March 2016
INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION
Modern Express - disaster averted, Place of Refuge granted
EU Places of Refuge Operational Guidelines ISU has welcomed the EU Declaration supporting the implementation of new Operational Guidelines on Places of Refuge. ISU past President, Leendert Muller, speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, congratulated the Commission and officials on the initiative and thanked them for involving ISU and other shipping industry bodies in the development of the guidelines. ISU has been campaigning on the issue for many years and joined forces with the International Chamber of Shipping; the International Union of Marine Insurance and the International Group of P&I Clubs to press for improvement internationally.
Picture: © French Navy
The car carrier, MODERN EXPRESS, needed urgent assistance in the Bay of Biscay in January. She was listing more than 40 degrees to starboard and drifting in severe weather with winds at gale force 10 and wave heights in excess of 11 metres. Smit Salvage immediately mobilised the AHTSs RIO DE VIGO and CENTAURUS to the reported position of the drifting casualty whilst a salvage team with two salvage masters was flown to France. The crew recovery operation was carried out by Sasamar and the salvage operation was coordinated from Brest by the French Prefecture Maritime. Given the initial position of the casualty, the French tug ABEILLE BOURBON was not initially deployed by the authorities but dispatched later in the operation. The seriousness of the situation meant that a vessel with capabilities such as a helicopter landing deck and medical facilities would also be needed. Once the salvage plan was formalized, the helicopter-equipped French navy frigate PRIMAUGUET joined the salvage operation and was used as the base for the salvage team. A four man inspection team was winched onto the casualty by the French navy helicopter but the sea state meant it was not possible to make a towage connection. Some of the salvage team sustained injuries.
With the strong winds and vessel’s unfavorable condition - rolling from 20 to 80 degrees list - the possibility of the vessel being driven ashore was more likely with each passing day.
Mr Muller said the EU Operational Guidelines will “go a long way to improving the situation in the important and busy waters of the Member States of the European Union”. In particular, he said, “salvors welcome the statement
On 01 February, just 20 miles off Cap Ferret near Bordeaux, the salvors managed to get back on board and connected a towing line to the CENTAURUS. Once the towing line was secured, the car carrier was towed away from the shore line. Close cooperation between the salvors, P&I Club and the coastal states of France and Spain, supported by the new EU Operational Guidelines for Places of Refuge applications, meant a port of refuge was swiftly agreed. Bilbao was considered to be the best option by all parties and on 03 February the salvors where able to safely moor the still heavily listing car carrier. A detailed plan was designed to right the vessel using her own tanks and with the use of specialized salvage pumps the vessel was stabilised, towed, brought in and brought upright in 17 days and then safely re-delivered to her owners. Richard Janssen, Commercial Director Smit Salvage said: “This case was a good demonstration of the early and successful use of the new EU operational guidelines on Places of Refuge supported by the countries involved”. 1
ISU General Manager, Mark Hoddinott, left, and past President, Leendert Muller.
that ‘unless unsafe, there should be no rejection of a casualty vessel without inspection’ ”. The guidelines have already been used successfully in several operations, including the MODERN EXPRESS see story, left. ISU is encouraging the EU to take a global leadership position on this issue: salvors frequently experience difficulty with regard to Places of Refuge in other parts of the world and it hopes the influence of the EU will help progress.
ISU NEWS Executive Committee changes Fokko Ringersma has resigned from the ISU Executive committee and has launched his own consultancy, RSC Marine Salvage Experts. He may be contacted at salvage@rs-consultants.nl +31 615595544. Ken Ellam has resigned from the Executive Committee and joined Solis Marine Consultants, see ISU Associates News, Page 6, and SCRs item below. The process to select new Executive Committee members is well-advanced.
Special Casualty Representatives/ Lloyd’s Open Form
2016 Annual General Meeting
The SCR sifting committee met on Monday 13 March and the following have ben added to the panel of SCRs.
