Steering Group News

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is currently developing an updated and enhanced version of its Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) tanker risk assessment tool, the ship inspection regime that has become central to supporting safety and best practice in the marine industry. The new regime, SIRE 2.0, will replace the current system from Q2 2022, delivering a more comprehensive inspection regime with enhanced tools, strengthened governance processes and more in-depth reporting outcomes…

Naval architecture and marine engineering company Foreship Ltd has appointed Benjamin Sward as President of Foreship LLC to take responsibility for the company’s U.S. activities. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sward will also oversee Foreship’s Seattle operation.The appointment sees a return to Foreship for Sward, who served the company as a Naval Architect and Project Manager between 2015-2018 and led a variety of upgrade projects for high-profile cruise clients such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises.

The third annual global Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) survey is officially open through February 29, 2020.Take the MarTID 2020 SurveyTo facilitate a broader response globally, the MarTID steering group again opted to both shorten the survey and to offer three, targeted versions for these three stakeholders:Vessel operator survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDOperatorMETI survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDMETISeafarer survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDSeafarerWhy…

When James C. DeSimone, Deputy Commissioner, Ferry Division, New York City Department of Transportation, signed on to run the Staten Island Ferries in 2003, the organization was still in the aftermath of one of the most significant accidents in its history: the ferry Andrew J. Barberi allision of October 2003, an accident which included a number of fatalities and serious injuries. DeSimone, who had long-tenures in both the commercial and public end of the marine business, brought a unique perspective to the organization.“For the city to go outside the system to hire (me) was huge…

The third annual global Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) 2020 survey is officially open.To facilitate a broader response globally, the MarTID steering group again opted to both shorten the survey and to offer three, targeted versions for these three stakeholders:Vessel Operators,Training Institutions, andSeafarers. Take the Survey     Vessel Operator survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDOperator     METI survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDMETI…

An advocacy group, led by RenewableUK and Scottish Renewables, has been launched by industry body RenewableUK to make the case for large-scale deployment of floating wind power off Britain.The Floating Wind Steering Group will meet with the aim of producing a consensus vision for the future of floating wind and the business case for its continued development in the UK. The group includes representatives from developers and supply chain companies, and from regions around the UK. Following their Cost of Energy Review, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is currently developing a White Paper which will update the Government’s electricity strategy.

The second annual global Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) survey examines the impact of the autonomy trend in maritime operations on the training of future seafarers, and is officially open.The MarTID 2019 SurveyTo facilitate a broader response, this year the MarTID steering group opted to both shorten the survey and to offer three, targeted versions: one for vessel operators, one for training institutions and one for seafarers.What is MarTID?MarTID is a noncommercial, joint initiative of the World Maritime University, Marine Learning Systems and New Wave Media.

The second annual global Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) survey examines the impact of the autonomy trend in maritime operations on the training of future ‘seafarers,’ and as of November 26, 2018, the survey is officially ‘open’ for a period of approximately six weeks.The MarTID 2019 SurveyTo facilitate a broader response, this year the MarTID steering group opted to both shorten the survey and to offer three, targeted versions: one for vessel operators, one for training institutions and one for seafarers.

While the technology to facilitate autonomous shipping matures, many questions remain, led by the size, shape and role of the Future Mariner. The MarTID 2019 Survey aims to shed some light.The Maritime Training Insights Database steering group has announced the upcoming launch of the 2019 MarTID survey, which this year focuses on the trend toward autonomous vessel operations and its impact on training current and future mariners. MarTID is a non-commercial, joint initiative of the World Maritime University, Marine Learning Systems and New Wave Media.

By Michael Manuel, Associate Professor, Head - Maritime, Education and Training (World Maritime University);Murray Goldberg, President and CEO (Marine Learning Systems); and Greg Trauthwein, Editor & Associate Publisher (New Wave Media)The second annual global Maritime Training Insights Database survey examines the impact of the autonomy trend in maritime operations on the training of future “seafarers”The Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) steering group is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the 2019 MarTID survey…

BIMCO relaunches ship benchmarking system Shipping KPI after two years of redesign. The system helps shipowners and managers make strategic decisions about their fleet. "The Shipping KPI system enables me, as a shipowner, to make rational strategic decisions on how to run my fleet, by benchmarking with other ships in the segments we compete in. It is an important step for BIMCO in its goal of developing digital solutions for the industry," says Şadan Kaptanoğlu, owner of Kaptanoğlu Group, President Designate of BIMCO and chair of the Shipping KPI steering group. Shipping KPI is based on self-reporting by 300 companies and a total of 6000 ships. It enables users to compare performance parameters between ships of similar type, tonnage, trades or flag states, while remaining anonymous.

Digitalisation and new business models will be in focus of the research and innovation project Blue INNOship II, which was included in the recommendations of the Maritime Strategy Team. A steering group counting participants from Danish Maritime, Danish Shipping, the Danish Metalworkers’ Union, the Danish Maritime Authority, DTU, CBS and Force Technology have – through the Danish Maritime Fund – created the basis for initiating the work through the hiring of a project manager. Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth states:  “Blue INNOship II addresses central issues of importance to the competitiveness of Blue Denmark.

Rolls-Royce, The Norwegian University of Technology Science (NTNU), research organization SINTEF Ocean and classification society DNV GL have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the aim of creating an open source digital platform for use in the development of new ships. The platform will allow the creation of so called “digital twins”. A digital twin is a digital copy of a real ship, including its systems, that synthesizes the information available about the ship in a digital world.

