FOREWORD
Safety Moment The coming years are going to change our industry forever. Some owners and vessels will not be able to adapt and some customers may pull out of the industry altogether due to the capital investment required. Most importantly of all, the safety of vessels may be negatively impacted if these technical and operational decisions are made incorrectly. • 33 out of a total of 66 vessels lost due to foundering in 2018 • 31 out of a total of 41 vessels lost due to foundering in 2019 • ITWF report 2,000 seafarers lose their lives each year Conflict between safety and the environment? The IMO has set ambitious goals for future pollution reduction targets that could directly affect the safety of vessels if not dealt with responsibly. These include: • Reduction in Carbon Intensity of 40% in 2030 • Reduction in carbon Intensity of 70% by 2050 • Reduction in Green House Gasses of 50% by 2050 For the industry to meet these Carbon Intensity Goals it must adopt best practices in order to ensure safety standards are met and the industry is not negatively impacted. Best practice examples include: • Weather routing • Autopilot set up • Cleanliness of the hull & propeller – regular polishing • Auxiliary generator utilisation • Timed arrivals • Minimising ballast legs In the toughest conditions, a mariner needs 100% confidence in the power and propulsion of their vessel to see them through safely. The challenge is for us to give them that assurance.
2021 has started off at what can only be described as a frenetic pace with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the globe. We have had and continue to
experience challenges in ensuring our crews are treated as key workers by various governments with growing concerns around availability and supply of vaccines for those at sea. We have been working with decision makers both in the industry and in government to change the situation and get seafarers classified as key workers, so they can travel freely around the globe.
Our industry has also had a renewed focus on the safety of our vessels and crew with new cross-country initiatives being launched to address ongoing piracy issues. The green agenda is also never far from the mouths of industry professionals and we have been working hard to provide solutions based on the extensive data available to us. I recently joined V.Group as CEO Ship Management and I have been working closely with many of you to ensure we continue to deliver the excellent service you are used to while also bringing about some key evolutions and improvements to all of our products and services. Our priorities for the year have not changed and we will continue to focus on safety and flawless service delivery to ensure that we bring tangible value to our customers. Bjoern Sprotte
03
WAY POINT // ISSUE 3
Made with FlippingBook Proposal Creator