Lloyds Registers Hellenic Committee to Support and Further Develop Safety & Sustainability in Shipping

Lloyd’s Register’s Hellenic Advisory Committee (HAC) meeting yields resolution to do more to communicate priorities as shipowners and Lloyd’s Register to reciprocate for class.

Lloyd’s Register’s Hellenic Advisory Committee (HAC) met yesterday (November 19, 2009) at the Yacht Club of Greece. Chairman, Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos summed up the proceedings: "This has been another good committee meeting. We are facing a new era - the issues we see, particularly the carbon challenge, have never been experienced before. Never have we needed class so much, never before has class needed shipowners as much as today. We have resolved to share our issues with each other and help each other address the challenges we face." The Committee members emphasised their concern that shipping was engaging with the prospect of market-based measures to combat climate change when they felt the industry needs to be prioritising technical solutions to reduce emissions from shipping.

The Committee’s agenda included a regulatory update with particular emphasis on the entry into force of the EC Directive (2005/33/EC) relating to low sulphur fuel; a review of the orderbook situation – particularly in China; and a briefing of the main points from the recently held Hellenic Technical Committee (HTC).

Richard Sadler, Lloyd’s Register’s CEO, referring in particular to the regulatory presentation given by Konstantin Petrov said: "Life is becoming more complicated for shipowners – and with Copenhagen coming up fast, the industry is at full stretch to respond. Greek shipowners are pioneering world leaders and they are looking to us to help them deal with the current pace of change and to help find clarity in new and future requirements. We all want a sustainable shipping industry. We know our Greek clients strongly support the view that we need practical, universal, global regulation to enable this."

Newbuilding quality was raised as an issue – with marine equipment and component supply chains under pressure, the committee looked for assurance that Lloyd’s Register could provide support when needed in assessing shipyard quality. Apostolos Poulovassilis, Regional Marine Manager EMEA, said: "Ensuring safety and quality is always our primary concern both at new construction stage or in-service. Many of our owners are looking to us to help them find operational efficiencies and continual improvement – far beyond compliance. But the downturn and financial difficulties may lead some operators to defer essential maintenance. Although compliance is the responsibility of the owner we feel class should play a pro-active role in this respect by first, and quickly, aiming to address issues through our Fleet Quality Management Programme before they become problems. So far as shipyards are concerned, we will continue to strengthen and make available the expert assessment of our shipyard project teams’ leading technical ability to support and guide owners involved with newbuildings."

Lloyd’s Register has been pro-active in responding to EU requirements for lower sulphur in port (2005/33/EC); requirements that have created great uncertainty for shipowners. There are potentially significant safety issues at stake. Lloyd’s Register is active in supporting owners in understanding the implications of the directive for ships in service and in newbuildings. The Committee discussed the subject at length. Lloyd’s Register confirmed the thorough technical support available to owners to help ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

The Committee members resolved to do more to communicate their priorities as shipowners and asked Lloyd’s Register to reciprocate for class. Both agreed to immediately explore how the shipping industry could develop new methods to manage risk and to reward quality to ensure the health and sustainability of shipping. "We are agreed that shipping is facing a paradigm shift", said Sadler. "All in the industry need to be ready to embrace change. Shipbuilders, shipowners, classification societies and regulators all need to work together to find common interest to support our vital industry."