The International Salvage Union will hold its 2016 Annual Meeting from Tuesday 27 – Friday 30 September 2016 at Livorno in Italy.
David Ireland (California, USA)) Minonru Ohmatsu (Japan) Arjan van Aalst (The Netherlands) Edward Wollaston (Hong Kong) Ken Ellam (Singapore)
The AGM is sponsored by ISU members, Fratelli Neri. Further details and booking arrangements will be published over the summer.
Separately, Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitration Branch has recorded 16 LOF cases up to 21 March 2016.
ISU Annual Dinner The ISU held its annual dinner for senior representatives of the shipping industry and its supporting professions at Trinity House, London. President of the ISU, John Witte, hosted the event and reminded guests of the important role of marine salvors in providing vital loss mitigation services.
Pictures: (clockwise from top) John Witte; dinner guests; Elizabeth Blackburn QC, Andrew Bardot; Capt Keith Hart (L), Simon Kverndal QC, Mark Hoddinott (R); Joop Timmermans, Eline Muller; Ruben Gutierrez (L), Leendert Muller, Stefan Fröhlich (R).
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ISU annual pollution prevention survey - results International Salvage Union members made a major contribution to environmental protection in 2015. Members of ISU provided 185 services to vessels carrying nearly 2 million tonnes of potentially polluting cargoes during operations in 2015 in a major demonstration of the value of their work towards protecting the marine environment.
Commenting further on the results, Mr Witte said: “ISU took the decision two years ago to update the methodology of this survey. The survey started in 1994 and it was a time when the threat, and fear, of pollution was considered to be largely from VLCCs and other tankers. That threat still exists but today most coastal states will judge most cargo to be potentially polluting. Containerised cargo has, for example, increased greatly in both
2015 is the second year of the new format of the survey and the results for 2015 may be safely compared with those for 2014. Over time a picture of any trends will start to emerge.
“ISU is careful to point out that not all of the salved cargo noted in the survey was at imminent risk of going into the sea.
2015 2014
President of the ISU, John Witte, said: “Yet again our members’ operations have delivered great benefit in helping to protect the marine environment from potential damage. Salvors provide vital services to both the shipping industry and wider society. Shipping is much safer than it was even twenty years ago but everyone in the industry should be aware that just one major casualty could cause an environmental catastrophe. And in many cases it is only professional, commercial salvors who are able successfully to intervene.” The data comes from the results of the ISU’s 2015 Pollution Prevention Survey. The survey was re-based in 2014 to include a wider range of potential pollutants including containers.
International Solid Bulk Cargoes Code. The attitude of coastal state authorities has also been considered based on ISU members’ operational experience.
total volumes and in the capacity of boxships that carry them. Containers, with their mixed and sometimes hazardous contents, are undoubtedly a potential pollutant and hazard and our survey now records them as such.
Number of services
185 216
Bunker fuel
66,247 83,698
Oil cargo
666,416 194,880
Chemicals
35,744 102,939
Bulk polluting/hazardous
722,160 901,373
TEU (tonnes equivalent)
330,015 356,265 (21,941 TEU @ nominal 15 tonnes/TEU)
(23,751 TEU @ nominal 15 tonnes/TEU)
Other pollutants
65,282 16,244
Totals
1,885,864 1,655,399
All pollutant figures in tonnes.
But even with a relatively simple rescue tow it is worth considering what the consequences might be if there was no commercial provision of salvage services.”
In 2015 ISU members provided 185 services (216 in 2014). Variants of wreck removal contracts were used in 21 services; Lloyd’s Open Form – 25 services; towage contracts – 40 services; Japanese Form – 10 services; Fixed Price – 19 services; Day Rate – 59 services; other contracts – 8 services.
The new format of the survey records separately dirty or hazardous bulk cargo and containers (by tonnes equivalent). It takes account of the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), Intercargo guidance, P&I Club guidance; International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation publications and the
Pollutants' totals (tonnes)
In the period 1994 to end-2015, ISU members salved 22,116,925 tonnes of potential pollutants, an average of more than one million tonnes per year.
