Europe Division News

Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE: ASC) (“Ardmore”) has announced the appointment of Dr. Kirsi Tikka to the company’s Board of Directors.Dr. Tikka has over 30 years of shipping experience having recently retired from the American Bureau of Shipping  (“ABS”) in July 2019. She joined ABS in 2001 and held various specialist and leadership positions within ABS including as ABS Executive Vice President Global Marine, Europe Division President, and as Vice President and Chief Engineer, Global.

Owners of offshore support vessels (OSV) are beginning to examine the possibility of reactivating some of their fleet even as the consistent volatility of oil prices and a healthy stream of ships projected from global shipyards keeps their enthusiasm in check.According to Clarksons, demand for the versatile ships, which support offshore exploration and production activities around the world, edged up 3% in 2018, with marginally higher day rates tempting some units out of lay-up.Most of the idle OSV fleet is unlikely to become active this year…

ABS has hosted the inaugural meeting of the Hellenic Technical Committee (HTC) at its state-of-the-art Global Ship Systems Center (GSSC). “The Hellenic shipping community possesses a wealth of engineering knowledge and we are honored to assemble such a credentialed Technical Committee,” said ABS Europe Division Senior Vice President Vassilios Kroustallis. The HTC includes more than 20 key technical professionals across the maritime industry representing owners, operators and owner associations. The Committee brings together ABS and industry leaders to discuss key technical issues and developments as they pertain to ABS Rules. The HTC also analyzes technology trends, such as digitalization and cyber security, which are impacting the marine industry and vessel complexity.

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, held its annual Hellenic National Committee meeting in Athens, Greece in June. “As the recognized classification leader in Greece, we bring together the best and brightest industry leaders for transparent, robust and engaging conversation related to key industry issues,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. The committee meeting provides a forum for ABS Members…

The Berth 9 Extension at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, has been opened by Dr Therese Coffey MP, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. The 190-metre extension increases the port's capability to work two of the world's largest containerships simultaneously. More than eighty ships of 18,000+TEU have already been handled at the port in 2015, confirming Felixstowe's position as the port-of-choice for mega-ships in the UK. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Coffey said, "I am delighted to formally open this latest extension of the Port of Felixstowe. An ever increasing proportion of UK trade is moving on these huge container ships and UK ports need to provide the facilities they require.

A new ambient-temperature food examination facility has been formally opened at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, by Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP. The £4 million investment included a major refurbishment and expansion of the examination facilities and the provision of new offices for Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority. “This new state-of-the-art facility will ensure that vital imported products stay as fresh as possible. Some 40 per cent of the food on our supermarket shelves arrives by sea, so it must be checked efficiently in the most hygienic conditions. “The new inspection facilities are built to an incredibly high standard – safe, clean and hygienic – to maintain the integrity of the food chain to the highest requirements of upcoming legislation.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill MP has taken part in a round table discussion with transport leaders from the ports, road, rail freight and shipping industry at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. Mr Goodwill’s responsibilities at the Department for Transport include ports and shipping but the meeting, convened by Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, included discussions about the need for a joined-up approach connecting the maritime sector with other areas of transport policy. “We were delighted to welcome Robert Goodwill and leaders from across the industry to participate in these discussions. As trade and the ships that carry it continue to grow, further pressure is placed on transport infrastructure and transport operators.

Three new ship-to-shore gantry cranes have been delivered to the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. Built by ZPMC in Shanghai, the new cranes will be operated on the port’s Berth 8&9 which are currently being extended to increase the port’s ability to handle the latest ultra-large container ships. The cranes are all designed to handle ships with containers stowed up to 24-wide and have a lift-height of 49.5 metres above the quay to allow them to work containers stacked up to 10-high on deck at all states of the tide. “The project to extend Berths 8&9 at the port, on which these cranes will operate, will allow us to work more mega-vessels simultaneously.

The Port of Felixstowe is creating an environmental corridor as part of the Go Green campaign launched by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and a number of other global port operators. The initiative at Felixstowe will include the refurbishment of part of a system of dykes within the port. The work will include the improvement of habitats for wildlife as well as enhancing green areas within a busy industrial complex by planting a mixture of trees, grasses and wild flowers. “The Port of Felixstowe has a long history of environmental achievements dating back to the creation of the Trimley Marsh Nature Reserve in the 1980s. Our participation in the Go Green initiative is the latest example of a commitment to the environment which…

The Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain has walked away with the coveted Rail Freight Group 2015 Customer Care Award for its continued and sustained improvement in customer service. This Award recognises the port’s commitment to delivering for its customers’ real needs by consistently making every effort to ensure continuity of service and minimum disruption to supply chains. “We are delighted to have been honoured with the prestigious Customer Care Award by the Rail Freight Group. In 2014 the prolonged Ipswich Yard track lengthening works caused an extended and unexpected period of disruption, posing many challenges for cargo owners, the port and freight operators.

