Carell has been in operation for almost 70 years, providing the maritime industry with outstanding ship repair work. Now, the company is using this experience to innovate how ships are repaired. Head of Business Development Haris Carellis discussed the company’s latest moves, in a report written by Imogen Ward.
Carell cares about its customers and its employees. Rooted in familial harmony, the Greek company continues to excel thanks to years of knowledge and lived experience.
“Repairing ships is in our blood,” Head of Business Development Haris Carellis said. “Carell is a family-owned business and has been since my grandfather established it 70 years ago. Being present in a sector for that length of time is a huge achievement. Even more so as one of the leaders of the industry; that really says something about our company. Our customers share the
same view, since 95 per cent of them return time and time again.”
Over the past five years, Carell has focused heavily on business growth, expanding into different fields. The company also grew its capacity within the dry bulk and container sector, which has enabled it to complete around 65 projects per year.
Anchors down in automation
Since the company’s last interview with Inside Marine, Carell has accomplished some pretty impressive milestones. With
extensive experience repairing ships, the company has recently dedicated its time to developing marine automation.
Carell has been working on ShipWeld –in partnership with several companies, including iKnowHow (a Greek automation and robotics manufacturer). The ShipWeld robot is an autonomous welding solution that features a UR10e arm developed by Universal Robots. The arm has a lift capacity of 12.5kg, a reach of 130cm and has MIG and TIG welding capabilities. The robot utilises sensors and scanners to ensure all welding is of the highest quality.
“Our main partner for the ShipWeld project is iKnowHow; we are incredibly proud of this partnership and the collaborative work we have completed,” Mr Carellis said. “The ShipWeld robot can identify where the welding work needs to be completed, and we incorporated AI Algorithms to guide where to go and how to fix the problem. We estimate this will minimise repair costs as the robot’s efficiency will significantly reduce the required hours for each restoration.
“What we are trying to achieve is unusual; we aren’t just developing an automation machine, we are creating a machine that is dedicated to ship repairs and the prefabrication of steel parts.”
Another crucial benefit of this system is safety; ship repair work can lead to accidents. Luckily, by using ShipWeld, companies can reduce the risk. This is incredibly important for Carell, as a business that prides itself on the safety of its employees.
“We don’t cut corners when it comes to health and safety,” Mr Carellis said.
“We have a specific team that is solely responsible for HSQE, and we ensure the business complies with all our ISO regulatory frameworks. We are proud to say that we have zero accidents in the workplace. We also routinely inspect all enclosed spaces on vessels before allowing personnel to enter, which is a prerequisite for all potential repair projects.”
Automation is just one of the exciting projects that Carell has embarked upon: the company is also focused on strengthening its presence within the hydrogen market.
Harnessing hydrogen
Like all renewable energy, hydrogen is still quite new to the maritime market. Carell has been working hard to position itself at the
forefront of this sector. The company is off to a great start, after becoming the 12th Greek member of Hydrogen Europe; with this membership, the company is committed to helping shape the future of the hydrogen industry. Working already on the fabrication of a second hydrogen generator, the company has fully immersed itself into the role of a leader in the renewable sector.
“I can’t reveal much about this project, but what I can tell you is that it produces some of the purest rates of hydrogen energy in Europe,”said Mr Carellis. “We are hopeful that this project will be completed in the next couple of months, at which point we will start the final checks for our end user. This project aligns perfectly with our membership of Hydrogen Europe. We are incredibly proud to be a part of this community, and we are so grateful to be given the chance to help create a brighter future for everyone.”
The commitment to the hydrogen industry is heavily centred on the desire to create a more sustainable future. Carell has taken this pledge seriously and is currently assessing its own carbon footprint. “We are evaluating all the different ways we can be more sustainable,” Mr Carellis explained. “Currently, we have recycling procedures in-house to cut down on waste, and we have also minimised the use of plastic within our workshops.
“Externally, we are extremely focused on the hydrogen energy sector, and we are doing everything possible to ensure its success. We have a substantial amount of research and development underway. We’re doing our best to share that knowledge with others and better educate ourselves and our employees on the importance of hydrogen.”
Education is incredibly important for the Carellis family, and they strive to provide
their workers with access to educational tools to enhance the learning experience for employees. “We’re always investing in our people; they are the main driving force of our development and inspire us to make great products that help the planet,” Mr Carellis said. “We have a vision of becoming the maritime powerhouse, and we couldn’t do it without them.
“One of the more important ways we have invested in our people is by providing them with certifications and courses to give them the best opportunity for growth.”
Future focused
The next steps for Carell include substantial growth and development. “Our big plan is to expand our reach; to do this, we plan to spread out to more locations,” Mr Carellis said. “Our big ambition is to be near all our customers, being able to provide ship repair at any given time in any given place. We want to be everyone’s first choice.”
The company also plans to further progress the ShipWeld project with more
advanced welding machines (targeting specific exotic materials to really expand its usability). Carell is currently developing this technology with extensive R&D.
With such impressive goals, the future looks bright for Carell and the Greek maritime industry.
“Greece is a safe environment where we can achieve a great deal in terms of technical capabilities and knowledge,” Mr Carellis concluded. “Our country is on track to become one of the main components driving the renewable energy sector in Europe, and we are incredibly proud to be able to help make that happen. We also remain committed to making Greece one of the top countries in the world for ship repair. We have almost 70 years’ experience in this sector and that knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation.
“I remember being five years old and being shown a huge vessel in dry dock that resonates with my passion for the industry. Shipping is part of who we are, it’s in our blood.”