Percentage of pollutant type 3%
800000
4%
17%
18%
600000
18%
400000
38%
2%
200000
0
Bunkers
Oil crude Oil products Chemicals Bulk
C ontainers
Bunkers Bulk - polluting Oil - crude Containers
Other
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Oil - products Other Chemicals
Members’ News Multraship Tsavliris Salvage The “2016 Capital Link Greek Shipping Leadership Award” was awarded to the three Tsavliris Brothers - Nicolas, George and Andreas - in recognition of their contribution to Shipping and Greece and for their service to the maritime industry. The Capital Link’s 7th Annual Greek Shipping Forum was held in February in Athens and was attended by some 1,200 delegates. Capital Link’s President, Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, presented the award and referred to the Tsavliris group as a successful, traditional, third generation shipowning and maritime services company.
Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, has agreed a new long-term contract with Multraship Ocean Towage BV for the deployment of a ship with crew to act as an ETV in the Dutch part of the North Sea. The contract is for a period of ten years, effective from January 2016. Under the contract, Multraship will employ the same ship - IEVOLI AMARANTH - which has been used since 2013 to carry out emergency towing assistance in the North Sea. The tug has been renamed GUARDIAN (picture above). Operation of the vessel will be under the direction of the Dutch Coast Guard. The ETV is stationed at the port of Den Helder and is put to sea when the wind strength reaches Force 5 Beaufort, so it can move quickly to the aid of ships in distress. In addition to its use as an emergency towing vessel, the ship can also be used as a platform for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
Business Development, will take over Mr Vermeulen’s responsibilities from 01 April 2016.
In noting the Group’s founder, Alexander G Tsavliris, and his achievements, Mr Bornozis said: “His legacy has been honoured and expanded on by his three sons whom we honour today”.
He may be contacted on: +31 6 12 970 806 and by email at: t.meester@kotug. com Aras Salvage Aras Salvage, based in Istanbul, Turkey has extended its fleet with new assets: the floating crane ALPASLAN II with a lifting capacity of 250 tonnes and two sister dynamic positioning deck cargo ships AY YILDIZ IHI and RISING SUN IHI with a 2,440 tonne loading capacity. Aras was also awarded the contract to remove the wreck ot the FORTUNA S which had grounded off Romania at the entrance of Danube Canal. The operation is ongoing (see below).
Above, left to right, Olga Bornozis, Nicolas Tsavliris, George Tsavliris, Andreas Tsavliris, Nicky Pappadakis, Nicolas Bornozis
Mr Nicky A Pappadakis, Chairman Emeritus, Intercargo and A G Pappadakis & Co., announced the award. The Tsavliris brothers commented: “We believe that the success of our company is due to the high quality of our services which are appreciated by our clients. "This award will only encourage us to maintain the same high standards and continue to improve wherever possible”.
Kotug Paul Vermeulen has decided to leave KOTUG as of 01 April 2016. Paul has served Kotug for 23 years and has accepted a position elsewhere in the maritime industry where he will continue to pursue his career.
Separately, in January, Andreas Tsavliris gave his annual lecture at the City University, London to over 120 Master’s Degree students.
Kotug said it “thanked Paul for his hard work, dedication and contribution to the success of KOTUG through the years and wished him all the best in the future both privately as well as professionally.”
The presentation was on "Shipping Trade & Finance," and included discussion of ordering new buildings, buying and selling second hand vessels, chartering, insurance, banking and finance.
