Quarterly October 2004 - Odfjell

Future Ship Managementof Odfjell-owned vesselsBy Jan Didrik Lorentz and Helge OlsenOdfjell has always had a majority ofowned vessel under own management,but also a significant share of thetonnage placed under external shipmanagement. To increase our focus onsafety and performance, Odfjell hasdefined enhanced support and control ofthe ships as a strategic area. As a result wewill increase the number of Odfjell-ownedships under own management.In Bergen ship management will continuewith the current three fleet units, and allthe deep-sea stainless steel vessels will bemanaged from there. The managementof some of the coated ships previouslyon external management will betransferred to one of the Bergen fleetunits. Surveillance of ships on externalmanagement will also continue fromBergen.Expansion in SingaporeOdfjell Ship Management participatesin Odfjell’s expansion in East Asia. Ourship management activities started inSingapore a year ago with some of ourFrom the Ship Management Departmentregional vessels. Now Odfjell is establishinga complete unit in Singapore for a fleetof 10-18 ships. The unit will comprisetechnical and maritime superintendentsas well as purchasers, who will manageregional ships and a number of deep-seaships with coated tanks. They will getsupport from the Maritime Section, RiskManagement Section, Technology Sectionand Purchasing in Bergen. The branchfleet unit in Singapore is organized as asection of Odfjell Ship Management andshall operate under the same Safety andQuality Management System.Helge Olsen has been appointed VicePresident Fleet Management, and he willbe responsible for developing the newunit. Having qualified and experiencedships crew will be one of the mostimportant challenges. Another challenge,of course, will be to put together a wellqualified team of superintendents andpurchasers.External managementAlthough we will take many ships backon own management, we will continuewith some ships on external managementto have flexibility, for benchmarkingpurposes and to secure availability ofcompetent seafarers.Hanseatic Shipping CompanyLtd has carried out shipmanagement for Odfjell forseveral years, and currentlymanages four ships for Odfjell.OSM Norway AS is a wellreputedship managementcompany with main office inKristiansand. They will managethree vessels recently boughtby Odfjell.Odfjell will also increase thefocus regarding supervision ofall vessels operated, as a generalcorporate approach, to furtherimprove vessel performancewithin all relevant areas.Bow Panther, one of the Odfjell ships taken back on own managementodfjell quarterly 27