London Office News

Captain David J.F. Bruce, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Senior Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, RMI Maritime Administrator passed away on Friday, 29 September 2023. He was a loving husband to Alison for 53 years, father to Gwendoline, and grandfather to Alison and Alexander. Captain Bruce had a storied career and connection with the sea, first going to work at sea in 1957 after his studies at Melville College in Edinburgh…

Lomar Shipping, the maritime subsidiary of Libra Group, has announced two key promotions - Peter Cotopoulis as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Mark Kethisouaran as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), both effective from September 1. Based in the company’s London office, Mark succeeds Dennis Psachos, who held the role since joining in December 2021 and has decided to return to his native Greece.Lomar CEO Nicholas Georgiou said, “Over the last 12 months, Peter and Mark have both stepped up in their roles…

Marine energy provider KPI OceanConnect has announced a new management structure and key regional appointments to support the delivery of its partnership approach for customers.The new structure will see the leadership of its trading business divided into regions covering APAC, EMEA, and Americas. New regional leads have been promoted from KPI OceanConnect’s existing management team. Thomas Lee is promoted to Head of APAC, and James Enston to Head of EMEA.Brian Coyne will continue in his current role as Head of Americas.

Without a radical new approach, BIMCO’s CII Operations Clause will remain a worthy but vain attempt to reconcile shipping’s environmental and commercial imperatives,Legal and contractual disputes lie ahead for shipping unless it finds a better compromise between owners and charterers to sustain the International Maritime Organization’s Carbon Intensity Index (CII).Entering into force on 1 January 2023, the CII relates primarily to the way in which ships are operated and the resulting CO2 emissions.

The Poseidon Principles provide a platform for financing shipping’s sustainable future, but the technical guidance underpinning the initiative remains under scrutiny.In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will consider revising the UN agency’s strategy on greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Moving on from a current target to reduce CO2 emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050, based on 2008 levels,  influential administrations seek to accelerate towards net-zero or even zero by 2050.

The Poseidon Principles provide a platform for financing shipping’s sustainable future, but the technical guidance underpinning the initiative remains under scrutiny.In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will consider revising the UN agency’s strategy on greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Moving on from a current target to reduce CO2 emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050, based on 2008 levels, influential…

GCube, an insurer for renewable energy projects, hired three new underwriters for its offshore wind team, including Joshua Cantwell, formerly of Talbot Underwriting, and Zoe Massie, formerly of Allianz Global.The appointments come alongside a number of new hires in the U.S. as GCube builds its global presence in the renewable energy insurance sector.Prior to joining GCube, Cantwell held the position of Class Underwriter and subsequently Interim Head of Energy for Talbot Underwriting.He was responsible for the global Upstream portfolio and has been directly managing the Upstream London team over the course of the past year. Cantwell will…

Brookes Bell has strengthened its marine casualty capability with the addition of two listed special casualty representatives (SCRs) boosting the total number of SCRs within the company to five.SCRs are highly specialist salvage and wreck removal consultants and, as such, number only around 50 globally. They are appointed by the Lloyd’s of London’s SCOPIC Committee for their exceptional level of expertise in the field of salvage and wreck removal.Joining the Brookes Bell team are William Leschaeve and Michael Riddell.Riddell is a senior master mariner, based in Brookes Bell’s Singapore office. Following an initial career at sea with Safmarine, he later served on ocean-going salvage tugs responsible for ocean towage and emergency response.

A new offering from North is designed for larger ocean-going vessels and will complement the H&M insurance already available from Sunderland Marine for fishing vessels and other small craft. WeThe P&I club expects the new line will be taken up by a number of Members, whilst it is also open to non-Members. The focus from an underwriting perspective will be on quality of risk and suitability of terms.In support of the product, North has added significant underwriting expertise from…

Survitec appointed Ron Krisanda as Executive Chairman for its worldwide life-saving equipment business. In this newly created role, he will lead both the Survitec Board of Directors and the Executive Management Team.Krisanda's business experience includes roles as Chairman, President, CEO and COO across various global manufacturing and service businesses. Most recently, he was CEO of Quality Metalcraft - Experi-Metal, Inc. He has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2015 and will continue in this role.

Monaco-based international owner, operator and manager of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers GasLog has announced plans to relocate more of its people and most of the senior management to the Piraeus, Greece office, home of its operational platform.As a result, GasLog will close the Monaco office, whilst the London office will focus primarily on chartering activities and company secretarial duties. The offices in Singapore, Korea and the US will be unaffected by the changes.GasLog CEO, Paul Wogan, and  COO, Paolo Enoizi, are already located in Greece along with other members of the senior management team.The CFO, Alastair Maxwell, and Head of Commercial, Jasper Heikens, will relocate to Greece in early January 2020.

American multinational engineering company McDermott International announced it has been awarded a contract by Argentina-based YPF to provide pre-front-end engineering design (Pre-FEED) services for a five million tons per annum (MTPA) LNG Liquefaction Facility, with a potential expansion to 10 MTPA, at the Vaca Muerta Shale field in Argentina.The scope of work is a continuation of a previous conceptual study developed for the YPF LNG Export Facility in Argentina under a contract in 2018.McDermott's London office will provide engineering services while the Houston office will perform project management and estimation services."The award of this Pre-FEED project is a testimony of McDermott's technical expertise in LNG and our successful partnership with YPF over the years…

Following news of Raal Harris’s promotion to the position of managing director at KVH Videotel earlier in the year, the company has announced a further strengthening of its management team with the appointment of Jason Barreto as European sales manager.Barreto started his sales career with a series of airline, ship management, and marine travel companies, gaining particular experience in the offshore market.Prior to joining KVH Videotel, he worked at the OSM Maritime Group, where…

