News Digest

LR boosts cyber capacity in Greece

New Nettitude hub will bring advanced cyber expertise to Greece and follows LR’s recent bolstering of Greek commercial team

Karen Bolton Theodosis Stamatellos Iraklis Mathiopoulos

Nettitude, the cyber security services provider of Lloyd’s Register (LR), has announced the location of a new operations centre in Athens, Greece.

Founded in 2003 and acquired by Lloyd’s Register in March 2018, Nettitude is an award-winning global provider of threat-led services that span technical assurance, consulting and managed detection and response.

With specific industry expertise in the financial, retail, maritime and defence sectors, Nettitude are strategically placed to offer cyber security services to the Greek market.

Working closely with LR, Nettitude looks forward to developing strong links with Greek shipowners and will leverage unique insight created by the combined knowledge of industry-based cyber research and extensive marine and offshore experience.

Karen Bolton, Nettitude CEO, commented: “Nettitude is excited to be locating its southern European operations in Athens, Greece. It not only enables us to be closely located to the financial services, maritime and other critical infrastructure industries of the region, but also affords Nettitude the ability to tap into the tremendous technical cyber security skillset of this market.”

Theodosis Stamatellos, LR’s Regional Manager for South Europe, said: “LR has an immense sense of pride in the trust and strong relationships we have built with Greek shipowners, as demonstrated by our leading market share in terms of number of vessels. This new Nettitude hub reflects our ongoing commitment to addressing our clients’ needs, by bringing the top skilled cyber experts to the world’s top ship owning nation.”

Iraklis Mathiopoulos, Nettitude’s Head of Cyber SEUR and Global Head of Penetration Testing, added: “We are very excited to be able to establish a new home in Southern Europe. This new office will enable us to better serve our clients in this growing and maturing area and support close collaboration with local industries, regulators and governments. We are actively building local delivery capabilities for our wide ranging, technical and business-focused cyber assurance services.

As part of the expansion, Nettitude have also launched a new Greek website, offering an enhanced and more tailored user-experience for clients and prospects within Greece: www.nettitude.com/gr/

This announcement follows the news that LR has boosted its customer account management focus in Greece, Cyprus and Israel with a number of significant appointments to support the needs of its marine and offshore clients in South Europe.

probunkers signs The Neptune Declaration

probunkers joins forces with over 300 companies and organizations to help resolve the Seafarers humanitarian crisis

probunkers signed The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change in a worldwide call to take action to end the unprecedented crew change crisis caused by Covid-19. The signatories recognize that we have a shared responsibility to ensure that the current crew change crisis is resolved as soon as possible and to use the learnings from the crisis as an opportunity to build a more resilient maritime supply chain.

“Seafarers are experiencing an unacceptable unfair treatment from governments and regulatory bodies. Seafarers must be recognized as Key Workers as they play a vital role in keeping the global trade moving while the whole world battles through the Covid pandemic. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference by coming together to support the heart & soul of our ships, our seafarers”, commented probunkers Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Prokopakis. The Covid-19 pan- Alexander Prokopakis demic has created an unprecedented crew change crisis which has led to hundreds of thousands of seafarers being impacted and in many instances left stranded on ships beyond the expiry of their contracts. Despite significant efforts to address challenges faced by seafarers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to support global supply chain, the issue is still far from resolved. This is not an acceptable way to treat seafarers, who are the frontline workers of the maritime industry carrying 90% of global trade.

Diana Shipping announced time charter contract for m/v Protefs

Diana Shipping, a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Reachy International (HK) Co. Limited, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Protefs. The gross charter rate is US$10,650 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum March 10, 2022 up to maximum May 20, 2022. The charter commenced yesterday. The m/v Protefs was chartered, as previously announced, to Phaethon International Company AG, at a gross charter rate of US$9,900 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Protefs” is a 73,630 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2004.

The employment of “Protefs” is anticipated to generate approximately US$4.17 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.

ThPA S.A.: 2 new STS cranes specially designed for the Port of Thessaloniki

ThPA S.A. announces the purchase of two (2) new, specially designed STS Cranes (Ship To Shore Cranes) for the Port of Thessaloniki in order to further increase its competitive geographical advantage for intermodal transports to and from South East Europe. With the acquisition of the new equipment, ThPA S.A. will be able to directly serve main liner container vessels by providing reliable, modern, and competitive services.

The acquisition of the two (2) STS Cranes, with a total value of € 15.675.000, a maximum lifting capacity of 65 tons and 50 tons in twin-lift mode and in single-lift mode respectively, from the world leader in manufacturing and delivery of Port Equipment, is part of the Mandatory Enhancements undertaken by ThPA S.A. based on the Concession Agreement with the Greek State.

The new equipment enables the Port of Thessaloniki to directly serve main liner vessels, with a capacity of over 10.000 TEUs (New Panamax) and expected to be delivered in fully functional and operational capacity at the Container Terminal of the port, during the 1st quarter of 2022. With the new equipment, the service level provided is substantially upgraded and the speed of customer service of the Port of Thessaloniki is significantly improved.

