IBLEA SHIP MANAGEMENT
GREEK & ITALIAN PHILOSOPHIES SHAPE MARITIME MANAGEMENT Powered by Inside Marine
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IBLEA SHIP MANAGEMENT
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I PROFILE
GREEK & ITALIAN PHILOSOPHIES SHAPE MARITIME MANAGEMENT Bulk carrier management specialist, Iblea Ship Management was established in Greece in 2021, but it is not a newcomer to the industry. As part of the esteemed Augustea Group, which boasts over 60 years of maritime industry experience and deep Italian maritime roots, Iblea Ship Management inherits the group’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and high standards of crew safety and environmental impact; shaping its identity, values and strategy. General Manager Francesca Trotta spoke with Richard Hagan.
perating on the global market, Iblea
O
such as iron ore, coal and grains. By mid-
Ship Management serves a diverse
2023, Iblea Ship Management had 22
clientele by offering high-quality
vessels in its management portfolio.
specific needs.
Ship-shape staff
ship management services tailored to their Iblea Ship Management’s services range
This growth in Iblea Ship Management’s
from full technical management of vessels
portfolio has been steady and sustained,
to operations and post-fixing; a meticulous
thanks, in large part, to its highly effective
process that ensures contracts are fully
people. The company’s bustling headquar-
resolved in terms of payment and dispute
ters in Athens, Greece, are a hive of activity,
resolution once a vessel has transported
housing over 37 onshore employees.
goods from one point to another. The com-
Roving superintendents and travelling staff
pany’s comprehensive service offering
ensure smooth operations between ships.
leaves no need unaddressed, making it
“We have managed to create what we
a preferred partner for many ship owners
have now, in Athens, in just two years,”
around the world.
said General Manager Francesca Trotta,
The company specialises in the
as she reflected on the company’s
management of bulk carriers, providing
remarkable growth trajectory. “It was
seaborne transport of major commodities
a lot of hiring, while still trying to run the
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IBLEA SHIP MANAGEMENT
I PROFILE
art Italian Maritime Academy (IMA) is also located in Manila and is part of Augustea Shipmanning. In addition, Iblea has a pool of around 300 seafarers. “Augustea Shipmanning has been around for over twenty years and having it available to us is a huge advantage for our business,” said Ms Trotta. “We frequently send people from the office to train the new personnel there, as well as to meet the crew.”
Digitalisation and traditions Despite being in an industry steeped in tradition, Iblea Ship Management is not immune to the digital transformation wave reshaping various industries. business and service our vessels. This
According to Ms Trotta, the adoption
was our biggest challenge and our
of technological advancements that
biggest achievement!”
support the company’s daily ship-to-shore
Augustea Shipmanning is based in
operations is still in the testing phase due
Manila and is part of Augustea Group.
to inherent challenges with the remote
Augustea Shipmanning has over 3,000
nature of shipping. “Our biggest challenge
seafarers to serve over 100 vessels from
is communications and connectivity,” she
different clients. The group’s state-of-the-
said. “In order to truly harness AI and the
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Internet of Things, we require real-time
“I believe that Greece’s strongest
data to be transmitted, which demands
point is its capacity and capability to
very fast communications between the
successfully adapt to changing market
ship and shore.
conditions, challenges and global
“We’ve embraced various systems and
trends. Our goal is to leverage the best
are trialling various others on our vessels,
of both: our Italian heritage and new
as well as testing the market to see
Greek roots and personnel.”
what else is out there that can benefit our operations.” Despite these challenges, the company remains optimistic about harnessing the potential of various new tools to improve vessel safety and efficiency. Ms Trotta emphasised the company’s vast maritime heritage as evidence of its ability to adapt to these new technologies and challenges: “Greece has always played a leading role in the maritime industry and that will continue to be the case. Greek shipping companies possess expansive experience in shipping as well as industry knowledge and, altogether, a vast fleet of vessels.
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IBLEA SHIP MANAGEMENT
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Setup for success
to discuss. We update them constantly
With the human and technological
on the fleet’s condition. We share info and
infrastructure firmly in place, Iblea
pictures with them. We don’t hide anything
Ship Management is now focusing on
from the owners.”
expanding its client base. The company
In addition to those regular calls, Iblea
is keen to demonstrate its track record to
Ship Management also provides owners
potential clients and show them the value
with a comprehensive quarterly report,
it can bring.
reflecting the current status of all of
As part of its competitive strategy, Iblea Ship Management is dedicated to providing a more personalised service,
the company’s pre-agreed KPIs with the customer. Meanwhile, Iblea Ship Management is
unlike larger industry players. “What we offer
a member of RightShip and has embraced
is a more tailored service,” said Ms Trotta.
its inspection regime, adding further
“For example, we have weekly calls with our
credibility to its technical management
clients where we update them on their fleet –
service. The company is also a member
just generally; even if there aren’t any issues
of INTERCARGO, a key international forum representing the interests of dry cargo shipowners, and it is certified for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45000. With its unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence and transparency, Ms Trotta emphasised that Iblea Ship Management is well-positioned
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to sail its clients towards a future filled with success and growth in the maritime industry. “We have the capability to immediately run your vessel,” she said. “We have done a lot of work to earn strong vessel compliance scores and we have the human capacity to look for more clients, so our mission right now is to tell the industry that we’re here; we have the track record and we’re ready to serve you. “In the meantime, our goal is to work every day to deliver even better quality and optimised costs for our clients.” Concluding, Ms Trotta reflected on what it means to work in shipping: “I love the challenge of the job, and I love the fact that shipping is such a highly dynamic environment: there’s very little boredom in this business. Shipping is not simply operating vessels – it’s an intricate, complex business with many moving parts: it’s about people, economics, and engineering.”
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