Paul Holthus News

A new crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds for developing world seafarers and their families that have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.The world's seafarers, especially those from poorer countries, are facing a number of challlenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are in lockdown with casual contracts and unable to work; others are facing difficulties due to lockdowns when they leave ships and are unable to return to their families with costs and little income coming in…

A new partnership between World Ocean Council (WOC) and WISTA International will advance women’s leadership in the sustainable blue economy.The WOC and WISTA is initiating a partnership to advance women’s leadership in the ocean and coastal business community and the Sustainable Blue Economy, said a press note.WISTA is a global organization connecting female executives and professionals from all sectors of the maritime industry. With more than 3,000 members in 49 countries, WISTA leads with the conviction that gender diversity and inclusions are the keys to providing a sustainable future for the shipping, trading, and logistics industries worldwide.Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou…

The World Ocean Council (WOC) and the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) have signed an MOU on long-term cooperation.The partnership agreement provides a commitment and framework for the two bodies to collaborate on ocean sustainable economic development through information exchange, communications, events, joint working groups, etc. on topics of shared interest.More specifically, PIANC and WOC will begin by working together to develop tools and methods for port and coastal infrastructure adaptation that can be scaled up to address port resiliency needs, especially regarding extreme weather events affecting…

A who’s who list of maritime industry executives have signed on to voice their support for a zero-carbon future in shipping.The not-for-profit foundation the Global Maritime Forum brought together a group of 34 CEOs and industry leaders from across the global maritime sector to sign a call for action and lead the industry in a transition toward decarbonization.To achieve this, these leaders believe the maritime industry needs to accelerate both technological and business model innovation…

Global trade enabler DP World has become the first company in its sector to join the World Ocean Council (WOC) as part of its leadership journey to actively engage in the protection of the world’s oceans. By becoming a member of the growing international multi-industry alliance on “Corporate Ocean Responsibility” DP World will commence, enhance and advance our role as a responsible leadership company. The WOC is a global, cross-sectoral business leadership alliance with a network of over 35,000 stakeholders addressing corporate ocean responsibility. Developed by and for the private sector, it addresses issues affecting ocean sustainable development, science and stewardship.

The Dubai Council on Marine and Maritime Industries (DCMMI) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) have agreed to collaborate on ocean sustainable development and corporate ocean responsibility. The WOC is increasingly working with and through “maritime clusters” to advance these goals. “The World Ocean Council is a unique global business leadership organization committed to advancing ocean sustainable development, stewardship and science,” DCMMI Chairman, Khamis Juma Buamim, stated. “We look forward to working with DCMMI to better engage leadership companies from Dubai and the UAE,” WOC CEO, Paul Holthus, added.

The global engineering, project management and construction company, Bechtel has become a member of the World Ocean Council (WOC), the international business alliance for Corporate Ocean Responsibility. Bechtel brings considerable experience and expertise in the design, engineering and construction of sustainable ports and coastal infrastructure. The company has worked on more than 80 ports and coastal projects around the world. Its projects include Khalifa Port (UAE), Jamnagar Refinery and Port Complex (India) and Jubail Industrial City and Port (Saudi Arabia). “Smart planning, innovation and having an integrated approach are key to developing sustainable infrastructure,” said Tam Nguyen, global head of sustainability at Bechtel.

“Sustainable development” has gone from buzz word to business imperative in the two decades since the initial Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Companies are increasingly evaluated on how well they address sustainability as a critical measure of their commitment to the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit. Stakeholders expect companies to develop sustainability and corporate responsibility programs and reporting as part of efforts to take up civil society concerns and maintain the social license to operate.

The World Ocean Council (WOC) has submitted a paper synthesizing the common themes from industry comments on the U.S. National Ocean Policy (NOP). Initiated in 2010, the NOP calls for the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources. To translate the NOP into substantive actions, the National Ocean Council (NOC) released nine strategic action plan outlines for public review including: ecosystem based management, coastal and marine spatial planning, and coordination among governmental agencies. The NOC received comments from many stakeholders, including industry, on the strategic plan outlines in 2011 and on the NOC draft Implementation Plan in 2012.