The Executive Chairman of the BoD of ThPA S.A. Athanasios Liagkos stated: “The implementation of the equipment modernization program is part of the overall Investment Plan of ThPA S.A. and is launched with absolute consistency and at a fast pace so that the Port of Thessaloniki leads the development of intermodal transports to and from Southeastern Europe, whilst attracting main liner vessels. We serve our customers with three-fold devotion to innovation, safety and growth in our areas of responsibility”.

The Managing Director – CEO of ThPA S.A. Franco Nicola Cupolo stated: “The Port of Thessaloniki, with the purchase of the two new exclusively designed STS Cranes enters into a new era. The new equipment optimizes the service levels of container handling, doubles the production capacity of the Container Terminal, and significantly improves the port’s competitiveness”.

Partnership between Celestyal Cruises and Versonix Seaware

New Seaware Reservation Platform offers added functionality for Travel Agents

Celestyal Cruises, the award-winning, number one choice for cruise travellers to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Versonix, a leading software company dedicated to providing fullyintegrated, customised software solutions for the travel and leisure industry. Versonix will be providing Celestyal with the Seaware Reservations Platform. The Seaware solution will provide advanced revenue management performance, a powerful pricing and business policy engine, a robust Celestyal Cruises customer loyalty programme and, most importantly, the ability to offer advanced CRM functionality for both consumers and travel planners. It will also offer increased capabilities for travel planners to provide their clients with a greater variety of pre/post-packages, shore excursions and onboard experiences.

“We’re extremely pleased to partner with Versonix,” said Leslie Peden, chief commercial officer, Celestyal Cruises. “After carefully reviewing and testing all of the leading cruise reservation systems on the market, Versonix Seaware clearly became our top choice as it provides Celestyal with the greatest flexibility and enables us to enhance the support for travel agent partners in selling our cruises with enhanced CRM capability and guest loyalty programme.”

“At Versonix we are excited to have Celestyal Cruises as our customer. Since Versonix has many cruise clients around the world, Celestyal Cruises is able to tap into a vast number of features and capabilities Versonix has developed over the years, including the unique Seaware Business Rules engine to accommodate almost instantly ever-changing business requirements and market conditions,” said Yuri Polissky, chief operating officer of Versonix.

ICS launches new flag state table

The International Chamber of formance, and five have no negative indicators at all. Shipping (ICS) has published the Mr Platten concluded: “There is still a number of smaller flag latest Flag State Performance Table states that have a lot of work to do to considerably enhance (2020/2021) which finds that their performance, and shipowners should consider very many of the largest flag states – carefully the prospect of using these flags, which may be perincluding the Marshall Islands, ceived to be sub-standard.” Hong Kong (China), Singapore as The ICS Flag State Performance Table provides on invaluwell as the Bahamas and Cyprus– able indicator of the performance of individual flag states continue to perform to an excep- worldwide. It analyses how the countries included deliver tionally high standard, with tradi- against a number of criteria such as Port State Control (PSC) tional flags and open registers per- records, ratification of international maritime Conventions forming equally well. and attendance at IMO meetings. ICS Secretary General, Guy Plat- Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 outGuy Platten ten, says: “The Table clearly indi- break, the previous period’s Flag State Performance Table cates that distinctions between ‘traditional’ flags and open (2019/2020) was not published. In order to maintain a comregisters are no longer meaningful. Alongside plete and accurate record of Port State Conseveral European registers, and flags such as trol performance of flag States in 2019, ICS Japan, we have seen many open registers has published the relevant PSC data on the amongst the very top performers”. last page of the report, corresponding to

Amongst the 10 largest ship registers (by information released in 2019 by the Paris dead weight tonnage), covering more than MOU, the Tokyo MOU and the United States 70% of the world fleet, none have more than Coast Guard (USCG) in their respective two indicators of potentially negative per- annual PSC reports.

UK Ship Register - Top Performer in latest ICS Table

The UK Ship Register’s position The latest report is further evidence and recognition of the as one of the world’s top perform- UK’s position as one of the world leaders in standards for ers in maritime safety has been shipping safety. It follows a year in which the UK was ranked given a further boost today (26 Jan- at number one on the Paris MoU Whitelist and retained The uary) with the publication of the QUALSHIP 21 status (Quality Shipping for the 21st Century), International Chamber of Ship- awarded by the US Coast Guard. ping’s (ICS) Flag State Performance The ICS Flag State Performance table is designed to Table (2020/21). encourage ship owners and operators worldwide to prioritise It identifies the flag states which the safety of all life at sea. perform to a consistently high stan- “The report is the latest assurance of the UKSR’s reputation dard, benchmarking them across as a world class flag bearer for maritime safety and innovanumerous categories, with the UK tion”, said Katy Ware, the MCA’s Director of Maritime ServKaty Ware achieving positive markers across ices and the UK’s Permanent Representative to the Internaeach of the performance indicators. tional Maritime Organisation.

The ICS Flag State Performance Table provides an invalu- “We are really pleased with this latest confirmation that the able indicator of the performance of individual flag states UK continues to meet exacting global standards of performworldwide. It analyses how the countries included deliver ance. We work very hard across industry to achieve this and against a number of criteria such as Port State it’s encouraging to see that despite an excepControl (PSC) records, ratification of interna- tionally challenging year, our commitment to tional maritime Conventions and attendance at maritime safety is right up there with world IMO meetings. standards,” she said.

