Global Risk Management News

First financial steps have been made to cement the planned succession process of Torben Østergaard-Nielsen’s global shipping group United Shipping & Trading Company (USTC), based in Middelfart, Denmark.The next generation in the family-owned business, daughters Nina Østergaard Borris and Mia Østergaard Nielsen, have become co-owners via the parent company Selfinvest. In the future, they will take even greater part in the active ownership of the group.With more than 2,500 employees distributed on 101 offices in 33 countries worldwide…

A new report has identified the ten technology trends, and their associated risks, that will shape industry and society in the coming decade.The rapid advancement of digitalization is behind many of the trends, profoundly challenging our personal and societal assumptions, according to DNV GL, the global risk management and quality assurance company.The report 'Technology Outlook 2030' said that the relationship between humans and technology is switching, with humans increasingly augmenting the decisions of artificial intelligence, rather than the other way around.For example, in the next decade there will be a greater proliferation of autonomous vehicles…

DNV GL, the world’s largest independent energy advisory and certification body, has appointed wind energy professional Peter Brun as Global Offshore Wind Segment Leader. Brun is responsible for stakeholder management, alliance building and promoting offshore wind development throughout the world. Brun brings more than 26 years of experience in the wind energy industry and international diplomacy. His rich and varied expertise in the wind industry, includes holding dual Vice Chairman roles at EWEA (now WindEurope) and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) between 2009 to 2013. He was also Chairman of the Danish Wind Energy Association from 2007 to 2011.

With profit before tax of DKK 480 million, Middelfart-based Selfinvest, which includes the global Group A/S United Shipping & Trading Company (USTC), is yet again filing an impressive set of financial statements. This was generated via record results in several of USTC’s subsidiaries, with the Group thus cementing its position of strength in the global market. CEO and sole owner Torben Østergaard-Nielsen says: “It is characteristic of the financial year just concluded that we are continuing to see the fruits of the investments and acquisitions we have undertaken as part of the USTC Group’s growth strategy. Within our three primary divisions…

The prices of WTI and Brent crude briefly rose above $50/bbl during intraday trading on Thursday, the highest level seen since the end of July 2015, giving traders a brief moment of optimism, says a report from Alibra Shipping Research. But since then, prices have trended downwards. WTI currently hovers around the $48.92/bbl mark on NYMEX. Similarly, Brent is trading at around $48.91/bbl on ICE. Analysts expect a further correction in crude prices because supply remains so abundant. Iran’s oil exports are expected to rise a further 200,000 bbl to reach 2.2m bpd by the middle of this summer. Last Friday, rig counts in the US did not decline for the first time in 17 weeks, possibly indicating that America intends to ramp up oil production again.

Drum Cussac and Ambrey Risk have agreed the sale and purchase of Drum Cussac’s maritime transits security division. Drum Cussac’s transits security division provides security consultants in all marine environments to protect commercial shipping from seaborne piracy threats, predominantly in the Lloyds of London High Risk Area (HRA) of the Indian Ocean. Drum Cussac has provided this service to a large number of clients since 2008. Ambrey Risk will integrate Drum Cussac’s maritime transits operations staff and equipment into its existing business.

The late Nelson Mandela once said: “I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.” At the EU-Africa summit in Brussels last month, European leaders urged their African counterparts to facilitate that dream by shouldering more of the security burden in their countries, both onshore and offshore. The summit coincided with reports of renewed piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden; ongoing attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea, and explosions and mass arrests in Kenya, all serving to underline the scale of that challenge.

Risk to oil flows seen low but Russia key supplier; Russian natural gas supply in doubt, European storage levels high. United States, Europe differ over trade sanctions. Crude oil prices jumped more than $2 a barrel to multi-month highs on Monday, lifted by rising tension in Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said Moscow's move to use military force was a "declaration of war" by Russia, one of the world's biggest oil producers. Analysts say Russian supplies of oil to the rest of the world are unlikely to be disrupted by the Ukraine crisis but oil prices rose as most financial markets tumbled, with investors pulling out of riskier assets such as stocks.

Brent crude oil steadied around $110 a barrel on Monday, resisting sharp declines in some other risk assets on news of further supply losses in Africa and expectations of revived oil demand growth. Libyan oil output plunged further over the weekend, falling to 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) on Sunday after a new protest shut the El Sharara field. Before nationwide protests started in the middle of last year, Libyan oil production was closer to 1.4 million bpd. "As long as the Libyan security situation is unstable, global oil prices will be buoyed," said Michael Poulsen, analyst at Danish consultancy Global Risk Management. Brent crude was up 15 cents at $110.00 a barrel by 1440 GMT, after settling higher for a second straight week. U.S.

Skye Maritime, a provider of counter-piracy embarked security guards, appoints Ben Smith to its management team. Ben served for 15 years in the British Army as a Special Operations reservist; he was also an attorney in the UK, appearing in the UK equivalent of District, Military and Appellate courts in over 2000 cases. From 2008 Ben served in Afghanistan and Iraq as a counter-insurgency operator and close protection specialist. His appointments included patrol medic and sharpshooter. He regularly delivers hostile environment training and threat briefings to major US and UK news networks, and still delivers weapons and tactics training to law enforcement, military and civilians as a consultant firearms instructor.

The Lubrizol Corporation announced management changes designed to better support the company’s business objectives that include driving organic growth, strengthening the product portfolio and improving profitability. The newly appointed leadership will focus on enhancing product innovations across the enterprise, improving operating efficiencies across the global manufacturing and supply chain structure, managing enterprise risk and executing key bolt-on acquisitions that are complementary to existing product lines. The promotions took effect on September 26. Steve Kirk was elevated to senior vice president and chief operating officer, in charge of both Lubrizol Additives (LZA) and Lubrizol Advanced Materials (LZAM) business segments.