MBR_ISSUE 47_JAN_LR

Malta Business Review
BOATS & YACHTING
A business Imperative
By George Carol
Oceanus Marine never believed rapid growth. Having restructured the company toward of 2018, Elio Desira, Managing
Director, tells us that the Company is not planning to increase the number of employees in 2019, nevertheless this may
change according to the demand, and having engaged two trainee surveyors, who hopefully will graduate by the end of
2019, keeping the company ready for any future eventuality and increase in demand.
MBR: Please talk to us about your role and
responsibilities as MD for Oceanus Marine?
ED: I direct and control the work and
resources of the company and ensure the
recruitment and retention of the required
numbers of well-motivated, certified, and
trained staff to ensure that it achieves
its mission and objectives. I also conduct
corporate and annual business planning,
monitor progress against the plans to ensure
that the company attains its objectives as
cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.
Besides providing guidance to the surveyors,
to keep them aware of developments
within the industry and ensure that the
appropriate policies are developed to meet
the company’s mission and objectives, I
must ensure these comply with all relevant
statutory and other regulations. Today, I also
establish and maintain effective formal and
informal links with major customers, and
agencies, and to ensure that the company is
providing the appropriate range and quality
of services, monitor the implementation
of the annual budget to ensure that
budget targets are met, that revenue flows
are maximised and that fixed costs are
minimised. Finally, I maintain an effective
marketing and public relations strategy to
promote services and image of the company
in the wider community, overseeing survey
reports and certificates randomly, and direct
attendance and reporting of marine claims.
Oceanus Marine is a Member Of
MBR: What are the key objectives of
Oceanus Marine for 2019?
ED: Our main focus in these past years was
mainly the pleasure and commercial yachts
and superyachts.
Our main focus in 2019 will be the shipping
sector – the main objective is to increase
the number of surveys on vessels by at
least 25%. This does not mean that we
shall reduce the surveys and services to the
yachting sector, not at all, throughout the
past years we have trained surveyors and
thus today we have dedicated surveyors for
the yachting sector. Our plans are also to
continue increasing the amount of surveys
in this sector as well. Oceanus Marine has
in 2018 restructured and implemented
new company policies. New qualified and
experienced surveyors have been engaged
for both the yachting and shipping sector.
MBR: What role does digitisation have in
marine and yacht surveys?
ED: Oceanus Marine Ltd is leading surveying
company. The digital future innovation and
applying advanced inspection technologies is
one of the new challenges for 2019. The aim
is to cut down the paperwork and the huge
amount of filing which is actually creating a
storage problem. The company is investing
in tablets for each surveyor enabling
them to conduct the surveyors digitally
immediately on site, without having to use
any hard copies. This technology can deliver
significant enhancements in the efficacy
of surveys while being less intrusive to the
asset, decreasing asset operational down
time and operational expenses.
MBR: What are the main actions the
maritime sector should implement
to improve in the boats and yachting
industry?
ED: Pleasure yachts: We have seen a
substantial increase in pleasure yachts in
these last years, locally. Although we have
surveyed several pleasure yachts which were
found to be maintained as per builder’s
requirements and recommendations, a large
number of pleasure yachts were not found
to be in conformity.
However more than the above, the issue of
having a black water tank and a sludge tank
should now be a must. Pumping out sewage
and contaminated bilge water is illegal, and
installation of retention tanks should be
encouraged for all boats and yachts which
are over 6 meters LOA and are fitted with a
marine toilet and with inboard engines.
Garbage retention and waste disposing is
another serious matter. Environment, our
beautiful seas, and bays should be well taken
care of immediately before it is too late. MBR
Credit: George Carol
Oceanus Marine are Appointed Surveyors / Inspectors for:
22