trade route for North America. Its efficient operation is crucial for the movement of goods, including raw materials and finished products. A recent strike along this critical waterway sent shockwaves through the entire ship supply chain.

The strike disrupted the flow of goods and services, leading to delays in ship movements and supply chain disruptions. Ship supply companies along the affected route faced challenges in meeting the demands of vessels waiting for passage. The domino effect rippled through the industry, affecting not only the companies directly involved in the strike but also those dependent on timely deliveries for their operations.

The economic impact of the St. Lawrence Seaway strike reverberated beyond the immediate stakeholders. Industries relying on just-in-time inventory systems experienced shortages, leading to production delays and increased

costs. The ripple effect extended to local economies, with businesses in port cities feeling the pinch of reduced maritime activity.

In the face of adversity, the ship supply industry demonstrated resilience through collaborative efforts. Companies along the affected route worked together to find alternative routes and solutions to mitigate the impact of the strike. This incident highlighted the importance of communication and co-ordination within the industry to navigate unforeseen challenges.

The strike prompted government intervention to mediate labor disputes and restore normalcy along the St. Lawrence Seaway. Authorities worked closely with industry stakeholders to expedite the resolution process, recognizing the broader implications for the regional and national economies.

The St. Lawrence Seaway strike served as a wake-up call for the ship supply industry, prompting a re-evaluation of risk management strategies. Companies began re-assessing their dependence on specific routes and exploring diversification options to enhance resilience in the face of unforeseen events.

The ship supply industry in North America and Mexico is a dynamic and vital component of the global maritime trade network. Recent events, such as the St. Lawrence Seaway strike, underscore the interconnected nature of this industry and the broader economic consequences of disruptions.

As the sector continues to evolve, adaptability, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainable practices will be essential to navigate the ever-changing tides of the ship supply chain. u

www.seagulf.com

St Lawrence Seaway

Central & South America

Rafael Gallerano, leading ship supplier in Venezuela, draws attention to export opportunities in his region

To understand the future of maritime trade and its logical influence on the business of all companies linked to ship services, it is important to consider the prospects for exports from Latin America and the Caribbean for 2024.

For 2024, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) projects an expansion of 3.3%, which, if realised, should boost the region’s exports.

In Venezuela, the outlook for maritime trade in 2024 is subject to several factors. Given the country’s complex economic and political situation, projections are uncertain.

Here are some relevant points:

• Relaxation of sanctions: A relaxation of sanctions and authorisation of executive licenses for oil joint ventures is expected.

• Well revival and production: Companies such as Chevron, Schlumberger and others could increase oil exports.

These factors, long awaited by all port service companies and, above all, by those linked to our activity - the Shipchandlers - give a breath of hope to see some light, albeit dim, at the end of the tunnel.

Other countries in the area, such as Colombia and Panama, continue with moderate but stable growth, which allows sustained work with constant but not high profits, that for the times we live in, is more than positive.

Referring to the South American giants of Brazil and Argentina, I dare to say that a promising future in exports will benefit all companies linked to ship services.

The war in Ukraine, the main producer of grains and oilseeds that supplies Europe, is encouraging Latin

American producing countries to increase their exports to the old continent.

As a producer of raw materials, it will always be necessary to keep the region in consideration as a potential giant.

That is why all the members of our association in the area do not give up and fight every day to maintain quality of service and competitive prices without forgetting the cleanliness of our seas and the sustainability of the environment as a daily goal.

Professionalism, together with the faith that a more stable future is getting closer every day, means that the path towards

sustainable development in maritime trade allows us to continue investing in improving infrastructures.

In addition, training our employees and improving credit lines with international banks in order to continue providing a quality service at competitive prices remains of great importance.

This guarantees shipowners, agents and caterers, the ability to count on all ISSA members at all times. u

www.italmarinegroup.com

Editorial credit: Jose Luis Stephens / Shutterstock.com

Green ISSA

AkzoNobel and Silverstream Technologies release white paper to help ship owners cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions

Ship operators can reduce their fuel use and emissions output by using Silverstream Technologies’ air lubrication system (ALS) with AkzoNobel’s fouling control coatings, a new white paper has revealed.

Marine industry experts from both businesses have collaborated to show that a combination of air lubrication and the right fouling control coatings can reduce hull resistance and increase efficiency to give vessel owners a “clear competitive edge”.

A recent Webinar* explored the benefits of the solutions whilst operating in tandem.

Silverstream’s proven ALS, the Silverstream® System, generates a microbubble carpet beneath a ship’s hull to reduce the vessel’s frictional resistance, while AkzoNobel provides protective coatings and effective fouling control to minimise a ship’s frictional resistance through maintenance of a smooth and clean hull surface.

Three benefits are immediately apparent:

1. The Silverstream® System does not have a detrimental effect on the performance of fouling control coatings.

2. It can act in synergy with ultra-performance biocidal or foul release coatings to aid the removal of fouling.

3. Ultra-performance biocidal or foul release coatings can work in synergy with the Silverstream® System to help maintain, and even improve, the ALS’s resistance reduction capabilities.

A recent report by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) identifies the need to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.

The most straightforward pathway to adhere to the various regulatory measures and reduce the carbon emissions related to maritime transport, is found in addressing the fuel consumption.

The combined solution aims to reduce the ship hull’s frictional resistance to achieve energy savings.

AkzoNobel’s Intertrac Vision, which has a proven track record of savings, can be used to provide future performance prediction for a range of deep-sea trading vessels.

The industry-first tool helps ship owners save a forecasted 9% on power, 5,000 tonnes of fuel and more than 15,000 tonnes of green gas emissions over five years with an ultra-performance fouling control coating compared to a lower-performing industry standard product for a typical 171k cubic meter LNG vessel.

Meanwhile, Silverstream’s ALS offers savings of between five and 11% depending on the type of ship.

Barry Kidd, AkzoNobel Vessel Performance Manager and white paper co-author, said: “Collaboration is key to maritime decarbonisation and we have embarked upon an exciting project with our partner, Silverstream Technologies to further support the shipping industry in its pursuit of sustainability.

“The synergy between our technologies can provide ship operators with a clear competitive edge whilst helping them to comply with ever-tightening IMO regulations.

“By adopting a holistic approach in maintaining a smooth and clean hull to reduce vessel resistance, we are convinced that the careful selection of fouling control coatings, in combination with a proven air lubrication system, will benefit ship operators significantly enabling them to lower their fuel bills and reduce their carbon emissions in the near term.”

Arno Dubois, Silverstream Technologies’ Lead Hydrodynamicist and white paper co-author, said: “We are continually on the lookout for opportunities to enhance the fuel and emissions savings potential of our technology, and collaborative projects such as this one with AkzoNobel offer a fantastic chance to explore the symbiotic relationship between our ALS and other highly effective energy efficiency technologies.” u

Medical & Safety

A busy time in Amsterdam for Wescom Group with three significant product launches

The huge METS Exhibition in Amsterdam never fails to deliver a raft of new products and significant upgrades to many more.