For a 20-year term, Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) will receive liquefied natural gas from the USA for domestic customers or for resale.The new contracts will provide a total of 2 MTPA of LNG, which is approximately 2.7 billion m³ of natural gas after regasification, and this equals – depending on the vessel capacity – over 25 cargoes a year.Under the agreements, PGNiG will purchase LNG on a free on board (FOB) basis starting from the commercial operation date of the Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility, currently expected in 2022, and the commercial operation date of the Venture Global Plaquemines LNG export facility…

London based P&I club Britannia said it has finalized plans to open its Greek office in Piraeus as part of an ongoing expansion of the club’s regional hub network.The Greek office will be headed by David Harley who recently returned to the London office having established and worked for over five years as head of Britannia, Hong Kong. Harley will be assisted by newly appointed Konstantinos Samaritis, who joins from a Greek shipowner, having previously worked for both Standard and Skuld Clubs’ Greek operations.

As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates its 70th anniversary, Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, sits in his London office with a sense of satisfaction that in his two plus years at the helm of IMO tremendous strides have been made toward significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, punctuated by the recent MEPC meeting where the target was set for a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. But the Secretary- General’s sense of satisfaction is tempered with the fact that his job has just begun and his plate is full.

RightShip, the world’s leading maritime risk management and environmental assessment organisation, has appointed its new CEO. Martin Crawford-Brunt will replace outgoing CEO Warwick Norman who announced his decision to step down from the position in 2017. Crawford-Brunt takes up his new post on 12 March 2018 and brings more than 20 years of maritime sector experience to RightShip. For the past decade he has held senior positions around the world, with a track record of successfully building businesses and delivering increased value to ship owners. He joins RightShip from DNV GL where he was responsible for leading significant change, transforming its business model and introducing innovative services. Martin will initially be based at RightShip’s London office.

Partner Andreas Silcher in Haynes and Boone’s London office represented TMS Cardiff Gas in its contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries of Korea (HHI) for the construction of one 174,000 cubic meter LNG carrier with XDF propulsion, plus an option for a second vessel. In a press release, TMS Cardiff Gas called the order the first in the company’s X Carrier Series of orders, which expands the company’s fleet of managed vessels to 10. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2020, when she will enter into a seven-year time charter contract with TOTAL Gas & Power Chartering, Limited. Andreas also represented TMS Cardiff Gas on the charter contract.

Oldendorff Carriers has recently increased the number of owned bulk carriers in it Babycape segment by acquiring four more eco 119,000 tonners from compatriot shipowner Hartmann Reederei. The vessels are: MV UBC Ottawa   (tbrn: Roland Oldendorff), MV UBC Odessa  (tbrn: Rex Oldendorff), MV UBC Olimbus  (tbrn: Redmer Oldendorff) and MV UBC Oristano (tbrn: Rik Oldendorff). These ships were built for Hartmann at Sinopacific Shipbuilding in 2011. The acquisitions will increase our total operated Babycape fleet to around 36 units, of which 10 will be fully owned. Oldendorff Carriers  has been able to build a network of trades, which can take advantage of the large capacity that these vessels offer on any draft.

Kevin Hawes has started at  Seattle-based maritime services company and consultancy The Maritime Group (TMG) International Ltd., as Business Development Manager and Senior Consultant. Based at TMG’s London office at Victoria Embankment, he brings a wealth of commercial experience gained since leaving the British Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1993. His appointment comes as TMG continues to grow, including a new website and recent ISO 9001 quality accreditation. Hawes' maritime experience was developed from 17 years in the Royal Naval Submarine Service to…

In the Babycape segment, Oldendorff's London office usually operates around 30 vessels in its global network of trades. The company informed that it likes to have some owned vessels in every segment in which it operates to ensure more reliable and flexible service. The Babycape vessels were purchased from companies managed by Hartmann Reederei (Leer) and Thomas Schulte (Hamburg), and join three other Babycapes in the Oldendorff fleet which were  bought in summer 2016. The 119,000 tonners were built at Sinopacific, China and feature an attractive cargo intake at 14.5 m draft, Mewis fuel saving ducts, ballast water treatment systems, as well as Korean built B&W main engines and auxiliary engines. The Emma Schulte was delivered from Jiangnan, China in 2012.

International law firm Hill Dickinson continues to strengthen its growing commodities team with the return of partner Andrew Buchmann. Following qualification in South Africa, Andrew joined Hill Dickinson’s London office in 2003. He returned to South Africa in 2008, where he established a commodities consultancy, advising on commodity trading transactions and contentious issues in relation to physical trades, shipping, finance and insurance. both the UK and Sub-Saharan markets. Commenting on Andrew’s arrival, Hill Dickinson Head of Commodities, Jeff Isaacs, said: “We’re delighted Andrew has decided that he can best move forward with his legal career in London and with Hill Dickinson. Andrew added: “I am pleased to be back at Hill Dickinson, especially at such an exciting time for the firm.

International law firm Wikborg Rein has further strengthened its leading presence in the shipping and offshore and onshore construction sectors with the appointment of three key senior hires to its London offices. Nick Shepherd has joined as a partner from Ince & Co, where he was most recently the head of that firm’s office in Piraeus, Greece. Nick has a market-leading reputation as an 'owner's lawyer' for the Greek shipping market, where he is the first-choice lawyer for a number of the largest shipping groups, including TMS / Dryships / Ocean Rig (Mr George Economou); the Navios Group (MAngeliki Frangou); Alpha Bulkers / Pantheon Tankers (Mrs Anna Angelicoussi); and Marmaras Navigation / Delta Tankers (Mr Diamantis Diamantides).