Navigate Response launched at London’s Baltic Exchange.
The company’s round-the-clock services are tailored specifically for the global shipping industry and focus on managing clients’ messages across a range of communications channels including mainstream and social media. The new company is chaired by internationally renowned maritime expert, Richard Sayer, and led by Mark Clark, former head of public relations and media at the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The team includes leading maritime PR experts Mike Elsom and Bill Lines of sister company Navigate PR Ltd.
Founded in 2004, Navigate PR provides comprehensive public relations services to a wealth of maritime businesses across a range of disciplines. Navigate Response is strategically partnered with Admiralty-Helix in Singapore which forms its Asian headquarters. Admiralty-Helix is jointly led by the internationally known maritime crisis management professional Jesse W Lewis Jr, a former American diplomat and a foreign correspondent for The Washington Post; and Edward W Ion, former Asia Editor of Lloyd’s List and Managing Partner of Singapore-based Helix Media that specialises in public affairs for the maritime and insurance industries.Together with a global network of partners, Navigate Response delivers real-time counsel, advice and hands-on support providing emergency media handling, reputation management and training services to companies in the maritime and offshore sectors. Mark Clark has extensive experience of handling and leading teams to meet the media challenges of major maritime casualties including MSC Napoli, M/V Ice Prince and M/V Evergreen. As a former senior partner at global shipping law firm Ince & Co and chairman of shipbroker Galbraith’s, Richard Sayer has over 30 years experience of handling high-profile shipping incidents and casualties and brings a wealth of experience to Navigate Response.
Announcing the launch of Navigate Response, Richard Sayer said: “In today’s world of 24/7 rolling news and social media, all eyes are on the shipping industry when a major incident happens. Whether large or small, any shipping company caught in the midst of a media storm needs to respond quickly to the media interest, and in the same professional way that they respond to the incident itself. Charterers, port states and other involved parties are increasingly requiring a professionally run media response as part of any crisis plan. The launch of Navigate Response and its link with Admiralty-Helix as well as with other public affairs professionals creates a truly global network that can deliver a rapid, smooth and seamless response to any maritime casualty. That is why I am delighted to chair this professional media response company.”