This time we focus on three product launches by the Wescom Group:

• A new “Man Overboard” device

• SOLAS Medical Kit range

• Survival rations range

The sMRT ALERT represents the digitisation of Man Overboard (MOB) beacons, with two-way signalling, real-time location tracking via AIS (Automatic Identification System) and using DSC (Digital Selective Calling) to alert nearby vessels to the call for help. The sMRT ALERT’s user focused safety innovations have been recognised at this year’s METSTRADE exhibition by being nominated for a coveted DAME Award.

Offering the latest technology for wearable personal safety devices and providing a new level of reassurance for the user, the sMRT ALERT includes a beacon management app to connect the beacon to your smart phone.

This simplifies device use and makes it convenient to check on activation status

and the power reserves in the five-year battery.

The firm launched its new range of medical kits which included Category C and SOLAS Medical Kits designed to address minor first aid needs while aboard a ship or in lifeboats and life rafts. Each kit contains a mandated assortment of medical supplies and equipment necessary for handling various emergency situations. The kit expiry date is covered by a holographic label, which is tamperproof and are supplied in a heavy duty waterproof re-sealable pouch to ensure their durability for a marine environment.

Earlier this year Wescom Group acquired UK-based ANP Pharma, a specialist provider of comprehensive personalised medical services. Licensed

by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the integration of ANP Pharma into the Wescom Group provides the legally required standard of worldwide medical services and product fulfilment anywhere in the world, to a variety of sectors including leisure yachting, commercial maritime, offshore sector and cruise lines.

The new emergency rations range includes:

• * Emergency Drinking Water manufactured to stringent German hygiene control standards and packed in nitrogen-rich air and watertight alu-foil. With a five-year shelf life, it is globally approved to meet ISO standard 18813:2022 and directive (EU) 2020/2184.

• *Emergency Rations Survival Nutritional Pack developed to minimise size and conforming to ISO18813:2022 and approved by Lloyds Register and USCG to meet the requirements for survival food. Vegan, using sustainable palm oil and free of GMO, each pack consists of nine high energy bars in vacuum sealed alu-foil to maintain freshness. Each pack weighs 500g and provides an average of 10,150kJ of energy and has a five-year shelf life. u

www.wescom-group.com

Empowering Port Agents and Vendors

Technology Revolutionises the Competitive Landscape, says Alexandros Trachanas, Chief Operating Officer at Harbor Lab

Digitalisation is making waves across all areas of the shipping industry.

Its benefits are being felt at every level: from leveraging data to improve vessel and voyage efficiency, including improved navigation setups and enhanced spare parts delivery visibility.

Ports are also becoming smarter, with automation and efficiency gains being made throughout the process. A critical yet overlooked part of the shipping tech ecosystem are ship agents, whose local knowledge and relationships are heavily relied on by principals. Ship suppliers also work closely with ship agents.

Our data from Harbor Lab shows that port expenses scale up over the course of a year and it is no surprise that the maritime disbursements account (DA) industry is estimated to be worth $200 billion annually.

Advancements in technology here can enhance the handling of port calls, allowing principals, owners, charterers, agents and vendors to benefit from the myriad of operational and commercial gains.

Typically, most of the DA business is dominated by global shipping agencies, i.e. large agencies that often act as middlemen and appoint local agents to deliver the actual service to their clients. Especially in the tramp

trade where vessel owners may not have established on the ground relationships in a new to them port, it is these smaller, independent agents who miss out as they do not necessarily have a steady stream of vessels to attend to.

There are more than 4,500 agents and vendors registered in Harbor Lab’s integrated Agency Directory and over 1,300 registered vessels from numerous companies using our DA tool to handle their port calls.

This means that local agents can utilise digitalisation the better to showcase their services to a wider audience.

The right technology can help level the playing field in this competitive market, allowing local agents and vendors to open themselves up to new business opportunities. At the same time, Principals can enjoy access to a large pool of agents around the Globe.

The Harbor Lab platform was primarily designed to manage port expenses but has quickly become a welcomed addition in streamlining the full DA processes regardless of expense type.

As part of this, the system improves the overall transparency of port-related activities and enhances the reach of registered ship agents and vendors – no matter if they are local or global.

Recognizing the need to support local agents in expanding their market share, Harbor Lab is equipping them with the means to stand out through a groundbreaking evaluation tool.

Announced recently at our 1st Global Agent Summit in Athens, this tool will help agents set themselves apart based on the quality of services provided rather than just price.

Principals will also have a reliable mechanism to trust and engage with new agents based on evaluations from their peers.

Reviews and performance metrics are at the heart of this differentiation.

Studies in various industries have shown that buyers are willing to pay more for suppliers boasting excellent reviews. These reviews build trust and credibility without the need for extensive marketing expenses, serving as powerful door-openers in business relationships.

Agents and vendors are empowered to showcase their fees, availability, and capabilities. This ensures that every

Alexandros Trachanas

agent and vendor, regardless of whether they’re a local agent operating from a port-side office or a representative of an international company, has an equal opportunity to win the business, fostering a competitive and fair marketplace.

Quotations and fees can be requested, discussed, and agreed directly without the need for intermediary parties and their associated fees.

Principals will now be able to make an informed decision when appointing the agent they wish to work with directly based on different qualitative and quantitative criteria.

Utilising technology can enable smaller agents with less administrative capacity to enhance their efficiency. For instance, less time is spent on laborious manual tasks such as manual data entry, as Harbor Lab’s automated system can auto-populate DA documents based on historical data to help streamline and reduce the traditionally huge quantities of paperwork required, which can be administratively overwhelming for smaller agents.

It’s these smaller players who face such significant challenges in entering a market dominated by larger, established players. But this isn’t about prioritising the

local agents. Agents of all sizes and scope deliver invaluable services at ports across the world and we are here to support them all by taking part in the creation of a level playing field for all.

Herein lies the immense potential for technology to empower all agents and revolutionise the competitive landscape. Platforms like Harbor Lab, primarily designed to streamline DA processes, are making a significant difference.

A fair and equitable marketplace is crucial as it empowers both smaller and larger agents and vendors to thrive. By breaking down barriers and fostering healthy competition in the ship agents’ market, we can encourage better service quality and drive efficiency for ship owners, operators and managers.

[Editor’s Note: this interesting article highlights valuable possibilities for smaller ship suppliers world-wide who can also harness the technology to gain equal access to market. We thank Harbor Lab]

www.harborlab.com

Port & Agency Services

Jonathan Williams (General Manager of FONASBA) provides a valuable update on global developments in the ship agents and ship brokers busy environment

It is with great pleasure that I am putting pen to paper once again at the invitation of your Editor to provide a roundup of the issues affecting ship agents and ship brokers in 2023.

Over the past year, our actions have particularly focussed on the digitalisation of the maritime sector, customs matters (a perennial issue!) and, more recently, the impact of environmental legislation and organised crime.

At both IMO and the European Commission, we continue to ensure that the needs of ship agents (and especially our smaller members) are recognised, engaged and accommodated as digitalisation of the sector continues unabated.

Whilst large ship agency groups, and the agency departments of major shipowners, can undertake the seamless provision of digital data for customs procedures and vessel reporting by machine to machine (M2M) processes, we must not forget that many ship agency companies are small and rely on commercial solutions to present information digitally.