Tijmen Meester, Project Manager 4
ISU Associate Members' day The International Salvage Union held its annual conference for its Associate and Affiliate Members in London in March. There were some 180 delegates at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall. Peter Townsend head of marine for AmTrust at Lloyd’s (right, centre), questioned whether property underwriters could trust salvors. He concluded that they could, saying: “salvors do a fantastic job” but added that the issue was with perception and increased transparency and communications with the insurance industry would help. He also raised the issue of how insurers could encourage salvors to invest in new equipment and noted that, with increasing vessel size, cargo underwriters are taking an increasing share of a marine adventure but do not have a correspondingly stronger voice. Elsewhere, Lemonia Tsaroucha from the European Commission (right, top) explained to delegates how the new EU guidelines on Places of Refuge had been developed with the assistance of the ISU and other interested parties. She acknowledged that a motivation for the new guidelines was “the need to change attitudes towards ships in need of
assistance within national administrations, competent authorities and the industry.” Importantly, she said that next steps included engaging the International Maritime Organisation for the continuous improvement of the international framework on places of refuge. Case studies included Jason Bennett of Ardent on the removal of the wreck of the MV SMART in South Africa and the salvage and removal of offshore units by Smit’s Richard Janssen. Rosalind Spink of Solis Marine (right, below) and Matthew Bierwagen of Resolve Marine described the engineering challenges in lifting the sunken Indian Navy Submarine, SINDHURAKSHAK. The day concluded with a panel of experts considering the difficulties of salvage cases involving mega-ships. There was widespread agreement that more crossindustry work was needed to address the issues – particularly in the case of large boxships – where dealing with the discharged cargo is acknowledged to be one of the major problems. President of the ISU, John Witte summed up the day saying, “I look forward to a future where trust, honesty and mutual respect are the norm. It is not a choice but an obligation.” See also pictures page 10
Tsavliris operations In January, the Tsavliris Salvage Tug MEGAS ALEXANDROS (6,250 BHP – 73 TBP) was sent from her Piraeus salvage station to assist the MV OCEAN GLORY - 6,036 dwt and fully laden with urea. She was immobilised due to mechanical issues 200 nautical miles northwest of Benghazi, Libya. On arrival at the casualty, a towage connection was made and she was towed safely to Piraeus roads and delivered to port tugs. In February, Tsavliris dispatched the AHTS RESOLVE EARL - 12,000 BHP and 135 TBP - from the Bahamas to assist the tanker KRITI AMBER - 45,614 tonnes dwt and fully laden with crude oil - which was immobilised due to engine problems about 13 nautical miles south of Sombrero Key, Florida, USA. The casualty was safely towed to Matanzas (outside Cuban territorial waters) and the tow was delivered to port tugs.
Also in February, Tsavliris Salvage used the tug ONA DON LORENZO - 5,500 BHP and 62 TBP from Buenos Aires, Argentina to assist the bulker ALKIMOS HERACLES, partly laden with 50,000 tons of iron ore and grounded in the Canal Punta Indio. On the same day, the vessel refloated on her own and proceeded to Recalada outer anchorage for routine inspection by the Coast Guard. 5
In another bulker case, Tsavliris Salvage was engaged to provide technical assistance to the NEW KATERINA (above) – 170,082 dwt and fully laden with iron ore, which had grounded in the Suez Canal. Tsavliris Salvage provided technical consultancy and support including planning, surveillance and risk assessment.
Associates’ News ISU welcomes the following new Associate Members Braemar incorporating The Salvage Association 5th Floor 6 Bevis Marks London EC3A 7BA UK Tel: +44 20 3142 4350 Email: tim.lewis@braemar.com Web: www.braemar.com
she is also an accredited lecturer of the Henley School of Business, University of Reading, on its MBA outreach programme. She has experience in both the private and public sectors and for a number of years she has run her own businesses and more recently worked as a Brusselsbased freelancer.
Braemar Shipping Services PLC, commented, “I am delighted that Zäl has agreed to join and lead Braemar Howells in a new era for the company. It is also especially pleasing that Simon’s knowledge and experience will continue to be available to the company and that he will remain involved in support of Zäl and his leadership team."
