ABS Adds to Membership
At the recent ABS Council meeting in N.Y., 40 prominent members of the shipping and offshore industries were elected as new members of the international classification society. The ABS Council also elected two new members to the society’s Technical Committee. “ABS governance is vested in a membership comprised of distinguished individuals drawn from the international shipping, shipbuilding and offshore industries, from academia, the insurance sector and other related disciplines,” said ABS Chairman and CEO Robert D. Somerville. Akimitsu Ashida, President, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. Noel L. Captain Ali M. Belhag, Chairman, GNMTC – General National Maritime Transport Co. Joseph L. Takatoshi Funada, President, Funada Kaiun Co., Ltd. Kevin M.
London Club Continues to Expand Membership
The P&I Club recorded a growth of nearly two million gross tons in its book of owners’ P&I business during the 2007/8 policy year, increasing the total mutual membership to approximately 37.5 million gross tons. In addition, the Club’s portfolio of charterers’ entries - cover for which has been enhanced by the development of a flexible combined single limit facility - brought the ’s overall tonnage to nearly 40m gt. During the course of the year, the Club welcomed new members, including Dong Guan Haichang Shipping Co, Epic Shipmanagement, Free Bulkers, Global Ship Lease, Grand China Logistics Holding Co, Hellenic Star, Maritime Capital Partners, MSI Ship Management Pte, Neptune Lines, Primal Shipmanagement, Trans Asian Shipping Services Pvt, and Tristar Management.
