Daily Management News

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have launched an 18-month initiative to gather extensive weather, ocean, and wildlife data near the sites of active offshore wind farms and lease areas off the coast of the Northeast United States.This effort, which is part of the third phase of the Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP3), seeks to gather high-quality data to improve the design and operation of offshore wind turbines and wind farms.

Danelec, a leader in the production of electronic equipment for the maritime industry, consolidates its market position in the Voyage Data Recorders sector with the acquisition of MacGregor's business in this field. With this investment, Danelec enhances its installed base to a total of 16,000. With the acquisition of MacGregor's Voyage Data Recorder business (VDR) including the Maritime Data Engine (MDE) Software, Danish Danelec further establishes itself as a global leader in the market for VDRs in the maritime industry.MacGregor is owned by Finnish Cargotec.

Last week, Jason Leggatt, President of Mustang Survival, and Andrew Branagh, CEO of The Wing Group, announced together that Leggatt has resigned from his daily management position as President.Leggatt will become a member of the Board following his departure, enabling him to provide the Board counsel and strategic guidance for The Wing Group and the Mustang Survival business in a governance role.The Wing Group/Mustang Survival has commenced the search process for a new business unit President engaging the executive recruiting firm Boyden Canada.

KOTUG International B.V. has completed the 100% acquisition of Marsol International Ltd., an offshore and marine terminal service center, specialized in offshore single point mooring (SPM) buoy terminals and its related infrastructure.The core business of Marsol is integrity management based commercial and technical marine service solutions for SPM and offshore terminals. Over the years Marsol’s management has operated on 32 offshore marine terminals in more than 20 countries. Marsol’s operational headquarters are based in Dubai.

Norwegian dry bulk operator Torvald Klaveness and Japanese trading house Marubeni have merged their panamax pool activities into a new jointly-owned pool management company called Maruklav Management.Maruklav, claimed to be the world's biggest panamax bulker pool, will be led by Michael Jørgensen as the company MD, with Masashi Kobayashi from Marubeni as Deputy MD. The combination of existing fleets in the MG Harrison Shipping and Baumarine Pools will see the venture with a fleet of approximately 30 vessels starting operations in early April."Combining the strengths of major trading house Marubeni and long-term Owner and Operator Klaveness will not only leverage individual capabilities…

VLCC owner DHT Holdings announced that its Co-CEOs have relocated to Singapore. The relocation follows changes in the tax law in Norway from 2019 for tax residency of companies formed outside of Norway.The crude oil tanker company said that the new legislation takes into account the place of daily management as well as the place of management and control on board level. The Company's tax residency will remain unchanged in Bermuda.The Company's office in Singapore will hold senior management, chartering, operations, newbuilding supervision and technical management whereas the Company's office in Norway will retain functions within finance, accounting, investor relations, chartering and operations.DHT's fleet trades internationally and consists of crude oil tankers in the VLCC segments.

Associated British Ports marked the latest in a series of multi-million dollar investments in the port of Southampton by inviting the Rt Hon John Hayes CBE MP to open its brand new vessel traffic service (VTS) operating room, (September 21). The Minister of State at the Department of Transport was in attendance as Britain's leading ports company revealed its $5.2m investment in a new office with state-of-the-art equipment at Ocean Gate, Southampton, which will be manned on a 24/7 basis.

Until January of this year, Sean Connaughton oversaw seven state agencies with more than 9,700 employees and combined annual budgets of $5 billion. Connaughton is probably better known to MarineNews readers as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administrator during the second Bush Administration. As U.S. Maritime Administrator, he was responsible for the daily management of that agency and its promotional programs for the marine transportation industry. This included advising and assisting the Secretary of Transportation on commercial maritime matters…

A/S Dan-Bunkering Ltd. announced that as of May 1, 2013, Rune Andreasen has been appointed Sales Manager in Dan-Bunkering’s office in Copenhagen. Rune started as a trainee with Dan-Bunkering back in 1999, and was in 2010 promoted to Senior Bunker Trader & Team Leader. In his new role, Rune will be responsible for the daily management, development and education of the trading department in Copenhagen. Furthermore, it is a pleasure to advise that another one of Dan-Bunkering Copenhagen’s employees, Michael Matern Hedager, has been appointed Senior Bunker Trader as of May 1, 2013.

Sean Connaughton, Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia, oversees seven state agencies with more than 9,700 employees and combined annual budgets of $5 billion. But this transportation professional is perhaps best known to MarineNews readers as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administrator during the second Bush Administration. As U.S. Maritime Administrator, he was responsible for the daily management of that agency and its promotional programs for the marine transportation industry.

The AP Moller-Maersk group operates Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container shipper. Its business also includes offshore oil and gas activities and retail and shipyard operations. Mr. Moller's last public appearance was at the firm’s annual general meeting last week. Known to all as 'Mr. Moller', he took over the leadership of the group in 1965, following his father’s death that year. He left daily management in 1993, and was chairman of AP Moller-Maersk A/S until 2003. Mr. Moller is survived by three daughters. His wife Emma Neergaard Rasmussen, whom he married in 1940, died in 2005.

Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, has named Vice Admiral Brian Peterman (United States Coast Guard, Retired) and Matt Branigan as the newest members of Flag Bridge, a recently launched service focused on maritime risk and sovereignty management. "Strategic maritime challenges are increasing at an alarming rate," said Tom Ridge, Ridge Global President and CEO and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition to Peterman and Branigan, Flag Bridge members include: Admiral Tom Collins, 22nd Commandant of the USCG; Vice Admiral Jim Hull; former USCG Area Commander; Rear Admiral Norm Saunders, former USCG District Commander; and Dan Sheehan, former USCG Chief Information Officer.

Danish-based Hempel announced today the acquisition of Crown Paints Ltd. This is a result of its One Hempel – One Ambition growth strategy. The Decorative segment represents a significant part of the global coatings industry and is expected to keep growing. Therefore, the acquisition of a company strong in the Decorative market is an important part of Hempel’s strategy. “Crown Paints represents everything we were looking for – a solid position in the market, a sound financial situation, as well as innovative R&D and marketing,” said Hempel’s CEO Pierre-Yves Jullien.

Costamare Inc. (NYSE: CMRE), an international owner of containerships, reported unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2010. Voyage revenues of $85.7 million and $353.2 million for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA of $56.2 million and $223.6 million for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively. Net income of $11.8 million or $0.21 per share and $81.2 million or $1.65 per share for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively. Adjusted Net Income of $18.0 million or $0.33 per share and $73.8 million or $1.50 per share for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.

NASSCO has elected Lane McVey as vice president and general counsel. McVey, who joins the company from the San Diego law firm of McKenna & Cuneo, will be responsible for the daily management of the company's legal activities. He brings 25 years of expertise to NASSCO, including experience in commercial and government contracting, negotiations and claims resolution.

As from December 1, 2007 Nils Smedegaard Andersen (CEO of Carlsberg A/S) will take up the position as Group CEO of A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S and withdraw from the Board of Directors of A.P. Moller -Maersk A/S. At the same date Jess Søderberg will resign as Group CEO of A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S. Originally Jess Søderberg was supposed to retire in 2009. With the advanced management change the Board of Directors has wished to clarify the future management relations and thus keep a constant drive in the company. By choosing Nils Smedegaard Andersen the Board also wishes to add new yet experienced capacity, which jointly with the other members of the management, will constitute a strong team to lead on A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S and create further development and higher profitability.