NYK SHIPMANAGEMENT

Challenge: In 2005, NYK Shipmanagement, the wholly owned Singapore-based subsidiary of Japan’s NYK Lines, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, indicated a growing demand for crew specially trained to operate large LNG-Gas carriers. Though Romanian seafarers have earned a reputation for being highly skilled and adaptive officers and crew members, there was a genuine shortage of with either the training or the experience of sailing on large LNG-Gas carriers. LNG-Gas carriers are specialized, high-risk vessels that require exceptional skills and knowledge for operating.

Solution: AB Crewing took up the challenge and made a thorough review of the existing talent situation before implementing a special project of qualifying local seafarers for LNG-Gas carriers. This required additional training both on shore and at sea for different grades of seafarers. For example, the training module of a chief engineer ranged from anywhere between two to six months depending on previous seagoing experience. The program has proved to one of the most successful retaining initiatives and what started out with crewing for one vessel has today grown into crew placement for over a dozen carriers worldwide.

ENZIAN SHIPMANAGEMENT

Challenge: A young and dynamic shipping company that owns a fleet of specialized multipurpose vessels, particularly heavy lift cranes, Enzian Ship Management, Switzerland, part of the SCL Reederei AG group (Swiss Cargo Line), was looking for crew to man its growing fleet of modern state-of-the-art vessels in late 2004. The seafarers had to be highly-skilled and flexible in their navigational and engineering knowledge, and there was a genuine shortfall of such specialists in the Black Sea region.

Solution: We took up the challenge on behalf of Enzian and approached the Constanta maritime education and training institutions to devise a program that would regularly turn out crew meant for the company’s varied and growing manning requirements. Our partner in this endeavor was the Constanta Port Administration, particularly the Constanta Port Foundation School, and we managed to successfully launch a crane driving course for Romanian as well as foreign seafarers beginning 2005. Since the launch, eight batches of seafarers employed by Enzian have passed out of the training course.

CARISBROOKE SHIPPING

Challenge: Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight (United Kingdom), Carisbrooke Shipping owns and operates over 50 modern dry cargo vessels, ranging from 3,000 dwt to 20,000 dwt, and has been actively modernizing its fleet in the recent past. In 2002, Carisbrooke Shipping requested AB Crewing to check whether medical examination for seafarers carried out and certified in Romania were valid for UK flag ships. It turned out that they were not. Carisbrooke requested us to take necessary steps in order to try and resolve the problem.

Solution: Medical certification for seafarers involves submitting papers that need to be ratified by the different national maritime authorities. In order to verify whether the medical examination standards in Romania were acceptable to the UK maritime authorities, AB Crewing obtained the standards of medical examination from the Romanian authorities, carried out the necessary paperwork and assisted Carisbrooke in approaching the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), UK, to assess the standards. Eventually, the MCA signaled that they were satisfied with the standards and approved Romanian medical examination certificates for their flag.