Solis Marine Consultants
Castalia Consorzio Stabile S.C.p.A. Via Leonida Bissolati, 76 00187 Roma ITALY Tel: +39 065 151 5081 Fax: +39 065 515 0835 Email: castalia@castalia.it Web: www.castalia.it Interocean Marine Service Ltd Hareness Circle Altens Industrial Estate Aberdeen AB12 3LY
Van Heck
Ken Ellam (above) has been appointed as the new manager of Solis Marine, Tel: +44 1224 294900 Singapore. Solis Partner, John Simpson, Email: duncan.cuthill@interocean.co.uk said of the appointment: “Ken brings Web: www.interocean.co.uk a wealth of salvage management and salvage master experience together with his commercial shipping background to The European Tugowners’ Association the company. ETA has announced the appointment of Anna Maria Darmanin (below) as successor to Hugo Callens who has decided to retire after 14 years as Secretary General. Ms Darmanin, a Maltese National, is to be confirmed in post by ETA’s members at its AGM in Edinburgh on 12 May, 2016.
"It will be fully utilised in providing services to the marine market in South East Asia and China. “Ken is taking over from founding director, Rosalind Spink, a Special Casualty Representative, who is moving to take up post in London to further strengthen the salvage and marine team in the UK.” Ken Ellam has also now been appointed to the panel of Special Casualty Representatives.
Van Heck has announced the global availability of its patented fast oil recovery pump, the Sea Trophy. A number of Sea Trophy emergency response kits have been mobilised to strategic locations – the Netherlands, Florida, USA and Singapore. Each station has its own logistics service. Van Heck says the sets are suitable for fast oil recovery systems on board vessels as well as with the standalone so-called “Milk Can” solution, making tank access through holes as small as 200 mm diameter possible. Each Sea Trophy emergency response kit consists of a complete set of tools and accessories, including the hydraulically driven Sea Trophy pump, capable of pumping oil with a flow of 70 m3/h.
Miko Marine Braemar Howells Before joining ETA, Ms Darmanin was a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) representing Malta for 11 years. She was Vice President of the Committee for a full term between 2010 and 2013, following which she held the post of Chair of the Single Market Observatory. As a member of the EESC she participated in a number of policy positions of the EESC, including maritime related policy. Ms Darmanin is also a visiting lecturer of the University of Malta in the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Science; and
Braemar Howells has announced the appointment of Zäl Rustom as its Managing Director (above right). Mr Rustom has worked in the international oil and gas and transport sectors for 30 years and has wide incident response experience. After nearly 30 years of service as Managing Director, Simon Rickaby has decided to step back from day to day executive duties. He has, however, agreed to become non-executive Chairman of Braemar Howells. James Kidwell, Chief Executive of
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Miko Marine has said it has concluded a successful demonstration programme in Norway for its “Moskito” tool. The device, which is used for removing oil trapped in submerged vessels, is now being actively promoted by its designers. Miko says its trials confirmed the tool’s effectiveness. The Moskito can be deployed by divers or ROVs at any depth and works by drilling through the fuel or storage tanks of a sunken ship. It then makes an automatic hot-tap connection so that the contents of the tank can be pumped out and recovered without pollution. The Moskito has magnetic feet which clamp it quickly and securely to the wreck.
ISU PHOTO COMPETITION 2015
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1 Picture: © French Navy
ISU Photograph Competition 2015 shortlisted entries 1. Modern Express – © French Navy (winner) 2. Fortuna – Aras 3. Hoegh Osaka – Svitzer (Ardent) 4. Silva Carla – Bugsier 5. Mud Cleaning 3
– China Rescue and Salvage 6. Los Llanitos – Tsavliris 7. Amadeo – Resolve
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Smit and Kotug work together to re-float giant boxship Late on 03 February, the ultra large container carrier the CSCL INDIAN OCEAN grounded in the river Elbe while approaching Hamburg. She is one of the largest containerships in the world with a capacity of 19,000 TEU. Immediately after the grounding, Smit Salvage and fellow ISU member Kotug Offshore responded by dispatching local port tugs to try to refloat the vessel with the upcoming high water. But the severe ground reaction meant there was no movement and further attempts were cancelled. Calculations revealed that the vessel was hard aground and that a significant pulling force would be required to refloat the vessel by pulling only. A spring tide was due in the early morning of 09 February and it was therefore clear that the salvors had only a few days to mobilize all required resources. A refloating plan was drawn up and discussed with the authorities. It incorporated dredging alongside the vessel prior to re-floating by pulling. Using two Boskalis Hopper dredgers, a backhoe pontoon and a jetting vessel, a total of 60,000 cubic metres of sand was dredged from around the vessel in less than three days. Some ballast water and bunker fuel
was also removed.
disposal of the Senior Salvage Master.