FONASBA therefore continues to argue for the retention of web-based, graphic-user interfaces for communication with single windows for the maritime and customs domains.

We are also part of the working group within the IMO FAL Committee developing a set of Port Community Systems guidelines to ensure the work of these vital service providers remain at the core of ship and customs reporting regimes.

Smaller agents rely almost totally on the PCS to communicate electronically with customs and maritime authorities, and they must be retained within the ship/shore interface framework.

The “Just in Time” vessel arrival and departure project in IMO has also caught our attention and we are carefully monitoring its development.

As always, we keep a close and continuous watch on customs developments, including the delayed implementation of the revised Import Control System (ICS2) and the discussions relating to the new Union Customs Code.

Digitalisation is also impacting on the role of the agent in managing crew changes and passenger handling, although the European Entry & Exit System (EES), and its sibling, the European Traveller Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), continue to be held up by technical issues. Thankfully, their impact on seafarers will be mitigated to a certain extent by allowing Seafarer Identification Documents to continue to be used, but processing thousands of incoming cruise passengers on arrival at the first European port will lead to operational and logistical problems.

We are also closely watching the introduction of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme on 1st January, and particularly the belated recognition that it may have a detrimental impact on Europe’s ports and associated logistics chains as shipowners move to ports in neighbouring countries outside the EU.

Finally, and sometimes tragically, organised crime is targeting the ship agency sector as it seeks new ways to transport drugs.

By taking advantage of vulnerable individuals working in ship agency offices, often gaining their compliance by coercion or intimidation, drug traffickers can access security systems and bypass controls designed to prevent the unauthorised release of containers and access to the port.

Whilst FONASBA and others have recently raised awareness of this problem in European ports, self-evidently it is a global issue.

ECASBA and the World Shipping Council held a very successful event during the European Shipping Summit in Brussels in September, and during our Annual Meeting in Amman. We will continue to raise awareness of this new and disturbing development at every opportunity.

There is no sign that the pace of activity within FONASBA will slow in 2024 and we look forward to the challenges that await us. u

www.fonasba.com

“Internet connectivity has been said to have a strong effect on the mental well-being of seafarers.” (The ILO (International Labour Organization)

“Inadequate communication with their family and friends,” is reported as a major reason crew abandon their career at sea. (SAFETY4SEA)

90% of today’s goods are moved around the globe on ships, an impossible feat without our commercial seafarers.

When we look at the history of maritime connectivity, it has come a long way in terms of technological advancement, but not necessarily to the benefit of the seafarer.

Innovations have improved the onboard processes of communication, navigation, information transmission, operational coordination, and safety.

While these are vital to vessel operations, they overlook a vital piece of the puzzle: crew welfare.

According to the International Chamber of Shipping, there are over 1.8 million active seafarers on commercial vessels around the globe. And recent reports of the Seafarer’s Happiness Index have indicated that lack of connectivity and inadequate data allocation remains a key source of discontent among crew.

As one seafarer reported earlier this year, “My data limit barely allows my phone to wake up,” despite the fact that the right to connectivity for seafarers on vessels has been mandated in the May 2022 updates to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).

Crew Welfare & Connectivity –A Critical Issue for Maritime

This conversation about connectivity and crew welfare also needs to address the unique characteristics of Gen Z.

Born between 1996 and 2015, Gen Z is the primary generational group entering the workforce over the next several years. Gen Z mariners have never lived a life without the Internet. They are accustomed to interacting with each other, their family, and friends daily – and this does not change when they’re at sea.

A recent Seafarer Workforce Report warns of a serious shortage of seafarers by 2026, a shortage that must be filled by this all-important group. The ILO (International Labour Organization) advises, “The access to Internet connection aboard a ship is a significant factor for young seafarers’ decisions to pursue this career.”

Crew-focused content goes hand-in-hand with technology to ensure that crew are happy and healthy onboard their vessels.

A first-class crew content service like KVH Link offers news, sports, music, karaoke, TV, and movies in an array of languages, to meet the needs of various demographics onboard.

Seafarers enjoy content that connects them to home, and they benefit from a content hub that can allow them to connect with shipmates and enjoy movies nights, karaoke, and other bonding activities onboard.

Connectivity technology has come a long way in meeting a vessel’s needs for basic operations. Fleets now have a spectrum of connectivity options, including VSAT, 5G/LTE, Wi-Fi, LEO solutions like Starlink, and hybrid solutions like KVH’s TracNet that integrate multiple options, automatically switching to the best and most cost-effective channel.

However, connectivity is also a fundamental right for seafarers, and the industry is still working to provide the technology and content essential to crew wellness.

Delivering these vital services to today’s crew not only benefits these valued seafarers, it also benefits the company’s business objectives in recruiting and retaining crew, and keeping the flow of commerce moving across the globe.

Are you looking to provide crew-retaining connectivity on your vessel to meet the needs of the Gen Z mariner? u

Download this free white paper today! kvh.com/genz

Environmental impact hits Panama Canal

This year’s very low rainfall in Panama, partly a result of the El Nino weather effect, combined with increased evaporation from global warming has exacerbated the Canal’s ongoing struggle to ensure sufficient freshwater levels to manage vessel transits. Water from critical sites like the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes, which rely on rainfall and river inflows, are used not only to work the canal’s lock systems but also to supply Panama with water for industry and human consumption.

Opened in 1914, the 80km Panama Canal remains a vital conduit for trade between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, last year crossed by some 32,000 vessels. Container carriers and bulk carriers are the heaviest users by vessel segment. But each transit carries a heavy toll on the country’s freshwater system, requiring some 50 million gallons.

Restrictions have therefore been introduced by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) on the draft and number of vessels transiting the waterway, with the measures expected to stay in place until at least early 2024.

Inevitably traffic delays resulted. For example, at end August the ACP reported that a total of 135 vessels were waiting to transit the Canal at the Atlantic and Pacific entrances combined. Of these, 53 had made reservations and would transit the Canal “without delay” on their scheduled date, it added, while vessels without reservations

“would experience a wait of 9 to 10 days, up from the usual 5-day wait”. In addition, the number of reservation slots available had also been reduced, local observers reported, meaning more vessels were forced to experience the longer delays.

The ACP claimed that “while the goal is to keep queues below 90 vessels”, the backlog was not unprecedented and had been encountered in previous years.

Explaining the maths behind restrictions to conserve water, the authority pointed out that the Gatun reservoir was currently receiving a daily inflow from rainfall and river flow amounting to 7 cubic hectometres (hm³) or 7 million cubic metres. However, the combined outflows from Canal operations, evaporation, human consumption, and industry were amounting to 10 hm³, it said,

resulting in “a daily deficit of 3 hm³”. In a year with typical rainfall, the water inflow would average 15 hm³ per day, it added, more than twice the current level.

RESTRICTIONS

To cope with the shortfall, the ACP firstreduced available maximum draft at the Neopanamax lock, to 45.5 feet in May and then in August to 44 feet (13.41 metres) - meaning some container vessels passing through have had to unload a portion of their containers to transport overland before loading them, introducing further delays. At the later date the number of overall transits of the canal was also restricted, from the average 36 vessels a day ‘in normal circumstances’ to a maximum of 32.

