Transport communications

Portcare International is the press relations consultancy for the shipping and logistics industry. Formed by transport people for transport people. We can truly claim to understand our clients’ needs and ‘talk the same language’. Portcare provide effective, value for money PR to some of the industry’s best-known names.

Archives for May 2016

GEODIS moves to a new office in Mumbai

May 31, 2016 by

GEODIS increases its presence in Mumbai, India. The global transport and logistics provider is relocating its premises to “The Qube” at M.V. Road in Andheri (East). The move is driven by the continuous growth of GEODIS’ India business and the expansion of the Mumbai team.

“The relocation will foster a higher level of service excellence to our customers and also accentuates our commitment towards increasing our business development focus in the Western Region of India”, says Leif Voelcker, GEODIS’ Cluster Managing Director South Asia

The main services GEODIS provides in this region are freight management, industrial project management, buyer’s consolidation, and a Free Trade Warehousing Zone. As a unique positioning in the market GEODIS India is offering tailor-made solutions for different vertical markets.

GEODIS has been present in India since 1998, operating from 14 locations in the country and offering integrated logistics solutions covering freight services, warehouse management as well as local distribution. In India’s western region GEODIS has offices in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Baroda.

ENDS 

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a Supply Chain Operator ranking among the top companies in its field in Europe and the World. GEODIS, which is part of SNCF Logistics, which in turn is a business line of the SNCF Group, is the number one Transport and Logistics operator in France and ranked number four in Europe. Its international reach includes a direct presence in 67 countries and a global network spanning over 120 countries. With its five Lines of Business (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express and Road Transport), GEODIS manages its customers’ Supply Chains by providing end-to-end solutions enabled by our people and by our infrastructure, processes and systems.

For more information about GEODIS, go www.geodis.com

Filed Under: GEODIS

TT Club announces robust financial results for 2015 and affirmed AM Best A- (Excellent) rating

May 31, 2016 by

TT Club, the leading international transport and logistics insurance provider, today announces its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2015, and AM Best affirms its A- (Excellent) rating for the 10th consecutive year.

Highlights:

  • $172.0 million gross earned premiums (2014: $182.2 million)
  • $4.8 million surplus (2014: $14.1 million)
  • Total assets of $618.1 million (2014: $610.2 million)
  • Total surplus and reserves $178.1 million (2014: $175.3 million)
  • AM Best affirms financial strength rating as A- (Excellent)
  • 2015 financial year combined ratio of 94.4% (2014: 85.6%)

Knud Pontoppidan, Chairman of TT Club, said: “After very good years in 2013 and 2014, 2015 was what most might be described as a ‘normal year’. Incidents such as Tianjin and a number of cargo-related fires meant the Club experienced a higher number of large claims above US$1million than in 2013 and 2014. The positive side of this claims experience was that the Club was able to demonstrate its very high levels of service by assisting Members in handling the claims.

“Despite the increase in large claims, and the soft rating conditions, the Club continues to be in good shape. The work to improve the health of the insurance book since 2009 has paid off to help to mitigate the increase in large claims in the year and the Club’s rating awarded by AM Best at A- (Excellent) has been affirmed for 2016.

“The Board and I are pleased with our very high retention levels in 2015 at 93% and the feedback we receive from Members and brokers on our service levels. A core element of the Club’s service offering is its approach to the risks faced by our members and the value delivered through the Club’s claims and loss prevention services. As a mutual insurer the Club will continue to work closely with Members to adapt its approach to their needs and deliver services to help them manage their operations more effectively.”

Charles Fenton, Chief Executive of TT Club, added: “TT Club continues to be financially strong and this is reflected in AM Best maintaining our excellent ‘A-’ rating. We remain committed to working with members and brokers to maintain our loss prevention and service levels that allow us to be the world’s leading provider of international transport and logistics insurance.”

The TT Club’s 2015 Annual Report and Financial Highlights can be downloaded here.