While dredging was underway, two Boskalis tugs with a bollard pull in excess of 200 TBP each were mobilized from Rotterdam, to assist with the re-floating attempt. Harbour tugs from the cocontractors’ new joint venture, Kotug Smit, were mobilised, supported by fellow ISU member Bugsier, to complete the required pulling force while ensuring that routine ship assistance could continue uninterrupted in Hamburg.
The vessel was safely refloated as planned within the expected timeframe and then moored at the terminal. Kotug’s CEO Ard-Jan Kooren said after the operations: “Most important is that we could assist our client’s vessel in distress. We are proud that the cooperation between experienced salvage teams and specialized equipment of Kotug Offshore and Smit Salvage resulted in a safe and successful refloating operation”.
Once the salvage team on board the container vessel had connected all 12 tugs an excess of 1,000 TBP was at the
Hoegh Osaka - UK accident report published The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report into the case of the HOEGH OSAKA. It finds there were several contributing factors that led to the giant vehicle carrier putting to sea in a condition which meant it “had inadequate residual stability to survive the Bramble Bank turn at 12 knots.” The MAIB report estimates that the vessel’s condition did not comply with IMO stability requirements.
was reduced enough to allow for a safe tow into Southampton.
the Chief Officer responsible for cargo stowage.
The MAIB report’s key findings are that much of the cargo - mainly vehicles and excavators - was the subject of estimated weights. In many cases cargo units were heavier and this was more so in some cases on the upper decks. The actual cargo weight and stowage were significantly different to the final cargo tally supplied to the ship.
Ballast tank quantities were estimated and differed from actual values: a ballast condition was assumed for the vessel’s departure which MAIB said “bore no resemblance to reality.”
The HOEGH OSAKA - 51,770 grt - was en route from Southampton to Germany when she developed a 50 degree list to the starboard side and ran aground close to the West Bramble Buoy, in The Solent in January 2015. Svitzer Salvage was contracted on a Lloyd’s Open Form to salvage the vessel.
Additionally, the cargo units’ vertical centres of gravity were not allowed for in calculating the vessel’s stability condition.
The vessel refloated on the 07 January with the list still at 50 degrees and, with the agreement of the authorities, was towed to a safe location. Pumping out was undertaken gradually until the list
The vessel was subject to a changed port itinerary which meant she sailed from Southampton with a vertical centre of gravity that was too high: the pre-stowage cargo plans for the three north-west European ports were compiled assuming the original itinerary and remained unaltered after the itinerary had changed. There was a lack of coordinated decision making between the Port Captain and 8
It had become a routine practice for a ship to sail before its departure stability condition had been accurately calculated. The MAIB also raised concerns about cargo lashing on the vessel. Furthermore, MAIB said that witness and anecdotal evidence “suggests that the practice of not calculating the actual stability condition on completion of cargo operations but before the ship sails extends to the Pure Car Carrier and Pure Car and Truck Carrier sector in general. For reasons of efficiency, what is a fundamental principle of seamanship appears to have been allowed to drift, giving rise to potential unsafe practices.”