At the same time the ACP said that its traffic figures showed the Canal remained the primary route for 57.5% of the total cargo transported in container ships from Asia to the eastern coast of the US, a level unchanged from 2022 figures.

A month later, at end September, the drought situation had not improved and the ACP cut the maximum number of transits allowed by a further one to 31nine through the Neopanamax lock and 22 through the Panamax one, effective November 1. Changes were also made to the Reservation System, to try and reduce the number of waiting vessels, which the ACP said at the time was a total of 93 vessels, in fact less than the 97 a year previously, although the figures it released showed the number of these at the Neopanamax lock (26) was more than double that of a year earlier (12).

However, the ACP stressed that the Panama Canal remained the preferred route for the container carrier segment, which it claimed had been “minimally impacted by the adjustments to draft and transits associated with the measures incorporated to conserve water.”

Analysts Drewry Maritime Research noted in mid-September that average vessel passage time through the canal had risen to 10 days in August 2023, compared 2.7 days a year earlier, adding that some vessels had taken as long 16 days. While

all vessel segments have suffered from the congestion, in August the disruption appears to have impacted Handysize and Supramax vessels more several than Panamaxes, it noted.

Ominously, it continued that “As the impact of El Nino is likely to intensify, we expect restrictions to remain in place resulting in higher voyage costs. If shippers continue operating on their normal trade routes, the longer waiting times will increase operating costs.”

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

Drewry went on to explore the options of shifting to the alternative route of rounding South America using the Magellan Strait, which for a five-yearold traditional Panamax moving on the Colombia-Chile route would see a rise of a minimum 34% in voyage costs, it said. Similarly a vessel currently moving from the US Gulf to China would see a 28% rise in costs if it moved through the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Panama Canal.

Since each additional waiting day on the traditional route through the canal raises bunker and charter hire costs, Drewry estimates that more than 22 days of waiting time due to congestion will negate the differential between the two routes from USG to China, while it would be more economical for shippers to move through the Magellan Strait on the Colombia-Chile route if waiting days were more than 12 in Panama, as voyage costs would be breakeven.

“However, re-routing of vessels is not always feasible,” it went on to say, “certainly not without an increase in cost. Trade on the WCSA-Continent route is facing critical issues right now as there is

a lack of backhaul cargo to ECSA to make the alternative route commercially viable. Many commodities like grain and soybean are seasonal, making shifts in trade sources difficult. As the export season of the US soybean kicks in next month, trade on the USG-China route will be affected due to the continued congestion. However, EU imports of metal concentrates like lithium and copper from Chile and Peru can become more costly as voyage rates increase. This might impact trade patterns, leading to an increase in the trade of metal concentrates between Argentina and the EU.”

All of which suggests that Panama rainfall and canal water levels are something to watch carefully, particularly given the increasing effects of extreme weather and climate change. Isaac Hankes, Senior Weather Analyst at London Stock Exchange Group, comments that the Panama Canal’s very low water levels were the result of drought conditions that rapidly developed from the beginning of the year through June, which represented “a departure from a long-term wetter trend as reflected by data from 1981-present.

“While the low rainfall rate itself is not historic in nature over the long-term,” he adds, “2023 does show the largest decline in rainfall rate year over year on the record. This sudden drying after a wet 2022 is the likely culprit for the rapid drop in canal water levels.

“Furthermore, season forecast guidance through the end of the year suggests that dry weather could persist. This means that Panama Canal water levels are likely to remain exceptionally low for months ahead.” l

New safety study demonstrates value of live discharge testing for CO2 fire extinguishing systems

Global Survival Technology solutions provider Survitec has released results of pioneering tests conducted on high-pressure CO2 fire extinguishing systems aboard three Floating Production Storage and Unloading vessels, known as FPSOs.

The full-release tests, believed to be the first to be conducted on vessels of this type and of such protected volume, confirmed the value to shipyards and ship operators of live testing to verify on-paper or on-screen predictions of fire system performance.

Michał Sadzyński, Product Manager, Survitec, said: “The important take-home for the industry here is that some of the protected spaces did not pass the tests the first time.

“This suggests there may be other vessels and offshore structures out there with potentially underperforming CO2 fire extinguishing systems in fire-critical areas such as switchboard rooms, engine rooms and generator houses.”

The tests were conducted as per NFPA’s (National Fire Protection Agency’s) NFPA12 Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems, published in 2011, allowing a calculation-based prediction of system performance.

This was upgraded by NFPA in 2018 to a much stronger standard and regulations advocating live, full discharge testing of all cylinders along with the constant monitoring of CO2 and oxygen concentrations over a 20-minute period in all protected spaces.

Survitec has designed and released a new set of test protocols (HPCO2) around the most recent annexes to the NFPA12 standard, with these initial tests on the three FPSOs conducted in a variety of scenarios and vessel operations from moored in the oil field to within the shipyard delivering the conversion.

“The devised live test comes as close as is practical to creating the demands of an actual fire aboard. On large vessels like FPSOs, it involves opening hundreds of cylinders – for example, in the engine room of one of these FPSOs, 315 cylinders were released,” revealed Mr Sadzyński.

“We have found that the release of large amounts of highly pressurised gas into a partially closed space usually uncovers some engineering challenges within the enclosed space, rather than with the delivery system itself,” he said.

Survitec saw this most clearly in the switchboard room test aboard the first FPSO to be tested, where the space was gas-tight due to the unrelated system requirements for the air conditioning system.

Michał Sadzyński, Product Manager, Survitec

During the live test, the rapid pressure increases in the space found the weakest point, which in this case was the door, causing damage. This damage reduced the gas integrity of the space, allowing CO2 gas to escape, leading to test failure.

On the second FPSO, another key finding was that a machinery space or compartment cannot always be assumed to be airtight. In one test, the gas collecting inside the space started to escape through leaks, leading to a drop in concentration and test failure.

As Mr Sadzyński explained: “There are often relatively simple and inexpensive fixes in these scenarios. Overpressure in air-conditioned spaces can be resolved by implementing a time delay on one of the fire dampers. This allows overpressurised gas to escape from the space and then closes when the pressure becomes stable, thereby keeping the CO2 concentration at the required level. This was the solution for the switchboard room on the first vessel to be tested.”

There is, of course, an expense associated with fullrelease testing as the CO2 cylinders are completely exhausted in the test and require replacement to recharge the system. Additionally, CO2 is not a human-friendly gas, so if the vessel is in operation, all personnel or crew need to be relocated to a safe space. But as Mr Sadzyński acknowledged,

the consequence of operating a system that fails to perform in a real-world scenario could be catastrophic.

“It is important to emphasise that designing a vessel is a highly complex process, encompassing hull structure, compartment layouts, ventilation systems and so on, which all interlink with the design of the fire suppression systems.

“As the build progresses, any amendments or deviations that are introduced can have unforeseen consequences that impact system performance – the most critical being the failure of a fire extinguishing system during emergency firefighting operations.

“This study shows very clearly the limitations of modelling the performance of a fire suppression system within a virtual environment at the vessel design stage versus a real-world test.

“For safety-critical vessels in particular, such as FPSOs, tankers and gas carriers, Survitec encourages shipyards and owners to consider additional safeguards, such as live discharge testing, as proposed in the new guidelines.

