NAUTILUS P01 NOVEMBER 2009.qxd - Nautilus International

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08 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2009 LARGE YACHT NEWS Nautilus partnership is part of our drive to professionalise crews Increase in applications for MN seafarers is changing the yacht sector Nautilus takes a stand at the Monaco show Nautilus International Dindustrial officer Steve Doran is pictured with Derek Smith, operations director for Large Yacht Solutions Ltd (left of picture), during the Monaco Yacht Show at the end of September. Surrey-based Large Yacht Solutions — which specialises in management, construction, purchase, and refit of luxury yachts — is just one one the various compananies in the sector with which Nautilus has been developing a relationship. As part of its programme to increase its involvement in the sector, Nautilus has been attending a variety of yacht forums and shows, with the stand at Monaco complementing the Union’s presence in Antibes in April 2009 and 2010. Nautilus was one of around 500 exhibitors at the three-day show which attracted more than 100 superyachts and almost 30,000 visitors. Despite reports of a 40% increase in repossessions and orders down by as much as 70%, the show featured a series of new model launches and a superyacht finance forum in which there was a R. H. BRADSHAW COWBRIDGE TAX SERVICES Mill Brow Brookfield Park Road Cowbridge South Glamorgan CF71 7HJ Tel/Fax 01446 771536 E.Mail marine@onetel.com 100% FED CLAIMS AND FORECASTS ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT – NO MORE WAITING FOR THE REVENUE general consensus that the market is set for recovery. ‘This was the first yacht show since the formation of a number of strategic alliances/partnerships with leading yacht agencies in the sector,’ said Garry Elliott, national secretary for recruitment and organising, ‘and this was publicised at the show with a number of new interested parties approaching Nautilus to develop similar arrangements. ‘Nautilus also publicised the workshops that we have conducted with captains, officers and crew in the past few months in an attempt to explain our involvement in the seafarers’ bill of rights (MLC 2006) and what impact this will have on their sector,’ he added. ‘Nautilus International continues to develop new strategies in the sector with the intention to protect our members in their employment and we continue to do this with our partners the PYA. ‘Next year will see Nautilus again been present at a number of boat shows, starting with Antibes in April, and we would hope to see as many members as possible,’ he added. To advertise in the Telegraph call Century One Publishing: 01727 739 184 by Phil Edwards, MD, dovaston Crew PThere was a lot of discussion at Monaco last month regarding my decision to form a strategic partnership between dovaston and Nautilus. Some people felt that a crew agent encouraging union membership was a case of gamekeeper turned poacher — but nothing could be further from the truth. At dovaston we are committed to providing a top-class service, both to our boats and to our crew in an ever-changing environment. The private yachting sector has changed dramatically since I joined over 25 years ago. Boats are getting bigger; when I started, 40 or 50m yachts were considered by Michael Howorth The UK yacht industry is defying Athe worst effects of the economic downturn, according to figures released at the Monaco yacht show. The industry association Superyacht UK — which represents more than 160 companies involved in the sector — reported a 15.3% increase in industry turnover to £410m over the past year, a 5% STCW 95 FIRST AID & SURVIVAL TRAINING Course Venues: Southampton & Hull MCA Proficiency in Medical First Aid Aboard Ship MCA Proficiency in Medical Care Aboard Ship MCA Prof in Medical Care (Refresher) MCA Personal Survival Techniques MCA Elementary First Aid HSE First Aid at Work MCA/RYA Ocean Theory Course GMDSS Restricted Operator’s Certificate Defibrillator Course Contact: Yvonne Taylor KTY Yachts Haven Ambulance Service Unit 10/18, Universal Shipyard, Sarisbury Green, Southampton SO31 7ZN Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1489 570302 Mobile: 07785 335189 yvonneandkeith@ktyyachts.com www.ktyyachts.com large, yet now 80m and 100m boats seem normal. This increase in size has led to more boats being subject to stringent IMO and ILO regulations. Contrary to the idea that I am encouraging trouble-makers to be employed, I am actually trying to increase the professionalism of crew aboard. Nautilus is much more than a union; it is a professional body for mariners. It encourages