Sea views: IACS move to enhance class transparency

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has announced the development during 2001 of new measures to enhance class transparency. A fresh initiative has been taken by IACS and other leading industry organisations and a joint effort is being made to improve systems for public identification and isolation of substandard vessels.

Robin Bradley, IACS permanent secretary said: "The new joint approach is being taken forward by IACS Council and representatives of seven other industry associations — Intertanko, Intercargo, ICS, Bimco, OCIMF, the International Group of P&I Clubs and IUMI." The statement follows discussions held during January between representatives drawn from a meeting held last December and the main points for action have now been identified.

These were summarised as follows:

1. Public availability of Class survey information — Under present arrangements limitations are imposed by the legal status of relationships between IACS societies and shipowners. IACS recognises that success in widening the availability of class survey information will require the full co-operation of shipowners' associations and other industry organisations The joint industry group has asked IACS to develop specific proposals concerning the public availability of an extended range of class survey data. IACS will respond to this request and the industry side of the joint group will consider its recommendations in due course.

2. Unified approach — During the January discussions it was proposed that IACS should develop a common definition of "Condition of Class". IACS will consider this issue and report back to the joint group. The joint approach will be discussed at the next IACS Council to meet in May. One important transparency goal will be the introduction of a more effective IACS "Early Warning Scheme".

The existing scheme, in place for some years, allows members to exchange information on weaknesses concerning vessel design and safety. Vessels are described but not identified and this has made it difficult, at times, for societies to make full use of information and to track down similar vessels or sister ships. Bradley commented, "IACS began to consider how to improve the Early Warning Scheme before the loss of the Erika in December 1999. This is a difficult issue — it goes straight to the heart of problems concerning confidentiality. Ultimately, real progress will depend on the ability of industry organisations to come together and find joint solutions."

Details were also given of other important developments this year, which include a milestone in the efforts being made by IACS to strengthen class survey regimes following the Erika incident. New IACS initiatives will take effect on July 1, with tougher measures including a tighter survey regime for tankers and bulk carriers over 15 years old, which will enhance the intermediate hull surveys, midway in the five-year interval between renewal surveys, to the scope of the preceding renewal survey. Furthermore, annual inspection of ballast tanks sharing a common boundary with tanks equipped with heating coils will apply, as will a requirement that tankers and bulk carriers of 15 years and older undergo an extensive survey prior to any transfer of class.


Hvide Marine changes name

Hvide Marine, the parent company of Dubai-based Seabulk Offshore International, has announced that it will change its name to Seabulk International Inc, effective March 19. The company stock will also begin trading under a new symbol, SBLK, on March 21. Seabulk Offshore is the brand name of the company's biggest and best-known business, its offshore energy support activities, which operate worldwide and account for nearly one half of the company's revenues.

President and CEO, Gerhard Kurz, commented: "We are excited about the name change which sends the strongest possible signal to our shareholders, customers and employees that we are a new company under new leadership with a new corporate attitude, vision and strategy. The new name symbolically ends the first year and marks the beginning of the second year of the new organisation. 2000 was not an easy year, but we have made good progress towards our goals of debt reduction, cutting costs, quarter-over-quarter improvements in operating results and positioning the company for long-term profitability and growth. In addition to paying down nearly $50 million in debt, we invested heavily in vessel maintenance and upkeep so as to take advantage of rising markets in both our offshore and tanker businesses."

The name-change announcement was made as the company's fourth quarter results were released. In line with expectations, the company reported a net loss of $29 million for the year ending December 31, 2000 on revenues of $320.5 million. This compares with a net loss the previous year of $249.9 million on revenues of $342.2 million. Operating income in 2000 totalled $25.4 million against an operating loss of $9.5 million in 1999.

Call for container efficiency improvement

An expert at the Asian Terminal Operators' Conference (TOC Asia) which was held in Hong Kong last week, has said that pressure from shipping lines would intensify ports' efforts to improve performance and move an average of 200 containers per hour. Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) Germany director, Carsten Boll, said that 200 moves per hour is possible with modern post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes although today's average performance is less.

He added a terminal would need seven to eight cranes to achieve a guaranteed performance of 200 movements per berth, but that this would not be realised with conventional operations using single cranes. Boll said that a new handling system shortly being introduced in Amsterdam might achieve the required performance. "A container terminal's most important determinants are quay lengths, berths with gantries, stacking areas and stacking equipment," he concluded.

Jumbo vessel growth predicted

With jumbo vessels carrying 8,000-10,000 TEU soon to be in service, various companies are now studying plans to build ships with a load capacity of as much as 15,000 TEUs, according to Dr Arnold Gerstel of Delft University of Technology. Speaking at the TOC Asia Conference he said that container transport would continue to expand worldwide and, at the same time, the size of container ships would significantly increase. He added, "Jumbo vessels will only sail between a few very large ports throughout the world and in such ports the number of containers handled will be very large."

Frank Kennedy is a marine consultant based in Dubai.