“The guidelines are there not only to protect lives better but also assets. The data collected from these tests are invaluable in helping us design even better and more efficient fire suppression systems,” concluded Mr Sadzyńsk. u

www.survitecgroup.com

One of the protected spaces on board the FPSO

LALIZAS Fast & Independent Liferaft Exchange (F&I) | Liferaft Compliance as a Service

LALIZAS Fast & Independent Liferaft Exchange (F&I) is a unique proposal to Ship Managers/Owners, a multibrand exchange program, without the need of a contract, available globally.

F&I Exchange targets the blue water market. Specifically, this includes -but not limited to- vessels, ship owners, ship managers/management companies and individual owners.

It embraces the most beneficial aspects of the traditional liferaft ‘spot market’ while also offering the operational benefits of liferaft ‘rental’.

F&I solves the problem for blue water vessels that constantly change routes. This means that current rental setups might take the vessels on a route that does not have an exchange point. At the same time, there is a spot market, where they have to deal with different lead times, currencies, invoicing companies, each port call they make, giving a big workload to the person in charge for arranging the vessel’s service/maintenance.

F&I provides the solution to the above issues by being a hybrid model between the two aforementioned options. LALIZAS managed to combine the best aspects of the two existing options in the market, resulting in liferaft exchange without the requirement of any particular OEM brand & without contracts, while maintaining liferaft ownership. It is important to mention that all these are provided at a fixed fee.

LALIZAS Fast & Independent Liferaft Exchange (F&I) is available in key ports around the world, through the support of the manufacturer’s partners all over the world.

Regardless of the port location where the exchange operation may take place, F&I offers convenience of a

single point of contact, management system of 90-60-30 days, invoicing and customer support, all provided through LALIZAS.

F&I is a purely service centric offering, since it has been designed without the need of complex agreements (no entry or exit costs).

This is a genuine new method in the market for liferaft compliance in addition to the ‘spot market’ or the ‘rental’ offer which currently exist in the market today. F&I will bring more value towards the marine safety industry & LSA generally by simplifying & focusing on providing a service; for F&I that service is simple: Liferaft Compliance. u

For more details, you can contact safetyservices@lalizas.com

Ivalua to Boost the Efficiency of Wilhelmsen’s Procurement and Supplier Management.

Sophie Lewis reports

Ivalua, a global leader in spend management, and its partner KPMG Norway, have announced that the Norwegian maritime industry group, Wilhelmsen, has selected Ivalua’s Source-toContract (S2C) solution to increase further the efficiency of its procurement and supplier management processes.

Wilhelmsen is a global maritime industry group providing essential products and services to the global merchant fleet. The company also specialises in supplying crew and technical management to large and highly complex vessels.

In addition, Wilhelmsen also seek to develop new opportunities and collaborations in renewables, zero-emission shipping, and marine digitalisation.

Headquartered in Oslo, Wilhelmsen has 247 offices in 58 countries, with more than 15,000 employees.

The Wilhelmsen group has selected Ivalua for its marketleading out-of-the-box functionalities in Supplier Qualification, Risk & Performance Management, Sourcing and Contract Lifecycle Management.

“Digitising and streamlining our supplier management operations represents a fundamental part of our ongoing

commitment to shaping the maritime industry and continuing to pioneer innovative solutions,” said Jennifer Marie Stene, VP Customer Success & Procurement at Wilhelmsen.

“With optimised procurement processes and the added visibility into our supply chain provided by Ivalua, we anticipate a further increase in business efficiency and improved collaboration with our value chain partners”.

Dan Amzallag, Chief Operating Officer at Ivalua said: “The unrivalled flexibility of the Ivalua platform empowers Wilhelmsen to address all spend from all its suppliers and streamline processes to unlock competitive advantages.

“We look forward to playing an important part in the digitalisation journey of one of the global leaders in the maritime industry.”

Martin Molnberg, Procurement Digital Transformation Lead at KPMG Norway commented: “Ivalua’s leading practice out-ofthe-box functionalities, combined with the ability for Wilhelmsen to customise the solution, is a key enabler to ensure successful implementation and adoption in Wilhelmsen.” u www.ivalua.com

New Year, New Challenges –and Old Ones Too 2

says Roger Symes, Director, Marine Debt Management

023 saw changes in the shipping industry that will likely gather speed in 2024. Some are no doubt good for ship suppliers; others present challenges both old and new.

Thankfully, the market for vessels serving the offshore oil and gas industry is finally coming out of the doldrums. In 2014 the sudden, dramatic, fall in the worldwide price for oil caused exploration and production companies to drastically cut back their work offshore. Consequently, demand for OSVs (Offshore Support Vessels) fell off a cliff. Some owners were able to survive through financial restructuring but many were forced into bankruptcy.

Now, almost a decade later, things are starting to look much better. Charter rates have improved. There is even talk of newbuildings again!

2023 saw several major fleets change hands, as financially stronger players were able to pick up fleets belonging to companies that had only survived by swapping debt for equity. Their lenders-turned-shareholders were anxious to be shot of the unwelcome burden of vessel ownership.

The process of disposing of unwanted ships will pick up speed in 2024. There are still many OSVs lying laid-up for many years. Decisions will need to be made as to when and if they are sold, scrapped or returned to service. Some will go to new owners, banking on picking up both bargains and attractive charters.

That may be too much to ask of a still saturated market. Underestimate the cost of bringing ships back into service, then realise the only demand is sporadic voyage charters and soon there is not enough cash to go around. Guess who will be expected to wait to be paid? Yes, ship suppliers, of course.

Whilst the offshore market is gently warming up, the container industry has caught a nasty cold, one that will prove fatal for some. The post COVID-19 pandemic bubble has well and truly burst. The major lines are cutting back on the services they provide and increasing ‘slot-sharing’ partnerships to reduce vessel sailings. After several years of consolidation, there are few acquisition targets left. They look less attractive in a falling market.

Container shipping is complicated by the dominance of the major lines and the prevalence of so called ‘tonnage providers’: that is ship owners who depend upon time chartering their ships to liner operators. Their viability is closely tied to those operators, who employ a mixture of owned and chartered in ships.

Some liner companies believe they have amassed sufficient cash piles during the recent boom years to tide them over the lean years to come. Nevertheless, doubts remain.

Maersk, for many years the world’s largest owner and operator of container ships, has announced that it needs to make 10,000 job cuts to stay viable as it seeks to transition from a shipping company to becoming a door-to-door logistics provider.

The company that took over “world’s largest” title, Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), has a massive programme of close to 100 newbuildings on order. It is not clear what it will do with all these new ships but one thing is certain: like Maersk, it will not need to employ other owners’ ships to the extent it has in the past.

Against this background, KYC (Know Your Customer) will be key to backing winners and avoiding losers, in 2024! u

www.marinedebtmanagement.com

CELEBRATING A MAGNIFICENT ISSA 65: Bringing buyers and suppliers even closer together

“Without ships and logistics, the world would stop, and the difficulties of the past two years have proved the importance of logistics to every individual and nation.”