its members to participate in professional development, and it publishes a monthly magazine that ensures that members are aware of any changes to the international maritime laws and regulations. As an organisation Nautilus works not just for crew but the increase in people employed and a healthy level of optimism about the future. Superyacht UK — whose members are involved with the design, build, supply chain and service provision of yachts over 24m load line length — said the UK superyacht industry is now worth in excess of £350m, representing an increase of 14.8% on 2007. There are now around 3,500 people working in the sector, and Say ‘superyacht’ in a word- game, and it aassociation conjures up images of wealth and luxury. The word ‘green’ is probably not what comes to most people’s minds. But the classification society RINA is now recognising that modern yacht ownership is not just about flashing the cash — it’s possible to enjoy high performance and also care for the environment. RINA’s new environmental notation Green Plus has been granted to three Italian-built ‘megayachts’ this year: Candyscape II, RoMA, pictured above, and Ocean Emerald. A further vessel, under construction in China, is being built to an even higher set of environmentally-friendly specifications, the Green Plus platinum standards. industry as a whole. It has representation with the ILO and IMO statutory bodies and is actively engaged with the agendas of the major regulatory agencies. Nautilus is committed to a partnership approach and ensures that regulations which are set are reasonable and achievable, and do not impose impossible burdens on the ships’ owners. At dovaston I am trying to ensure that any crew we place are professionally prepared and are best placed to fit seamlessly into life onboard. The Nautilus partnership is just one of the concepts we are trying to promote. We want the crew we place to be assets to the yacht, self-reliant and self-prepared. 96% of businesses surveyed reported a similar or increased number of employees when compared with 2007. Most revenue growth was down to newbuild orders, with 76% involved in such projects over the past year. And the member survey showed 56% of companies rated next year’s prospects ‘good or excellent’ and 39% ‘OK’ and only 1% rating prospects as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Tom Chant, of the British Marine The Green Plus notation is granted to new vessels whose design, onboard equipment and operational procedures help to deliver an environmental performance beyond the minimum levels required by international legislation. The standards cover all aspects of a vessel’s impact on the environment, including carbon emissions. ‘Yacht owners seek the ultimate We are encouraging them to take out personal insurance for any medical or third party liability expenses and helping them arrange their personal finances and training so that the captains or management companies can concentrate on the business of running the boat. Crew agencies have traditionally treated the crew on their books as commodities, but at dovaston we aim for a more holistic approach. We are seeing more applicants from senior merchant crew who are interested in moving to the private sector, bringing with them the rigour of the commercial sector which we feel will lead to an increased professionalism and safety aboard. UK superyacht industry stays buoyant despite downturn Falmouth plan H The Cornish port of Falmouth could become the UK centre for building multi-million pound superyachts, according to local press reports which suggest that the Pendennis Shipyard, together with A&P Falmouth, operators of the city’s docks and ship repair yard, have been in talks about large yacht projects. Federation, said: ‘Despite the challenging economic climate felt in 2008, the UK superyacht industry is showing a great level of resilience and indeed success. It is particularly encouraging to see such an optimistic outlook for the year ahead. ‘British companies are involved in some of the most high profile and exciting international superyacht projects and I am confident their expertise and professionalism will continue to reap rewards.’ Green class notation for three new Italian yachts in performance using the most modern materials and technological innovations, and they are prepared to invest in the most innovative green technologies to ensure their yachts achieve the highest levels of efficiency and the lowest possible environmental impact,’ commented Ugo Salerno of RINA. ‘This will encourage the introduction of new technologies, which RINA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis.’
