Erik Kravets
View from the EU Columnist
Erik Kravets is a founding partner of Kravets & Kravets http://www.kravets.de, a maritime and admiralty law firm providing bespoke solutions to clients navigating the North Sea and beyond. Clients involved in ship brokering and management, offshore, towage and salvage, vessel chartering, cargo handling/stevedoring and carriage of goods by sea come to Mr. Kravets for representation. (Photo: Heina Dannemann http://www.foto-dannemann.com/)
A Tale of the New M/V Atlantis
It’s a special celebration when a new ship is launched! Even if the girl was already sailing, when she finds a new owner – and a new future – it’s good cause to break open the champagne. And I don’t...
Continue Reading...
Look Beyond the Flag
[This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2018 edition of The Maritime Executive Magazine] What’s the measure of a merchant marine officer? Trick question: There isn’t one measure, but many. Although requirements vary from country to country, merchant marine officers have...
Continue Reading...
A Blue Angel for Cassen Eils' MS Helgoland
Known colloquially as "the German eco-label", the Blue Angel (in German: Blauer Engel) has been awarded since 1978 to the top 20-30 percent of environmental performers in various categories (e.g. household appliances, automobiles). Intriguingly, the German tourism fleet (i.e. the...
Continue Reading...
SQUEEZING THE LITTLE GUY
Work it harder, make it better, do it faster. We may remember these lyrics from Daft Punk’s biggest dance hit of 2007, but they could also be today’s motto for workboat charterers. Not included but equally, if not more, relevant:...
Continue Reading...
Fresh Ships, Fresh Fish
It's not even a fair fight for the fish anymore! The German Fishery Union (DFFU, or, natively: "Deutsche Fischfang Union"), has taken over two Norwegian newbuilds, namely the factory trawlers Berlin and Cuxhaven. The DFFU is a wholly owned subsidiary...
Continue Reading...
The Same Old Bunker Contracts
A couple years ago, I wrote a review of the BIMCO Standard Bunker Agreement. The fact is, this contract has not been widely adopted in maritime practice. Bunker companies typically prefer to operate on a handshake, or they have their...
Continue Reading...
Red Sky at Night
About 9,000 ships per year call at the port of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany. Each of those 9,000 ships – whether bulkers, tankers, box carriers, dredgers, offshore support vessels or elegant cruise ships like the Queen...
Continue Reading...
We Can't Scrap Our Way Out of the Crisis
For many decades, shipping companies worked together and cooperated in a way that is not permissible under today's understanding of antitrust law. The shipping companies formed organizations that were closed to the public and which decided on matters like prices,...
Continue Reading...
Ready-Made Contracts
The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), based in Copenhagen, is a shipowner-led organization representing 65 percent of the world’s tonnage. In a region characterized by linguistic, political and cultural diversity, BIMCO aims to create a sense of a European...
Continue Reading...
Bridging the Atlantic
IN AN AGE OF NATIONALIST FERVOR, THE BRIDGE CENTENNIAL IS A MUCH-NEEDED CELEBRATION OF COMMON VALUES AND SHARED GOALS. It’s going to be a beautiful summer when, on June 25, 2017, Cunard’s ocean liner RMS Queen Mary 2 traverses...
Continue Reading...More News Stories