This comment by Mr Shahab Al Jassmi, SVP Ports & Terminal, DP World & Jafza, in his welcome address to the first day of the ISSA 65 Conference, put into sharp focus the important role that shipping and logistics play in global trade. A plaudit that also included the role of the ship supplier.

“The people in this room are critical in making sure that we provide all the seamless operations in the supply chain, the important parts of the supply chain being the ports serving the economies,” Mr Al Jassmi added.

Addressing delegates, he said that DP World worked hard with economists to assess the impact of global trade “and this year we have noticed that while global trade faces a lot of pressures and geopolitical challenges, it has stayed positive and the export volume is expected to rise.

“This ISSA Conference provides an opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas to evolve the ship supply service sector. This is a great platform where different suppliers are able to understand the areas of improvement that can be taken forward together,” he said.

Opening the conference, Saeed al Malik, President of ISSA, extended his thanks to DP World and all the other sponsors, “without whose support and involvement, events like this would not be possible.

Delegates at the Opening Ceremony of ISSA 65

ISSA President Saeed al Malik welcomes Delegates and Guests to the ISSA 65 Dubai Gala Dinner

“ISSA65 is an important event for me because it is my last as President of this fine association. I have held the position for the past six years, three of them through the global pandemic, and I would like to thank my colleagues on the ISSA Assembly and Executive Board for all their hard work. It has been six wonderful, albeit hard-working years, many of them through the lens of a Zoom or Teams camera, but a period of my life that I will always treasure.

“I am also very excited because this week will see many of our ISSA Honorary members sit down with our ISSA members to discuss business opportunities as part of our new ISSA ‘Meet the Customer’ initiative which will be happening this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. Inviting our customers to become members of ISSA was an important move as it cemented the relationship that ship suppliers and ship purchasers have, but it also gave our shipowning and shipmanagement friends and colleagues an opportunity to work with us and make ISSA an altogether stronger and more joined up association,” he said.

Mr al Malik added: “I am personally delighted to have seen this initiative mature and flourish and look forward to even more of our customers and clients joining ISSA in the months and years ahead.

“I would also like to thank all the speakers, guests and delegates who have come to Dubai for ISSA65. It is great

to be rubbing shoulders with all our industry colleagues and friends once again and I am looking forward to a very strong and effective event this week.”

Delegates attending the conference were then party to an excellent presentation by Rania Tadros, President of WISTA UAE, who talked about the important role women can play in shipping and then they heard the first moderated panel session which focused on the heady issue of Port Access & Security and IHM: Why are they important?

Many thanks to Bob Zeagman from Seagulf Marine Industries Inc., Bruce Hailey from Salvus Law, Richard Ballantyne, CEO of the British Ports Association; Henning Gramann from GSR Services; and Capt Nirmal P Silva, Harbour Master in Colombo.

After a well-earned coffee break, delegates were then treated to some excellent debating in the second moderated session about The need for sustainability. A top notch panel made up of [Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.] Mikael Karlsson from Northern Marine Group/IMPA Save Chairman; Paolo Magonio from Scorpio, Kyriacos Georgiou from MCTC; and Carl Forsman, ISSA Assembly member debated key issues related to ship supply and the environment.

The ever-popular networking opportunities at Convention in full swing Exhibitors interact with Delegates and showcase their offerings

ISSA Secretary Sean Moloney moderating a Panel Discussion

The coffee breaks allowed time for good networking

After lunch on the first day, up to 100 ISSA delegates and 20 ship owner and ship manager buyers, then sat down for the first two hour ‘Meet the Customer’ session. This proved a massive hit with both suppliers and buyers, with many praising the ability to network at the highest level in comfort.

Day Two of the conference was opened in style by our own ISSA Senior Executive Vice President Abdul Hameed Hajah, who welcomed delegates. He said: “This is the first such face-to-face ISSA gathering since the Covid pandemic and I must say we didn’t think we would get as many people coming as we did and we only had four months to prepare for this event here in Dubai. It has been excellent meeting up with everyone, and the mood has been a very positive one towards this event and we will work hard to ensure that ISSA 66 in Seville is even better.

“It was a very busy day yesterday with the first day of conference and the first day of our new and exciting Meet the Customer event which, by all accounts, was a resounding success with buyers and suppliers. Having an opportunity like this to meet, exchange business contacts and to learn a little about what the customer wants and what the supplier is able to provide, is so important. Where else can you meet 20 customers in one sitting. And it will be happening again today, in the same room as yesterday, starting at 3pm,” he stressed.

MTC in action. All who attended praised the new initiative

A busy session at MTC

The busy scene at MTC

Pictured above: MTC Logo

Networking a-plenty in between MTC Sessions

All change! Suppliers move tables

The next Session at MTC

Suppliers meeting Buyers – everyone’s a winner

Deep in explanations at MTC

Plenty of opportunity for a souvenir

Pictured in Dubai

Admiral Marine receiving an award

A night of smiles

Our friends from the Singapore Association of Shipsuppliers & Services

AVS receiving an award

Our valued Silver and Gold Sponsors

Our Gold Sponsor Fuji Trading

The Australian Ship Suppliers & Services Association

Abdul Wadood from Admiral Marine Services receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award

Representatives from the United Arab Emirates National Ship Suppliers Association

ISSA President Saeed Al Malik receiving a special award

Bruce Hailey, ISSA’s lawyer, was then welcomed to the podium where he discussed the meaty issue of Solving the Payment Condrum. Delegates were then treated to a video welcome address by Dr Katerina Konsta, CEO of the World Maritime Academy. Her video outlined what was involved with the ISSA Education Programme.

Our Secretary Sean Moloney then invited ISSA Executive Vice President Jim Costalos onto the stage for a 10 minute discussion about the ISSA Education Programme. Jim is a member of the ISSA Education Working Group and has worked hard in helping to develop the programme.

The first moderated session of the second day dealt with the important issue of All about the relationship. Building a stronger relationship: Digitalisation and beyond and brought together the very excellent Maria Theodosiou, Managing Director of GenPro; Eric Kroken from Alligator; Costantino Zavoianni, OCEAN Chairman; Jim Costalos from Everise Shipping Service Singapore/Southern Cross Marine in Australia and an ISSA Executive Vice President; as well as the excellent Capt S. Ramkumar from Admiral Marine Services.

Then followed an excellent presentation by Mr Vinod Krishnan from Arch Corporation. Delegates retired for coffee only to return to take part in the final moderated session which looked at ISSA: A force for the future. ISSA President Saeed al Malik started the debate accompanied by a strong array of panellists, which included John Davey from Cavendish Ship Stores; Danny Lien from Genesis Solutions; Paolo Magonio from Scorpio; Mohamed Yusuf from Admiral Marine Services; and Thomas Tan from Haridass Ho & Partners.

The conference was brought to a very pleasant end with the awarding of a certificate marking the joining of the Ghana Shipsuppliers & Services Association (GHASSA) as an official ISSA National Association and member of the ISSA Assembly.