November 2009 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 09 NEWS On the road to recovery? Shipping industry survey shows growing signs of confidence that rates will rise in key sectors over the next year PSigns that the shipping industry is on the road to recovery have been unveiled in a new survey of confidence levels among owners, managers, charterers and brokers. The survey — carried out by the accountancy firm Moore Stephens — found that overall confidence levels have risen for the third successive quarter, with all four sectors expressing increased optimism for the shipping markets in which they operate. The average confidence level expressed by respondents — on a scale of 1 to 10 — was 5.7, compared with 5.5 in the previous survey in May 2009. Moore Stephens noted that a number CThe UK has emerged as one of just four flags winning top marks in a performance ‘league table’ put together by international shipowners. Together with Denmark, Germany and Hong Kong, the red ensign notched up the highest scores under a formula that examines 19 factors such as port state control results, fleet age and compliance with international conventions. The annual rankings — produced by the ‘Round Table’ of shipping associations, including Intertanko, Intercargo, the International Chamber of Shipping, the International Shipping Federation and Bimco — also reveal continuing problems with a hard core of substandard registers, with 15 flag states recording 12 or more negative performance indicators. of participants in the survey had referred to the start of a recovery being under way — with the opportunity to buy vessels at historically low prices. ‘The shipping market has started to pick up this year after the effect of the global economic crises,’ one respondent said. And another commented: ‘The recovery of the global economy will result in strong demand for tonnage as delayed projects get up and running again.’ However, there were also marked concerns that freight rates will continue to be depressed by an oversupply of tonnage. ‘Because two newbuildings are being delivered for every vessel scrapped, the Top marks for UK in ‘league table’ of flags Flags at the bottom end of the scale include Albania, Bolivia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Honduras, Lebanon, St Kitts & Nevis, and Sierra Leone. The Round Table said ‘shipowners should think very carefully’ about before using such registers. Maritime & Coastguard Agency chief executive Peter Cardy said he was ‘delighted’ at the UK ship register’s status at the top of the table. ‘This is another step in the right direction in demonstrating that we are a quality register, with high standards and a commitment to providing a high level of service to our customers,’ he added. ‘We hope that this excellent news encourages shipowners to look at the UK flag as a viable alternative, particularly in these difficult times of financial uncertainty.’ RFA trains at Fleetwood shipping market will not be able to pick up over the next three to four years,’ one respondent warned. Concerns were also voiced about China’s growing dominance of the market. One respondent told Moore Stephens: ‘China is now the producer, the consumer, the trader, and the transporter. It has got the cheapest and the most plentiful supply of labour, and it is possibly the richest country in the world. None of these things can be good for the international shipping industry.’ Another remarked: ‘China’s influence in the shipping markets is a risk which has not yet been fully factored in. China will control a lot of cheap new tonnage, with the result that a number of independent shipowners will not have the opportunity to compete.’ For the third survey in succession, respondents identified demand trends as the single most important factor likely to affect their business performance over the coming year, followed by competition and the cost and availability of finance. In the containership sector, 35% of respondents overall expected rates to rise over the coming year, whilst 41% of respondents expected bulker rates to climb over the next 12 months, and 45% expected tanker rates to increase in the same period. Moore Stephens shipping partner Richard Greiner commented: ‘Although the overall confidence level of 5.7 revealed in the survey is low compared to the 6.8 posted at the time of the first survey in May 2008, it still represents an increase for the third successive quarter. ‘Confidence will return to shipping more slowly than it disappeared,’ he added. ‘The situation is not helped by the continuing depression in the freight markets, but it should be remembered that today’s rates are often compared to the record highs which the market was enjoying less than two years ago, and this tends to distort the picture.’ First ETO FD course launched Pictured right are the first Ftrainee electro-technical officers studying on a new foundation degree being run by South Tyneside Marine College and Northumbria University. Nautilus has welcomed the launch of the course, which is the only one of its kind in the UK offering the pilot Foundation Degree for ETOs qualification. Senior national secretary Allan Graveson said the Union had worked extensively at the Merchant Navy Training Board to develop the course and hopes more companies will support it. The course covers a range of electronic and electrical topics, including marine management, health and safety and work-based learning. Companies including BP, Chiltern Maritime, Bibby Line, Adnatco, Acergy, and Global Marine Systems are among the first to sponsor students on the course. Felix Brooks, from Gloucestershire, is being sponsored by Chiltern Maritime, and has high hopes for the future. ‘I have just finished a BENG in fire explosion engineering at Leeds University and I was looking for a career where I could use my degree combining my love for sailing and ambition to travel the world,’ he said. ‘This career path and course was perfect for me.’ Andrew George, aged 27, worked as a manufacturing engineer for 10 years before choosing the course. ‘I was ready for a career change and I wanted to see the world,’ he said. ‘The opportunities working as an ETO match my life ambition whilst learning a new trade. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and learning new skills.’ James McGregor, from North Shields, and Stephen Gallagher, from Luton, are both aiming for the top, to become superintendents. Stephen comments: ‘There are so many opportunities in the marine industry. Eventually I would like an onshore role, but I’m very happy at the moment and looking forward to stretching my sea legs.’ All four students will start their first four and a half months of seatime in March 2010. They will then return to the college to continue learning theory, before returning to sea in March 2011. Once the students have completed the foundation degree they have the option of ‘topping up’ their qualification through further study to achieve a full degree. A Pictured above are the first Royal Fleet Auxiliary officer cadets to begin training at Fleetwood Nautical College. The five officer trainees — aged between 20 and 37 — have just embarked on a three-year foundation degree course and are being trained alongside students sponsored by shipping companies from the private sector.
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