SEAVEN I PROFILE
Seaven Tanker and Dry Management has 21 years of experience managing ships on a global scale. Today, the company operates with a strong commitment to sustainability. Commercial Director Konstantinos Antoniou discussed how this has impacted the company’s daily operations, during an in-depth interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
Over the years, Seaven Tanker and Dry Management has developed a portfolio of small- to medium-sized modern oil tanks and cement carriers.
“Our fleet continues to expand,” said Commercial Director Konstantinos Antoniou. “We currently have 11 oil/chemical tankers, and seven cement carriers. Additionally, we have time charter contracts on four more vessels to cover an increase in demand from our customers.”
Originally established in 2003 under the name Evia Petrol, Seaven is a worldrenowned ship management company with a dedication to health, safety and operational excellence.
“Today, we operate with a robust fleet, specialising in the transportation of oil, chemicals and cement,” added Mr Antoniou. “We are primarily present in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and North European ports, flying predominantly Greek and Panamanian flags.”
Strategic growth
Although the company currently operates with a fleet of 20, this number is set to increase later this year, with the delivery of a second-hand cement carrier.
This is just the beginning of what Seaven has planned for its fleet. In line with its strong commitment to sustainability, the company intends to upgrade all of its vessels to improve fuel efficiency.
“Over the next five years, we will acquire new vessels and upgrade our current fleet, in order to achieve an average fuel consumption reduction of 15 per cent,”
explained Mr Antoniou. “This investment represents a significant capital expenditure, and although the immediate outlay is high – with a budget of $100 million – we are confident that this will be offset by a significant reduction in fuel expenses over a longer period.”
In line with its strategy for environmental management, Seaven believes in taking a proactive approach to these issues (especially when it comes to taking effective control, management and responsibility for the disposal of fleet waste).
“We have a very thorough waste management system, which is diligently implemented throughout our entire fleet and complies with both international and local regulations governing waste and sewage treatment and disposal,” commented Mr Antoniou. “Our dedication to environmental responsibility is underscored by our adherence to these regulations, and we work hard to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the environment.
“We recognised the potential risks associated with the inadvertent transfer of species via ballast water, and we were inspired to make a change. By adopting closed-loop scrubbing systems, not only do we eliminate the discharge of additional fluids typical of open-loop alternatives, but we also reduce the need for periodic removal and disposal of hazardous waste , further minimising our environmental impact.”
Awarded in recognition
Seaven continues to uphold and comply with industry-wide environmental regulations and best practices. In order to do so effectively, the company monitors and mitigates its own environmental impact to successfully minimise its emissions.
“Seaven has devised a strong energy and environmental policy that serves as a guiding beacon for our operations, emphasising the augmentation of energy efficiency and reduction of our ecological footprint,” said Mr Antoniou. “As a prominent entity within the maritime market, we recognise our duty to diminish our carbon intensity footprint and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from our fleet.”
In recognition of Seaven’s accomplishments relating to safety, quality and environmental performance, the company was presented with the Green Award. This significant milestone saw Seaven become the first company worldwide with vessels under 10,000DWT to receive the Green Award.
This award recognises leaders within the industry that are contributing to the global sustainability of waterborne transport. The certification also acts as an incentive for other shipowners and operators who want to do more to improve their own impact.
“ We recognise the need for sustainability and commercial viability in the shipping industry,” commented Mr Antoniou. “Everything we do is completed with careful consideration of the environment.”
A world-class strategy
Seaven developed a clear business strategy to align with this commitment, one which is positioned at the intersection of sustainability and profitability.
“The strategy perfectly underlines our commitment to long-term resilience and value creation for stakeholders,” explained Mr Antoniou. “Our comprehensive
approach emphasises the deployment of fuel-efficient vessels, prioritises the safety of our seafarers and cargo, and ensures strict compliance with global regulations.
“Making the first step forward, we recently engaged with a third-party provider to conduct climate change scenario analysis tailored to our company.”
As part of this assessment, Seaven deemed it necessary to make adjustments to its operations to improve air and water quality.
The company has also implemented stringent technical management policies and procedures which were designed to prevent pollution. If, in the rare event, an accidental spill occurred, then Seaven has protocols in place to swiftly minimise environmental damage.
“With the ultimate objective being zero spill incidents, all our vessels abide by our
technical management policies, in order to avoid any spillages,” said Mr Antoniou. “We have successfully achieved this over the years, and hope 2024 will be another spill-free year.”
Steering into the future, Seaven intends to continue progression of its greener activities, whilst prioritising its customers, employees and cargo.
“Looking ahead, we recognise the urgency of addressing climate change, and our focus on ensuring energy security for our customers remains paramount,” said Mr Antoniou. “We pride ourselves on our ability to navigate these challenges while maintaining the uninterrupted flow of energy globally.
“Over the last four years, especially, we have witnessed exponential growth, and we intend to improve the organisation of our departments to correctly accommodate that growth and improve communications across the board.
“We will also continue to strive for efficiency, while investing in new technologies and opportunities to meet the demands of our customers and improve our environmental impact.”
Reflecting back on his time at Seaven, Mr Antoniou was especially thankful for the opportunities to progress.
“In the last year, my role has changed from Chartering Manager to Commercial Director,” explained Mr Antoniou, in conclusion. “That experience has given me a more comprehensive understanding of the business, for which I am truly grateful.”n
Commercial Director Konstantinos Antoniou