ISSA Lawyer Bruce Hailey delivers his keynote speech to an enthusiastic audience

The all important ISSA Education Programme Plan was imparted to Plenary with a slick video presentation

Popular topics gained audience attention at the well-attended Plenary Sessions

Mr Kouame Aduo Luc (ISSA Executive Vice-President for Africa Region and President of the Ivory Coast Ship Suppliers Association) presents their Membership Certificate to Ghana’s Representatives as the newest Full Member of ISSA

The next ISSA President Rafael Fernandez from Spain prepares to receive the ISSA Flag from Dubai marking the end of ISSA 65 and looking ahead to ISSA

Life Time Achievement Awards

During the Gala Dinner in Dubai bringing ISSA 65 to a close, Life Time Achievement Awards were presented to the following 32 recipients:

Adamally LLC UAE

Admiral Marine India

Atlas SeaGroup

Bayport S.A

Black Sea Marine

Cavendish Ship Stores Limited

Con-Lash Suppliers

Genesis Solutions

Duzkoc Turizm ve ihracat A.S/Bonded

Shipstore

Benya

Edwardo Marine

FALCON GUMRUKSUZ SAT. MGZ. A.S

Interocean Services Limited

Gimas Ship Supply & Services

Global Marine Supply Company

Interocean Services Limited

Kloska Shipsupply

Mashin Shokai Netherlands BV

Master Marine Ship Supplier

Middle East Fuji LLC

Mohideen Ship Chandlers Pvt Ltd

New Zealand Shipping Services Limited

Pedrotec Engineering and Supply Company

Penguin Food Services

Sea Star Ship Suppliers Limited

Simsekler General Ship Chandlers & Ship Repair Inc

Seven Seas Shipchandlers LLC

Shin Tai Ho & Co (Pte) Ltd

Southern Cross Marine Supplies

Unimarine Speciality Shipchandlers LLC

Vikki Ship Supplies Pty Ltd

WW Trade Singapore Pte

Gala Dinnar

Atlas Ship Supply receive their 25 year Longevity Award

Delegates awaiting the awards presentations ceremony – 2

ISSA top management (left to right): Mr Abdul Hameed Hajah (ISSA Senior Executive VicePresident), Mr George Saris (ISSA Treasurer) and Mr Saeed al Malik (ISSA President) with their awards

Admiral Marine Team receive their Longevity Award from ISSA Treasurer and ISSA Assembly Member for Turkey George Saris (second right)

Delegates awaiting the awards presentations ceremony - 1

Continued from page 49

The fun and networking was not finished yet as ISSA delegates then attended the second two hour ‘Meet the Customer’ event with the ship owner and ship manager buyers before retiring to get ready for an impressive networking cocktail reception and Gala Dinner.

The meal was delicious, the MC a force to be reckoned with, and the Gala Dinner evening was topped off with 32 ISSA member companies receiving an award recognising their 25 years in the business.

An excellent ISSA 65, without a doubt. Roll on ISSA 66 in Seville where it will be even bigger and better. u

www.shipsupply.org

There was a full turn-out of the ISSA Board in Dubai just before Convention began. Elections were held at Assembly and Mr Rafael Fernandez from Spain was elected as the new ISSA President commencing his term on 1st January 2024. Mr Saeed al Malik was elected as the new ISSA Senior Executive Vice-President. Mr Kouame Aduo Luc (Ivory Coast) and Mr Fábio Rodrigues (Brazil) were re-elected for a further three year term as Executive Vice-Presidents.

Dubai

The ISSA Assembly met in Dubai just before the start of Convention for its Annual General Meeting.

Pictures show the Assembly during its Meeting together with networking images during breaks in proceedings by enthusiastic Members.

ISSA Board in Dubai

The splendid setting for the Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner was also a time for awards

Strong line-up at the Conference

ISSA President and ISSA President-elect

DP World were a valued Headline Sponsor

ISSA Assembly in Dubai

ISSA Board Group Picture at their Dubai Meeting

ISSA and Ship Supply News

Mr Lok Chwee Hin – (1919 – 2023)

Readers will be sad to learn of the death of Mr Lok Chwee Hin.

The Founder of Tong Hin (1959) Pte. Ltd., passed away peacefully aged 104 earlier this year whilst watching TV and reading his morning newspaper.

Mr Lok was born in Hui An, China.

He arrived in Singapore aged 17 with his Father during the World’s Great Depression.

He went on to create a group of associate companies: Kenwell, Seqwin, Kobe-Tong Hin, Tat Lee Engineering and Wah Hong all the while serving the Singapore Shipping Port for almost half a century.

At the age of 94 he still took an active part in running the closure of the company he had founded.

In addition to his shipping interests he also sat on the Board of Directors of Industrial and Commercial Bank Ltd and People’s Insurance Company of Malaya Ltd.

He was known by friends and everyone in the industry as a man with “a big, kind heart” without airs and also willing to give a helping hand to his friends in need. u

Market News

Testing times overall for the global maritime market. Here Bromley Abbott rounds-up the key stories but sees some sectors facing stormy conditions

It wasn’t so long ago that Maersk – one of the world’s leading container lines – was riding the wave of a huge hike in container shipping prices.

Now we hear that up to 10,000 jobs in the firm are at risk world-wide.

It was inevitable that a correction had to take place in the over-heated container market. True to its history the pendulum has now swung the other way with consolidation and fewer sailings.

Maersk began the year with 110,000 global employees. Year to date, it has cut 6,500 jobs.

It has now decided to cut a further 3,500 jobs, including 2,500 by year-end and 1,000 in 2024. The total reduction — 10,000 layoffs — will reduce global headcount by 9%. u

www.akzonobel.com

Happily it is not all doom and gloom!

Elsewhere there were happy faces at the opening of the expanded Greensea IQ production facility in Plymouth, MA, USA.

This new expansion establishes a manufacturing centre for the production of several navigation and robotics systems including the Bayonet line of surf zone crawlers, EverClean hull cleaning robots, RNAV3 diver navigation systems, and OPENSEA Edge autonomy hardware.

Greensea IQ Chief Growth Officer Rob Howard, said: “We were excited to open our newly expanded facility to the public for the first time and welcomed local blue tech businesses, community leaders and others from the marine industry.” u

A Maersk vessel alongside Shanghai Port. Challenging times ahead?

Greensea IQ celebrate expansion

Win-Win for Survitec

Meanwhile news reaches us that for the second year running Survitec (the global survival technology solutions provider) has won the SAFETY4SEA Technology Award.

The 2023 award recognises SMARR-TI (Safety Management and Rapid Response Technology Interface), an interactive safety management solution that allows crew to monitor and control their onboard fire safety systems within one integrated and easy-to-use solution. This achievement follows Survitec’s win with Seahaven in 2022. u

Not a square inch left un-monitored by award winner Survitec

Another firm recognised for its innovative approach to corrosion mapping is Brookes Bell which has received the Technology and Innovation Award for its Corrosion Mapping Service.

The Liverpool-based company received the honour in November during a ceremony at the landmark Liverpool Cathedral, UK.

The award, which was sponsored by The Manufacturing Technology Centre, recognised Brookes Bell’s Corrosion Assessment Service, officially known as CMAP, as a crucial innovation that improves vessel owners’ awareness of onboard corrosion issues, enabling them to understand the required repairs ahead of time before the effects of corrosion become too severe or result in significant lay-up time. u

Credit: Brookes Bell/MMIA

MarTrust has announced the appointment of Stuart Gregory as the new CEO

In a strategic move to bolster its position in the maritime payments sector, MarTrust – the maritime payments provider - is set to undergo a renewed phase of development and expansion.