Obituaries Rich Habib Rich Habib started his involvement in the maritime industry with the US Coast Guard. In 1977 he graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical oceanography. His military career ranged from a cutter in Alaska to command of the busiest rescue station in the Coast Guard’s Pacific region in Hawaii. He was one of two officers in the US Coast Guard chosen for the US Navy exchange programme and served aboard a frigate and diesel submarine. Captain Rich Habib also served in the Coast Guard marine safety programme.
in the capacity of both Master and Project Manager. He was Project Manager for a string of significant jobs including the relocation of a nuclear refueling facility for submarines. From 1995 until 2001 Captain Habib started CRH Project Management to provide project management services to the heavy lift and project cargo industry. Rich Habib entered the salvage industry in 2001 as a Superintendent for Titan Salvage’s Jack-Up Barges. He later performed as Assist Salvage Master, Salvage Master, Senior Salvage Master and then Director of Salvage.
Prior to his involvement in salvage, Captain Habib sailed in the merchant marine, principally in the heavy lift and project cargo trade. He also served as Master in the oil service sector. In 1989 he was appointed Master for Dock Express/ Van Ommeren tramping worldwide in the heavy lift/project cargo trade.
In 2009 he joined Resolve Fire & Salvage and opened their first international office located in the UK. As Managing Director, Europe, he helped expand Resolve into an international salvage operator. He returned to Titan Salvage as Managing Director in January 2011 with administrative, operational and P&L responsibility for Titan Salvage’s global operations.
By 1991 Captain Rich Habib was acting
During his tenure, Titan Salvage had
Michele Verde
for Augustea. From 2011 he had been Managing Director of the Transportation Division within the Augustea Group. He was also a director of the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association between 2006 and 2012.
Michele Verde was born in 1942 and received a degree as a Naval Architect at the University of Genoa in 1967. He was initially an officer in the Italian Navy serving on the destroyer, VITTORIO VENETO. He then became Technical Surveyor for the American Bureau of Shipping in Genoa but he spent most of his years with ABS working in Japan at the Sumitomo Shipbuilding and Machinery Yard. He became Technical Manager of Scinicariello Augustea in 1980 and he was appointed as Director of the Group. In 1996 Scinicariello and Augustea parted to form two separate shipping Groups and Michele became executive Director
Rom Scheffer Rom Scheffer has died at the age of 85. During the 1960s, 70s and 80s he was a well-known personality in the world of shipping. After his training to become an officer on board of ships, he sailed for two years on freighters and passenger ships, including for the Van Nievelt Goudriaan and for KJCPL lines. It soon became apparent the young Mr Scheffer had considerable commercial acumen and at the age of 22 he decided to come ashore and worked in South
some of its busiest years. He managed the tender for the largest wreck removal in history: the COSTA CONCORDIA, and, upon winning the contract, put in place the team and supervised the Senior Salvage Master. Captain Habib ended his career as an independent salvage professional, Lloyd’s appointed SCR and President of RH Marine Services, Inc.
years. They described him as a “relentless and dedicated worker, an impeccable ambassador for Augustea and its values throughout his life.”
Beyond these jobs, Michele had involved himself in all aspects of the shipping industry. His colleagues said his academic and technical skills combined with more then 40 years of experience would be hard to match anywhere else in the shipping community. Michele had personal experience of high profile salvage cases including tanker fires, groundings and collisions. His colleagues said he had led and inspired many crews and shore staff over the
Korea, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. In the 1960s Mr Scheffer was looking for new challenges and his reputation made him known to Mr A Lels who was planning to establish a shipping company supplying drilling platforms in the North Sea. And in 1964, at the age of 33, Mr Scheffer became the first employee and director of Lels’ new venture, SmitLloyd which soon flourished and built up its fleet and overseas subsidiaries. Some of the subsidiaries merged in 1976 to become Smit International and Rom Scheffer became the CEO. 9
For ten years he was the leading figure of this well-known, worldwide towage and offshore company, overcoming many commercial challenges. During that period he encountered many problems and served as the President of the ISU. In 1987 Rom Scheffer decide to step down in the face of health difficulties but he continued to follow with interest the developemtns of Smit and the wider towage, salvage and offshore markets. He was described as an “outstanding man”.
