Executive in Action: VT Group's Yuri Ouweneel

Photo: (L to R) Wiebe J. De Boer, Dutch Ambassador to Panama; Yuri Ouweneel, MSc; Jose Digeronimo, VT Group; Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam.

“Sustainability is more than clean engines alone, it is a way of thinking,” says Yuri Ouweneel, Business Development Manager of tanker and bunkering company VT Group. “The biggest challenge is first of all getting everybody involved, making sure you have the right equipment, and that you do everything technically possible on the ship. That comes with a higher investment, of course, which needs to be paid back in a certain period.”

VT has made environmental leadership a commercial success. “If you look at one of our core businesses, which is bunkering, we need to be of added value to have a competitive advantage,” he says. “Our vision is that only impeccable equipment and the best-trained people give us that competitive edge in this market and, accordingly, clients have found us and we have found those who are willing to pay a certain price for that safe service.”

Taking care of sustainability also means taking care of your vessel maintenance, says Ouweneel. If equipment is well maintained, there are no high costs associated with downtime. “In the end it will save you money. Fuel reduction, of course, will save you money straight off the bat.”

A Commitment to Sustainability

Rotterdam-based VT was founded in 1916 and specializes in chemical transport, bunkering, chartering, fleet management and consulting. In February the company won the Panama Maritime Green Shipping Award 2013 and for the last two years has taken first and second place in the Dutch shipping CO2 reduction competition. The reductions have been achieved largely by the actions of vessel crews as they manage their engines and vessel speeds to minimize fuel consumption and emissions.

Everybody from top management down has been involved in the company’s achievements, and this has taken effort. “It’s about not giving in on your vision. If you let go one millimeter at the top, it will be a meter down at the bottom, so it is not compromising on what you want to achieve.

“Vessel captains and crew are the people who live the vision on a daily basis. It is how they manage the engines and plan the voyages that has led to significant CO2 reductions. How you convince them is to explain what the benefits are for them, what the benefits are for the company, what the benefits are for the environment, what the benefits are for everyone! Why you should do a certain thing that might appear to be more bureaucratic or might appear to be more hard work but in the end will pay off –that is something that takes a lot of time and effort. You repeat that again and again and again.”

All VT employees are expected to follow an intensive professional training program. This training consists of external and internally provided courses which are both theoretical and practical. Besides a five-year cycle of training that VT runs for all employees, the company has introduced the VT Captain’s Academy where young, ambitious employees are coached by experienced captains.

VT has been ISO 9002-certified since 1995 and ISO 14001-certified since 2007. The company participates in the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, an ambitious project with that aims to cut CO2 emissions in Rotterdam by 50 percent by 2025. This project is part of the Clinton Climate Initiative. VT takes part in the Green Award certification project. The Green Award Foundation is active all over the world with this certification scheme for dry bulk carriers and oil tankers that go above and beyond the set standards for cleanliness and safety. All efforts are made to benefit the marine environment, including cleaner seas and rivers.

The EU’s Cleanest Ship project is a good example of how VT looks at sustainability and corporate social responsibility, says Ouweneel. The project tested technologies such as selective catalytic reduction and particulate matter filters. “This project has proven that an operation with minimum impact on the environment is possible, and we strive to fully implement this technology in the future.” – MarEx