United Arab Shipping Company's (UASC) newest vessel, the 18,800 teu Barzan, has made its maiden call at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. The biggest container ship in the UASC fleet, the mega-ship arrived at the UK's largest container port from Port Kelang in Malaysia. The Barzan is deployed on UASC's AEC1 service between Asia and North Europe. "We are delighted to welcome the latest vessel in the UASC fleet to the port of Felixstowe. Our investment in new infrastructure, equipment, systems and people has ensured that we are the clear port-of-choice for the latest generation of mega vessels employed on the Asian trade. "Our ability to handle these huge vessels will be further enhanced when the Berth 9 extension is completed at the end of the year.

Dr. Kirsi Tikka says diversity at alma mater played a pivotal role on the path towards a 'truly global career' in the shipping industry. Dr. Kirsi Tikka, President and COO of the ABS Europe Division, provided the 2015 Engineering Master's and Doctoral Commencement address at the College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, on Monday 18 May. The ceremony was held in the Hearst Greek Theatre at the UC Berkeley campus for over 550 M.T.M., M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, their families and faculty members.

Leading provider of classification services to the maritime and offshore industries, ABB, says it has  been chosen to class two LNG-fueled containerships to be built in China for German owner GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg. The 1,400 teu vessels will feature dual-fuel propulsion enabling them to burn LNG and conventional bunker fuel. They will be built at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, for GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg for long-term charter to Containerships Ltd Oy, of Finland. ABS will review the design, survey the construction and class the ships for operation on delivery in the course of 2016. The order includes options for a further two vessels.

The fifth annual Iron Ore and Coal World Shipping Summit will take place on October 1 in Athens, Greece. The conference will focus on the maritime transportation of iron ore and coal, making an attempt to forecast the trends of global economy; iron ore, coal and other commodities, production and distribution; the trading markets, shipping capacities, shipbuilding and shipping requirements; the financing and investment climate, shipping innovation effects on ship-values and the environmental imperatives. •    Nicky Pappadakis, President Emeritus Intercargo and Chairman, I.G. Pappadakis & Co. •    Harris Vafias President & CEO, StealthGas Inc. •    George D. •    John Su Managing Director, Keen Maritime Services Inc. •    Janos Koenig Managing Director, Eurofin International Ltd.

ABS, provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, has delivered a series of seminar  addressing developments in the construction and design of liquefied gas carriers. Events were held in Doha, Qatar; Athens, Greece; and Limassol, Cyprus. “As liquefied natural gas (LNG) becomes a more attractive fuel for power generation, increased demand for LNG will require the construction of more liquefied gas carriers to support both LNG and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” says Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Regional Vice President, Eastern Europe. The seminars addressed recent developments in the design and approval of cargo containment systems as well as sloshing and fatigue assessments as viewed by class.

Houston – ABS has delivered a seminar series addressing developments in the construction and design of liquefied gas carriers. Events were held in Doha, Qatar; Athens, Greece; and Limassol, Cyprus. “As liquefied natural gas (LNG) becomes a more attractive fuel for power generation, increased demand for LNG will require the construction of more liquefied gas carriers to support both LNG and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” said Vassilios Kroustallis ABS  Regional Vice President, Eastern Europe. More than 85 members of the shipping community attended the seminar in Athens, which took place on March 21, 2012. Participants included vessel owners…

ABS announced the appointment of Todd Grove to the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in a move that further underscores the strategic alignment of the classification society’s technology resources and Rule development initiatives with the operating divisions. Grove will report to ABS President and COO Christopher J. Wiernicki and be based in the society’s headquarters in Houston. Grove, a 28-year veteran of ABS, has served as President and COO of three ABS operating divisions – Europe, Pacific and Americas. He also has extensive experience in the offshore sector having served as Director, Energy Project Development and Manager, Offshore Engineering.

ABS and The Republic of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and Communication (MTC) have concluded an agreement granting ABS Recognized Organization (RO) status, able to act on behalf of the country’s maritime Administration. This designation allows ABS to perform statutory certification surveys and functions on board Republic of Kazakhstan flagged vessels and offshore units, and for companies which operate these ships and units. In this capacity, ABS determines the compliance of such vessels with applicable international convention requirements and national regulations for the issuance of relevant statutory certificates on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Effective 1 May, ABS will introduce changes to its global engineering organization designed to improve service delivery to clients and reinforce technical capabilities. The new organizational structure is similar to the approach the society has used to administer its global survey services in recent years and is intended to provide better administration of its ship and offshore engineering services, more technical support to the engineering staff conducting plan reviews and promote greater technical consistency. The key component of this new organizational structure is the creation of Assistant Chief Engineer (ACE) positions within each operating Division, reporting directly to the ABS Chief Engineer Robert Giuffra in the corporate headquarters in Houston.