Mike Corrigan, the incoming CEO of global trade association Interferry, is to advocate greater European Union involvement and investment in the ferry sector during an address on the opening day of European Shipping Week, which takes place in Brussels from February 27-March 3. Interferry is hosting a reception that immediately follows a short sea shipping seminar organized in conjunction with the shipowners’ associations of The Netherlands, France, Greece, Sweden, Spain and Croatia. Corrigan, currently president & CEO of Canada’s BC Ferries and who assumes his new role on April 1, will outline his case to a wide audience including EU regulators, member state representatives, operators and port authorities.

Anthony Luzzatto Gardner, former US Ambassador to the European Union and Visiting Fellow at the College of Europe, will be the guest speaker at the European Shipping Week Gala Dinner, to be held on Wednesday 1st March 2017 at the Steigenberger Wiltcher Hotel in Brussels. Ambassador Gardner, who has dedicated more than 20 years of his career to US-European affairs, will speak on the important subject of ‘US-EU Relations: Looking Back, Looking Forward’. Welcoming the news, Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and Chairman of the European Shipping Week Steering Group, said his speech would be very insightful considering the political developments which have taken place in Europe and the US over recent months.

The countdown to London International Shipping Week 2017 (LISW17) officially began last night with an exclusive launch reception held at the iconic Norton Rose Fulbright building on London’s South Bank. The launch reception brought together representatives from many of the maritime world’s leading organisations and figures from UK Government to learn of the aspirations, plans and exciting opportunities that LISW17 will deliver between September 11-15, next year. Addressing the 130 invited guests, Jeremy Penn, Chief Executive at the Baltic Exchange and Chairman of the LISW17 Steering Group, proudly acknowledged that London International Shipping Week had firmly established itself as a major event in the world’s maritime calendar.

European Shipping Week has been granted the European Parliament’s official patronage by its President, Mr Martin Schultz. Commenting on European Shipping Week, Mr Schultz said his institution appreciated the opportunity for open dialogue between policy makers and representatives of the shipping industry to debate the future of European shipping policy. In a letter to Niels Smedegaard, President of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), Mr Schulz said: “As you are aware, the transport sector is the driving force of the EU economy, and Europe is a world leader in both manufacturing and transport operations. Welcoming the European Parliament’s patronage…

London International Shipping Week (LISW) is proud to announce Inmarsat Global Ltd as Lead Diamond Sponsor for LISW 2017. Inmarsat is a British satellite telecommunications company which provides mobile communication services to the maritime industry worldwide. Inmarsat continues to be highly supportive of LISW, choosing to renew their prestigious diamond sponsorship positioning, which the company held in both 2015 and 2013. “London International Shipping Week is a highlight in the global maritime calendar,” says Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime President. “The UK has been a driving force in the maritime industry from the beginning.

Interferry has joined other co-organizers in praising last week’s inaugural European Shipping Week (ESW) in Brussels, and is now urging the industry and regulators to build on the initiative by continuing to develop closer cooperation. Hailing the high attendance and constructive discussions at more than 40 events, the trade association’s regulatory affairs director Johan Roos noted, “What struck me most is how all of the shipping representatives and European Union decision makers seemed to be on the same page when we were able to get together like this for the first time. “Interferry is often critical of the EU’s approach to shipping regulations, where new requirements are consistently piled on top of the industry and only rarely with any meaningful preceding dialogue.

Belgium, in the Antwerp port area on the left bank of the Scheldt. In the first phase 15 wind turbines will be erected, enough to supply 35,000 Flemish households with green electricity. The ultimate ambition is to build anything from 40 to 50 turbines. Flemish Energy minister Annemie Turtelboom, Beveren mayor Marc Van de Vijver and Antwerp port alderman Marc Van Peel officially launched this sustainable investment project yesterday, auguring a fair wind for the future on the breezy left bank of the Antwerp port area. The first 15 turbines are due to be handed over at the end of October. Antwerp Port Authority and the Left Bank Development…

London International Shipping Week 2015 (LISW) is delighted to announce that Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore’s Minister for Transport, has confirmed that he will speak at the official LISW Conference on 10th  September 2015 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane. Mr Lui Tuck Yew will speak in the session on: “National, Supranational and Global Governance – The role of governments in a global maritime industry: Should governments lend their support and how can they participate in growing their domestic sectors? Welcoming the announcement, Jeremy Penn, CEO of The Baltic Exchange and Chairman of the LISW Steering Group, said: “We are thrilled to be getting such tremendous support internationally.

London International Shipping Week 2015 (LISW15) is pleased to announce the line up, so far, of high level government and industry speakers for the official LISW15 Conference being held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane, on Thursday 10th September. The conference will begin with Jeremy Penn, Chairman of the LISW15 Steering Group and Chief Executive of The Baltic Exchange, formally welcoming everyone to the event before handing over to The Rt Honourable The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow who will then address the Conference alongside a Senior UK Government Minister. This session will focus on World…

London International Shipping Week (LISW) is delighted to confirm that HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Patron for LISW in 2015.   Jeremy Penn, Chairman of the LISW Steering Group, said: “We’re all absolutely thrilled that HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Patron for London International Shipping Week this year. It’s a huge honour for us and we couldn’t be more pleased. HRH Princess Royal’s involvement now also helps to signify the importance of LISW to the nation but also on an international scale.”  Taking place from September 7 to 11 2015, LISW 2015 promises to be the must-attend event of the global maritime calendar with more than 100 industry functions and unique networking opportunities.