Make Travel Arrangements News

Like all businesses, maritime organisations must strike a balance between managing operations with the right number of employees at the best possible price. But where they differ is that these businesses require specialist and highly trained workers– and getting them to where they need to be usually depends on circumstances that can rarely be taken for granted.Travel costs for crew make up the second-highest outgoing for most vessels, and without clear oversight costs can easily spiral out of control.

The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group  has announced that it will unveil a new app for seafarers as well as an upgraded training centre in Manila as progress accelerates on Project Embark.Project Embark is a programme designed to transform the way the leading supplier of independent ship management and related marine services handles crewing for its pool of 44,000 seafarers.A press release from the provider of marine support services said that The app will enhance the seafarers’ experience, while enabling V.Group to utilise  regularly updated seafarer data to improve crewing performance and assist in planning.The app will provide a seamless experience to support professional development…

V.Group, a leading provider of marine support services, has announced that it will unveil a new app for seafarers as well as an upgraded training center in Manila as progress accelerates on Project Embark, a program designed to transform the way the leading supplier of independent ship management and related marine services handles crewing for its pool of 44,000 seafarers.The app will enhance the seafarers’ experience, while enabling V.Group to utilize regularly updated seafarer data to improve crewing performance and assist in planning.

Marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group has engaged with management consultancy Accenture to transform its approach to crew management. Named Embark, the project seeks to develop an in-house shared services model which streamlines and optimizes key processes for V.Group’s seafarers, customers and colleagues. Embark will see the introduction of new and enhanced technology to support these shared services and digitize the shipowner and seafarer experience.For customers…

Vacations on a ship – 125 years ago that was considered revolutionary. What many don’t know is that the modern cruises already started in 1891 – on a Hapag ship. On a cold January morning, nearly 125 years ago, nobody could have guessed that the idea would turn into such a success story. In any case, on January 22, 1891, it seemed as if all of Cuxhaven had turned out to marvel at the group of “intrepid travelers” ­ making their way up the gangway of Hapag’s flagship, the “Augusta…

New regulations on the carriage of biofuels could limit the trading flexibility of product tankers from next January, according to Rivertrace Engineering, Managing Director, Mike Coomber. This is because oil discharge monitoring equipment on board most existing vessels is not geared up to handle biofuels. From next January, Coomber warns that vessels without up-to-date type-approved equipment will not even make it on to charterers’ shortlists because they will no longer be eligible to carry biofuel cargoes. The regulations are embodied in IMO Resolution MEPC.108(49) as amended by MEPC.240(65).

Britain said on Thursday it would start screening passengers entering the country through London's two main airports and the Eurostar rail link with Europe for possible cases of the Ebola virus. "Enhanced screening will initially be implemented at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Eurostar terminals," a statement from Prime Minister David Cameron's office said. "(It) will involve assessing passengers' recent travel history, who they have been in contact with and onward travel arrangements as well as a possible medical assessment, conducted by trained medical personnel."   Reporting by William James

The Business Recovery & Insolvency team at Lawler Partners appointed voluntary administrators of the cruise line. Brad Tonks and John Vouris of the Business Recovery & Insolvency team at Lawler Partners were appointed following a resolution by the company and made the following announcement. The Administrators understand that CIC Australia’s management have been working with the owners of the cruise ship “Athena” to confirm its availability for the 2012 – 2013 voyages after recent reports that Athena was arrested at port and that it is currently unable to depart.

GAC Shipping UK has completed the successful installation of the Conwy platform 40 miles off the port of Liverpool, only two months after a tug carrying the rig's jacket and topside – each weighing in at over 700 MT – set off from Rotterdam. GAC's Liverpool office was appointed by Dutch heavy civil engineering company HSM Offshore BV to provide an integrated package of support services to construct and hook-up the platform. The journey from the Netherlands took two and a half weeks due to bad weather resulting in ships having to seek shelter in Plymouth and Falmouth.

Griffin Marine Travel and Instone International Americas announced that their U.S. operations will merge, creating the largest competitive provider of crew travel management services in North America. The merger makes strategic sense for both parties. The companies serve the same markets, share the same aspirations and are totally customer service driven. Griffin Marine Travel brings a global cohesive network of 21 offices; Instone International Americas contributes an exceptionally strong management team and local market presence. The combination of these elements creates a powerful U.S. company with a genuinely global reach, mirroring its customers operations.