Over the past years, under the leadership of Domenico Carlucci and with the support of the Marcura Board, MarTrust has become a prominent fintech

entity, managing over $12bn payments annually.

The firm acknowledged that Stuart brings a wealth of fintech expertise, having been instrumental in building and scaling Wise Business through to its successful public listing in London.

He will be based in London and report directly to Jens

Poulsen, Group CEO of Marcura, the parent company. u

Meanwhile Lalizas’ 2nd Maritime Service Providers

Summit 2023 was successfully completed in Greece with an excellent attendance

Only four months after the first Summit, the firm was delighted to welcome more service partners from around the world in a two-day event at LaLiBay Resort & Spa.

Service providers from more than 30 countries were invited to attend the Summit in order to get to know each other better, in an effort to explore opportunities for future synergies.

Lalizas has a long history in manufacturing lifesaving equipment following the strictest criteria, paying particular attention to the proper service of this equipment, with the goal to follow the lifecycle of the products, ensuring safety at sea.

Maritime service providers are really important for Lalizas as they play a crucial role in the best care and installation of lifesaving equipment.

During the Summit, there was the chance to meet many of their partners in person.

The event garnered a high level of correspondence and engagement, with attendees actively participating in discussions, networking, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Consultations on Fire Safety & Rescue (FSR) Services and the related Technician’s App led to very interesting discussions among Lalizas Representatives and guests.

What drew a lot of attention from the audience was the F&I (Fast & Independent) Liferaft Exchange, a unique proposal to Ship Managers/Owners for a simple and fast liferaft exchange with no contract and no commitment. This was discussed in depth, with real-case scenarios.

Various LSA & FFE products were also presented and displayed during the event. u

Stuart Gregory

Lalizas colleagues and global maritime service providers gather in Greece for the popular 2nd Summit

Out & About

We bring you the dates of significant maritime events…

January 2024

• Safety4Sea Limassol Forum: 31st January – Limassol

February 2024

• Digital Ship Hamburg Conference: Date to be confirmed

• 14th Annual Capital Link Greek Shipping Forum: 8th February – Athens

• Vessel Performance Optimisation Athens Forum: 27th February - Athens

• World Maritime Forum: 27th February – Copenhagen

• 7th Annual Capital Link Cyprus Shipping Forum – 27th February – Cyprus

• Marine Money Hamburg: 28th February – Hamburg

March 2024

• Hong Kong Ship Finance Forum: Date to be confirmed – Hong Kong

• Gulf Ship Finance Forum: 6th March – Dubai

• 8th Annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum: 11th March – New York

• CMA Shipping: 12th – 14th March – USA

• Asia Pacific Maritime (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore): 13th to 15th March 2024

• Sea Japan: 10th – 12th April - Tokyo

• 6th Annual Capital Link Singapore Maritime Forum: 16th April – Singapore

• Hamburg Maritime Forum: 16th & 17th April – Hamburg

• Marine Money Cyprus Forum: 23rd April – Cyprus

June 2024

• Posidonia (Greece): 3rd to 7th June 2024

September 2024

• SMM Hamburg (Germany): 3rd to 6th September 2024

Play

“Parlez-vous Franglais?”

This genius device – Poliglu Translator - turns you into a fluent speaker of 36 languages in seconds. Just click the button, start talking, and it will immediately translate your words into the language of your choice. It’s perfect if you regularly deal with foreigners at work, enjoy talking to natives in exotic locations or simply want to impress your international business partners next time you meet. Stop paying for expensive translators or fiddle around with overly complicated smartphone apps. Just hit the button, talk into the device, and no language will be foreign to you anymore.

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With thanks to https://toptechreport.org

Fluency will flourish with the Poliglu Translator

Troye Sivan releases third – highly anticipated – album

Something to Give Each Other is the third studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan. It was released by EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records on 13 October 2023. It is Sivan’s first album release in five years, following Bloom (2018). The album received universal acclaim from critics. It was preceded by the lead single “Rush”, enjoying global acclaim. The second single “Got Me Started”, entered the charts in nine regions including Australia and the UK. It is Sivan’s most commercially successful album.

www.wikipedia.org

The Goldberg Variations – “not to be missed”

David Smith at Presto Music writes: Ólafsson has been nourishing, revising and even overhauling his relationship with this music since the ‘90s. That humility, and ability to critically reassess one’s approach and course-correct, makes the end result serious, sincere and authentic. A musician of this calibre, taking this much time to get his approach right before putting finger to keyboard? It’s absolutely not to be missed.

© David Smith (Presto Music) www.prestomusic.com

I Spy….!

If you fancy a new role as a stealthy spy then this pair of Night Vision ready binoculars (1080P Binocular Infrared Night-Visions Device 5X Binocular Day Night Use Photo Video Taking) may be just the thing for your 007 back pack. Equally usable day and night this versatile device also has both video and still photography capability. Now offered at half its original price tag - £45.998 – you might even spot Miss Moneypenny lurking in the undergrowth as you make your way silently armed with the knowledge of what lies ahead. Frankly? We’ve been expecting you!

https://www.temu.com/uk/

We’ve been expecting you!

After Hours

Viva Frida Kahlo!

The immersive exhibition “Viva Frida Kahlo” at the Napoleon Complex is a visually powerful journey through the life and work of the famous Mexican artist. The exhibition promises a 360-degree sensory experience, an explosion of color and pure vitality. Visitors to the Berlin Napoleon Complex will embark on a journey to the Casa Azul in Coyoacán, Mexico, where the young Frida Kahlo, began to paint after being confined to her bed after a serious accident.

Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience

Napoleon Komplex, Berlin

10 November 2023 to 31 January 2024

Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm

Fyn (Cape Town) - An ethical celebration of unique South African ingredients

Fyn’s unique brand of South African-Japanese cuisine may at first glance seem an unlikely candidate for the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award – but you only have to scratch the surface of Cape Town’s award-winning restaurant to discover a far-reaching philosophy that influences every aspect of the dining experience. Take its name. ‘Fyn’ (pronounced as ‘fayn’) is actually a nod to Fynbos, the name of the coastal and mountainous ecosystem that the culinary team has focused its research on as well as one of its most widespread plants.

Fyn - 5th Floor, Speakers Corner, 37 Parliament Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000 http://fynrestaurant.com

A heart-wrenching story of love and defiance

On a November day in 1940, Adam Paskow becomes a prisoner in the Warsaw Ghetto, where the Jews of the city are cut off from their former lives and held captive by Nazi guards, and await an uncertain fate. Weeks later, he is approached by a mysterious figure with a surprising request: Will he join a secret group of archivists working to preserve the truth of what is happening inside these walls? Adam agrees and begins taking testimonies from his students, friends, and neighbors. He learns about their childhoods and their daydreams, their passions and their fears, their desperate strategies for safety and survival. The stories form a portrait of endurance in a world where no choices are good ones.

We Must Not Think of Ourselves

by

Lauren Grodstein

First published in the USA by Algonquin Books

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A heart-wrenching story of love and defiance