Recently in its New York City office Maritime Reporter sat with Paul Holthus, CEO of the World Ocean Council, for a discussion of the trend toward corporate ocean responsibility and his organization’s contribution to that end. Can you tell us a bit about your meeting at the United Nations? The U.N. has an annual briefing for governments on ocean issues that has been going for 16 years,  but industry hasn’t usually  been well represented. As the World Ocean Council has become recognized…

For the third Arctic Summit, the WOC is working with The Economist to help ensure Arctic business community participation. The event will gather senior level politicians, government bodies, NGOs, indigenous groups, intergovernmental organizations, and corporations from across the insurance, infrastructure, oil gas and mining, logistics, shipping, tourism and risk management industries. A special registration discount is available to WOC Members. The speaker for Arctic Summit’s lead industry sponsor - DNV GL (a founding WOC Member) - is Elisabeth Tørstad, CEO, DNV GL Oil & Gas. Other speakers include: Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General…

Keppel Offshore and Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), a global company in offshore rig design, construction and repair, ship repair and conversion, and specialized shipbuilding, has become a member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). Keppel O&M joins a growing number of companies from a wide range of industries that are distinguishing themselves as members of the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. With its headquarters in Singapore…

As the need for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and its development continues to grow, The Nautical Institute has worked with the World Ocean Council to produce a guide aimed at helping maritime professionals to better understand MSP and take a more active role in representing shipping issues within the process. Titled “The Shipping Industry and Marine Spatial Planning – a professional approach” and launched today at a seminar hosted by the Institute’s Hong Kong branch, the guide…

More than 250 top-level delegates attended trade association Interferry’s 38th annual conference in Malta to debate the major factors affecting ferry operations around the world. Under a new format mixing presentations with panel discussions and audience input, the event underlined the diversity of political, technical, operational and commercial issues challenging the industry. Among several sessions focused on safety, a former airline pilot confirmed the alarming certainty of human error…

A ferry operator’s experience of ‘the fastest ship in the world’ will feature among the cutting-edge initiatives being aired at Interferry’s 38th annual conference in Malta from October 5-9. The trade association event gives South American operator Buquebus a first opportunity to showcase the commercial and technical benefits of its revolutionary newbuild Francisco. Delivered in August from Australian builder Incat Tasmania, the catamaran is the world’s first high speed dual fuel ro-ro to use LNG as its primary fuel. Incat made the “fastest ship” claim after sea trials in June.

Leading Asian shipping companies China Navigation & Swire Pacific Offshore expand the global industry alliance on ocean sustainability. The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd (CNCo) and Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO), major international shipping companies based in the Asia-Pacific region, join leading companies from a range of industries as members of the World Ocean Council (WOC) - the international business leadership alliance on Corporate Ocean Responsibility. "Much of world trade depends on maritime transport to and from Asia. The shipping industry has a significant role in ensuring its operations are safe and sustainable whilst not adversely affecting ocean health.

Esri's chief scientist Dawn Wright will share her geospatial expertise with WOC's Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) and Ocean Science working groups. Esri is a world leader in GIS. "Geospatially referenced information is critical to addressing environmental challenges in the fluid, dynamic, interconnected marine world," said Paul Holthus, executive director, WOC. WOC members are oil and gas, seafloor mining, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and offshore renewables companies. WOC develops and implements programs that improve the science, data, and maps needed to address the challenges of sustainable ocean use. For example, WOC helps ocean organizations understand and participate in geospatial activities that support robust ocean use maps.

current topics with audience participation. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 1 – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. information. 11 a.m. Argentina. and Mar del Plata—some statistics showing the increasing growth. 2 p.m. Record (EHR). processes. management and preventative care onboard cruise ships. targeted to the unique challenges of the cruise ship healthcare setting. 2:30 p.m. control the equipment operations on board cruises ships. not compatible with new hardware. Revive Image System. is now possible. and the ship is free to go on with shipboard operations. 3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. walls and floors. concrete slabs. TCNA Handbook. be covered. shower assemblies will be examined. railing assemblies. 4:30 p.m. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. A view of the shape of the industry and a look ahead. Gerald R. Adam M. Daniel J. 3 - 5 p.m.

International associations representing a wide variety of ocean industries will meet together in the first “Roundtable of Ocean Industry Association Leaders,” which is being held as part of the Sustainable Ocean Summit in Belfast, 16-17 June 2009. Confirmed Roundtable participants include directors and senior managers of: Oil and Gas Producers Association (OGP), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), International Association of Dredging Contractors (IADC), International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), International Energy Agency: Ocean Energy Systems (IEA:OES), with additional association participants anticipated.

Senior representatives from a wide range of industries that use ocean space and resources will come together to discuss sustainability issues that face the ocean business community in a summit in June. The Sustainable Ocean Summit is an international cross sectoral business conference on ocean stewardship. The conference, organized by the World Ocean Council in association with Golder Associates is being held in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the 15 -17 June 2010 and will bring together representatives from varying marine industries including oil and gas, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, ports, renewable energy and marine technology.