Cyprus Ministry of Energy and the Research and Innovation Foundation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the Minister of Energy Trade and Industry Natasa Pileides and the Chief Scientist of Research and Innovation and President of the Foundation for Research and Innovation, Nikola Mastrogiannopoulos with the main aim of defining a framework for cooperation in research, innovation and technology, as well as the exchange of know-how between the two parties on the submission and evaluation of proposals for specific sponsorship projects.

The Memorandum envisages, among other things, the holding of joint information events to promote the culture of research and innovation and the presentation of business prospects arising from their exploitation in industry, as well as the promotion of joint actions for industry utilisation of the services offered by the Excellence Centres. The text of the Memorandum also emphasises the need for cooperation aimed at promoting the internationalisation of Cypriot innovative companies.

During the signing ceremony of the Memorandum, the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry stressed the need to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry on a new development model based mainly on technological upgrading, green growth, digitisation, research and innovation. Mrs. Pileides noted that at such a time it is imperative to find the right solutions to boost our dynamic transition to a sustainable, cyclical economy, as a driving force for growth and modernisation.

Dr. Mastrogiannopoulos stressed that the signing marks the beginning of a new era and cooperation with an innovative dimension, aiming at building a competitive industrial ecosystem. An ecosystem that will be characterised by extroversion, will feed innovative ideas, will bring added value and benefits and will contribute to the formation of a dynamic and competitive economy, ensuring the sustainable development of the country and the well-being of its citizens.

The Minister Natasa Pileides and Dr. Nikola Mastrogiannopoulos

PIL Appointed General Manager, Fleet Division

Pacific International Lines (“PIL”) has appointed Goh Chung Hun as General Manager, Fleet Division, effective from 1st February 2021. Mr. Goh succeeds Captain R.S. Minhas from 15th February 2021.

Mr. Goh will be overseeing the management of PIL's fleet, including technical, marine operations, safety and crewing at PIL.

Mr. Goh brings with him almost 30 years of fleet management, technical, marine operations and seafaring experience. Prior to joining PIL, he was Director (Shipping) / Director (Marine) at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), where he managed the Singapore registry of ships, flag state control, port state control, marine casualty investigations, maritime regulations, as well as the training and certification of seafarers. He was the head of Singapore’s delegation to the IMO for the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and chaired the IMO working group that finalised the upcoming ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he was also responsible for setting up a specialised team to manage and facilitate safe crew change at the Port of Singapore.

Prior to the MPA, Mr. Goh held various managerial positions in the private sector, including as General Manager at MP Offshore, where he oversaw the commercial, operational and technical management of offshore support vessels.

cont. on page 36

Goh Chung Hun

SSE Endeavour re-brands as OneGlobal Insurance Broking

George Tsavliris and Manos Sofronis

SSL Endeavour in Greece & Cyprus has now officially rebranded to OneGlobal Insurance Broking Ltd in full alignment with the Group’s businesses globally. The name OneGlobal mirrors the global reach of the business and the one team mindset that they bring to their clients no matter their geographical location around the world.

“I am very proud to be making this announcement”, said George Tsavliris, Non-Executive Chairman of OneGlobal Greece & Cyprus, who joined the Group in August 2019. “In the past year, I am pleased to advise that together with the OneGlobal Team, Manos Sofronis, CEO and Nicolaos Tzimas, Executive Director have taken very proactive steps and in doing so have gained the trust and confidence of the most significant players in the Greek & Cypriot shipping market. This has resulted in expanding our portfolio, despite the impact and challenges that the current global pandemic has presented”, Mr Tsavliris commented. Manos Sofronis, CEO, added that “despite market challenges, the team proudly boasts an extensive portfolio in excess of 750 vessels including high value LNG’s, VLCC’s and other tankers, containers and bulk carriers – out of which 350 ships are in exclusivity. On the Loss of Hire insurance sector alone, we support over 3Million tons.”

“OneGlobal is a company created with the fundamental basics of professionalism, ethos, loyalty, integrity and personal interest, since we have been involved in the shipping sector throughout our careers”, said Mr Tsavliris. “Many of our competitors who had close links with the Greek market have been involved with mergers, acquisitions etc, which has created large and what I would consider ‘impersonal’ companies. On this basis, knowing the Greek idiosyncrasy, I’m not sure that these vast corporates can satisfy the demands of the Greek shipping community. Personal contact and relationships have always been an intricate part of our business.”

OneGlobal Insurance Broking Ltd is a portfolio company of JC Flowers, and is the regulatory vehicle for European business of the OG group, was awarded the first Lloyd’s Marine Broker registration in Greece and Cyprus in October 2020. Manos Sofronis in a statement said, “We are very proud to be in the unique position to be the first Lloyd’s Brokers in Greece & Cyprus. We share a relentless focus on doing what is best for our clients; now officially as OneGlobal, we are one global team with one common vision: to deliver excellent risk management solutions to our prestigious client base”.