7 minute read
Boutique service for big ships
UNITEAM MARINE I PROFILE
for Boutique service BIG SHIPS
In the vast and often corporate world of ship management, Uniteam Marine in Cyprus stands out for its personal approach to its relationships with clients. Via Uniteam Marine’s own offices around the world, the company offers a comprehensive range of management services to ship owners. John Hadjiparaskevas, Managing Director at Uniteam Marine, returned to update us on the company’s latest news. Richard Hagan reports.
Uniteam Marine provides a comprehensive bouquet of ship management services, from full management over crew management (including payroll and outsourced HR services), to technical services (including financial accounting and quality management).
Whilst it has traditionally focused on dry cargo vessels, the company has recently added the first tanker to its portfolio. Supplying crew to the cruise vessel segment is also a relatively new but successful venture for Uniteam Marine with over 500 crew currently serving onboard its clients’ cruise vessel fleets. More will be embarking over the next months, now that the cruise industry recovers, adding to Uniteam Marine’s core crewing activities.
Several well-known offshore vessel operators have also entrusted the crewing of their vessels to Uniteam Marine, and with the signing of a crewing agreement for two LNG tankers, this segment will soon be added to the portfolio.
Since Uniteam Marine’s founding in 1986, its footprint has gradually expanded. Complementing its head office in Cyprus, the company boasts offices in Germany, Myanmar, Singapore, Ukraine and the Philippines. An office in the Middle East is expected to follow soon.
Via its sister company, Uniteam Training, Uniteam Marine provides cutting-edge crew training services to the market. Its state-ofthe-art facility in Yangon comprises bridge simulators, ECDIS stations, an engine room simulator suited for simulating LNG fuel operations, STCW and finally, practical workshop training courses.
Boutique service for big business
According to Managing Director John Hadjiparaskevas, the company’s size makes it more flexible and highly adaptable.
“We are sized in a way that still allows us to deliver a very personal boutique-style service to our clients, but at the same time we are able to pass on economies of scale to our clients’ benefit. Added to our over 35 years of ship management experience, we can quickly respond to individual client needs as well as to adapt our processes and procedures to meet client requirements.
UNITEAM MARINE I PROFILE
“Our longstanding business relationships with our clients is the best proof of our successful focus on client satisfaction and on delivering a service that meets and exceeds their expectations.”
Philippines recruitment drive
In November 2021, Uniteam Marine celebrated the opening of its office in Manila, the Philippines, which is already responsible for managing over 500 seafarers. The new presence focuses heavily on recruiting junior officers, petty officers and ratings from the Philippines region.
“The reaction from seafarers in the Philippines has been very positive; they welcomed Uniteam Marine wholeheartedly,” Mr Hadjiparaskevas commented.
“Our goals for the next five years include career growth of our staff there, as well as more deployment of Filipino seafarers and ultimately, becoming one of the top-performing local seafarer recruitment agencies in Manila.”
The company’s Myanmar office services a labour market that is largely untapped in the maritime industry.
Mr Hadjiparaskevas continued: “Myanmar is not as explored as other, traditional recruitment markets such as the Philippines. Through our various recruitment offices and a network of associated agencies, we’re able to offer our clients a choice of crew nationalities.”
Putting people first
Uniteam Marine has a people-first approach to managing its seafarers, Mr Hadjiparaskevas confirmed, stating that the company’s focus on crew wellbeing and ongoing training has delivered long-term employee commitment.
“Our people have always been and will continue to be our most important asset. The business cannot survive without them and therefore we put extra effort into really caring for them. In 2021, a number of our seafarers and office personnel celebrated 10, 20, and 25 years seniority with us. We’re like a big family that stays together.”
The company recently launched its ‘We Care’ logo as a representation of the various programmes it is running in connection with crew wellbeing.
“These include our ‘5 paths to wellbeing’, our onboard Mental Fitness Gym, our AntiCorruption and Anti-Bribery Policies, our commitment to the Modern Slavery Act, and our ‘TH!NK LSR (Life Saving Rules) safety campaign,” Mr Hadjiparaskevas explained. “They all form an integral part of who we are as a company and are the reason why we are formalising these commitments into our new Environmental Social Governance Policy.”
Caring for the environment
Globally, there is a major push towards emissions-free transportation and the maritime industry, with its high emissions, has been a focus of various emissions-related regulatory efforts. Uniteam Marine is taking a proactive stance in dealing with emissions challenges via the various internal programs it’s put in place to prioritise environmental issues.
“For over a decade, we’ve focused on emissions reduction and today we boast
a zero environmental deficiency record,” remarked Mr Hadjiparaskevas. “These efforts also form the basis from which we implement our ‘Ship Energy Efficiency Management Programmes’.”
The company’s Environmental Social Governance Policy is a formal document that will guide policymaking for everything it does, going forward.
“In order to care for humanity, we must care for nature; we must think about what we buy and use, we must adopt sustainable habits and we must commit to a green and resilient future. Therefore, we believe that high standards of corporate responsibility will make good business sense and will enhance and protect our business,” Mr Hadjiparaskevas commented.
Crewing through Covid
The Covid pandemic and its many lockdowns, regulations and border closures are a headache for crews trying to return home or return to work. It’s a constantly moving goalpost, Mr Hadjiparaskevas noted.
“Travel information that is valid today can become obsolete tomorrow, which makes reliable long-term planning impossible and it means crew changes must be handled on an ad-hoc basis,” he said. “Added to that, there’s been a spike in travel costs combined with already costly Covid testing and mandatory isolation periods. It’s a major challenge.
“Our crewing team has done a great job keeping our seafarers constantly updated of the situation and the travel challenges we’re facing. In co-operation with owners and occasionally even charterers, we have always managed to find ways to make the impossible possible.”
Mr Hadjiparaskevas echoed comments heard throughout the industry relating to the plight of seafarers. These are personnel who perform an essential service, but which is still not formally recognised in terms of international travel restrictions.
“A global recognition – not just lip service – that recognises maritime workers as essential personnel is what we need. They need to be given preferential treatment when joining a vessel or signing off from one. It was such a shame to see how seafarers were repeatedly denied medical attention in port on the basis that Covid restrictions would not allow shore leave. Practices like that are contrary to basic MLC rights for seafarers worldwide.”
Future priorities
In closing, Mr Hadjiparaskevas revealed his thoughts on the challenges that would affect the maritime industry over the next couple of years. The pandemic featured prominently.
“Restrictions imposed by the pandemic will accompany us throughout 2022 and will continue to have an impact on both the operational and cost aspects of crew changes. Our top priority is keeping our seafarers motivated and engaged, whilst carefully looking after their mental health and well-being.”
“It remains to be seen how long the positive charter rates currently paid for container vessels and dry bulk ships continue to be achievable. At least for the time being, these help to balance the increased costs that both ship owners and we, as ship managers, are incurring due to the pandemic.”
With the opening of its new office, comprehensive and progressive internal programmes, and its ability to quickly adapt to changing client needs, Uniteam Marine is positioned to enjoy a strong 2022 and beyond. n
