3 minute read
G2 Ocean
Walking the walk on diversity
G2 Ocean is rightly proud of its employee mix
For all the talk of getting more women to work in shipping, especially at board level, few lines are doing more to make this a reality than G2 Ocean, the threeyear-old Norwegian joint venture between Gearbulk and Grieg Star.
According to the Maritime HR Association’s 2019 Gender Market Analysis report, which captured data for over 30,000 employees working in shore-based positions around the globe, the number of women working in the sector increased by 7% last year, but still remains far behind most other industries. .
“There has been quite a bit of talk about gender diversity in shipping recently,” concedes Arthur English, the CEO of G2 Ocean, adding: “We are pleased to have ensured a diversified organisation in terms of gender, age and nationalities.”
Currently, 50% of G2 Ocean’s 12-person executive management team, and 40% of its overall workforce, are women.
G2 Ocean’s open hatch pool, at any time, consists of about 95 vessels. The pool is made up of a core fleet of
Spot on G2 Ocean
Three-year-old bulk and open hatch pool created by Gearbulk and Grieg Star more than 100 ships.
“We are pleased to have ensured a diversified organisation in terms of gender, age and nationalities” approximately 85 ships, committed Covid-19 is making for a “chalvia partners Gearbulk and Grieg Star, lenging” year, English admits with and a further 10 vessels taken on disruption likely to continue. For short term or trip charter from the open hatch, the company has been market. exposed to port delays as nearly all
In its bulk pool, G2 Ocean has voyages call multiple load and disapproximately 25 vessels, of which 20 charge ports. are committed long-term to the pool “All of this is leading to ongoing through Gearbulk and Grieg Star, volatility, though we do expect pockand the remainder chartered in on ets of opportunity,” English says. shorter durations. Putting a brave face on the cur-
“We are looking at bringing a rent tricky circumstances brought few more ships into the bulk pool, about by the spread of coronavipossibly from third party owners,” rus, English says he is seeing some English says in an exclusive interview robustness from customers in terms with Maritime CEO. of volume projections.
English stepped up from his role “If we don’t see significant as chief commercial officer to take shutdowns in industrial production, over from Rune Birkeland as CEO we expect to be able to navigate of G2 Ocean in December last year. the uncertainties in the main by English has worked for the past 26 substituting cargo types as and when years for Gearbulk and G2 Ocean. necessary,” English concludes. ●