ISU Associate Members' Day March 2015
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6. 1. (L-R) Larri Andersson, Jason Bennett, Mark Lawrence 2. Lemonia Tsaroucha, Mike Stockwell 3. (L-R) Morgyn Davies, David Stirling 4. (L-R) Paul Surry, David Handley 5. (L-R) Mike Allen, Nick Sloane, Carlos Bastias
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6. (L-R) Ann Waite, Jeff Wilson 7. Adam Corbett 8. Colin Barker
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International Monitor Flag state performance table
edition published in 2007.
UK
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table for 2015/2016, which can be downloaded free of charge via the ICS website at: www.ics-shipping.org/docs/flag-stateperformance-table
The new edition has been updated to address the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention with additional emphasis on Bridge Resource Management and the use of new technology such as Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS) and other electronic aids to navigation.
Katy Ware, a marine surveyor with a strong background in maritime safety and standards, has been announced as the Director of Maritime Safety and Standards (DMSS) at the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency.
The table provides an annual overview of the performance of the world’s ship registers against a number of criteria, using data available in the public domain. ICS said it was keen to draw attention to the impressive number of positive indicators that are now being achieved by those flag states which are used by the vast majority of ship operators. ICS Director of Policy & External Relations, Simon Bennett, explained: “One thing the ICS Table has demonstrated for many years is the lack of substance to arbitrary distinctions that are sometimes made between the performance of "open registers" and socalled traditional flag states. About two thirds of the world fleet is now registered with the eight largest "open registries", all of which show impressive levels of performance. While they might have been relevant 20 years ago, the ICS Table continues to show that such distinctions are no longer helpful.”
ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe, explained: “ICS attaches the utmost importance to safe navigation. The purpose of the Guide has always been to provide clear and accessible guidance on best practice for watchkeeping on the bridge. Rapid technological advances make this an increasingly complex task and the need for strict adherence to procedures that follow established best practice cannot be overstated.”
In 2011 Katy Ware was appointed as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where she has worked to negotiate and promote UK policy on international shipping matters at the IMO and within the EU. Ms Ware will retain the role of Permanent Representative to the IMO
The ICS Table assesses the performance of flag states using criteria such as Port State Control records, the ratification of IMO and ILO Conventions and participation at IMO meetings. It is intended as a tool to help ship operators to engage in discussion with their flag administrations about areas of performance where improvement might still be necessary.
ICS strongly recommends that a copy of the new Guide is carried on board every merchant ship, and that copies are held within shipping company technical departments.
While ship operators are responsible for compliance with safety and environmental rules, it is flag states which a have primary responsibility for inspections and enforcement.
The ICS Bridge Procedures Guide, accompanied by a CD version of the text with a search function, is available from maritime booksellers worldwide or direct from ICS.
Bridge Procedures Guide
Spain
Separately, ICS has published a new edition of the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide. ICS says it is widely acknowledged as the principal shipping industry guidance on best practice for safe navigation, which is used by seafarers and training institutes worldwide.
Spain’s Supreme Court has overturned a previous ruling and jailed the master of the PRESTIGE, Apostolos Mangouras, for two years. The tanker sank off northwest Spain in 2002 leading to widespread pollution.
The fifth edition has been comprehensively revised by an expert working group nominated by ICS’s member national shipowners’ associations, and replaces the previous
Katy Ware has been with the MCA for 16 years. She joined MCA as a flag State surveyor and Port State Control Officer. After a two year secondment to the Department for Transport, Katy was promoted to Principal for Marine Technology for the MCA.
The case was notorious as the damaged tanker had been refused a place of refuge by Spain, France and Portugal. It also highlighted the contentious issue of seafarers being criminalised.
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Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, said: “Katy has deep experience in the DMSS area, and takes over the reins at a demanding time as the MCA grapples with a range of challenges. “One of these is modernising the way our marine surveyors oversee the safety of shipping and meet the needs of our customers – an ambitious transformation programme that is the MCA Board’s highest priority for the coming year’.”
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