– End –

 

TT Club

TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. Established in 1968, the Club’s membership comprises ship operators, ports and terminals, road, rail and airfreight operators, logistics companies and container lessors. As a mutual insurer, the Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

 

Thomas Miller

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include:

  • Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals
  • Investment management for institutions and private clients
  • Professional services
  • Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com

 

 

Filed Under: TT Club

GEODIS moves it Freight Forwarding office in San Francisco to new location

May 23, 2016 by

Iselin, 23 MAY 2016 

The global transport and logistics provider GEODIS moves to a new location in San Francisco. As of today, Monday, May 23, GEODIS will serve its freight forwarding customers in the area from this new location:

San Francisco new address is:

229 Littlefield Ave Unit# 1

South San Francisco, CA 94080

United States

Phone: +1 650 692 9850

FAX: +1 650 871 7061

Email: info.ff.us@geodis.com

The new premises are providing larger and more enhanced facilities. “This will enable GEODIS to offer a higher standard of service and a wide range of multi modal logistics solutions to our customers”, says Viresh Dayal, GEODIS’ Branch Manager in San Francisco.

ENDS

 

About GEODIS

Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company, ranking fourth in its field in Europe. Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 39,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve the performance of its clients. The Freight Forwarding business of GEODIS delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions supported by a specialized Industrial Projects division, managing oversized cargo operations worldwide. This division has achieved international recognition for its innovative and sustainable approach to transportation solutions.

For more information about GEODIS go to – www.geodis.com

Filed Under: GEODIS

TT Club Welcomes further IMO Guidance on SOLAS VGM Amendment

May 23, 2016 by

In order to assist the implementation of the VGM amendment to SOLAS, which comes into effect on 1st July, the IMO has agreed on certain enforcement guidelines and is expected to issue a Circular to all Member States this week.  Freight insurance specialist, TT Club welcomes the move, which crucially urges governments to engage with the industry in their jurisdictions to assist with compliance and to share best practice with other national authorities.

London 23rd May 2016

At an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee session in London that culminated on Friday, delegates agreed on guidance and advice to both those active in the container supply chain globally (shippers, carriers and port operators), as well as governmental representatives (so-called Competent Authorities) tasked with enforcing the regulation. The soon to be issued Circular will urge ‘practical and pragmatic’ enforcement of VGM over the first three-month settling-in period, partly in respect of transhipment containers but also recognising the probability of ‘teething’ problems in documenting, communicating and sharing VGM information.

TT Club, as an insurer closely involved in risk mitigation and safety measures pertaining to container transport welcomes this IMO guidance. “Like many others in the industry, we have been disturbed by the apparent confusion over how shippers will comply with the amendment to the Convention on Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS), making it mandatory for all packed containers to obtain and communicate the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) as a precondition to loading onto a ship”, says TT Club’s Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox.

“Moreover we have been particularly concerned about the patchy guidance given by national authorities to assist shippers and operators in minimising expense, delays and errors in complying with the regulation. This clarifying statement from the IMO is therefore welcome”, he said.

One area of potential confusion has been eradicated. Packed containers that are loaded on a ship before 1st July but are trans-shipped on or after that date for carriage to their final port of discharge, will be permitted to do so without the VGM specified in the new regulation.

With regard to enforcement, given the difficulties to achieve uniformity of interpretation by authorities around the world and therefore a lack of the consistency that shippers (and others in the industry) clearly require, the IMO is urging a policy of ‘practical and pragmatic’ enforcement by authorities over the first three months.

Once more Storrs-Fox applauds the move, “There are no doubt still a number of grey areas. In order to give time for these to be resolved the IMO’s intent is that any party who has done its level best to comply, even if it has not technically fulfilled the letter of the law, may expect to be treated with understanding. Those, however who have done little or nothing can expect to be penalised”.

The four industry organisations (TT Club, World Shipping Council, ICHCA and Global Shippers’ Forum) that produced the ‘Industry FAQs’ in December 2015 are also intent on issuing supplementary guidance in advance of 1st July.

In recognition that the revised requirements in relation to VGM are simply a part of the broader set of international safety requirements relating to the carriage of cargo, including the CTU Code (IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units) also approved during 2014, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee emphasised that safe operation of ships is not limited to the provision and use of VGM information.

Crucially in order to bring the clarity of interpretation and consistency of implementation of VGM across all trading jurisdictions, the Maritime Safety Committee is delivering a strong message from its meeting last week. This is summed up by TT Club’s Storrs-Fox, “National governments, the signatories to SOLAS, need to engage closely with the container supply chain industry to assist shippers, terminal operators and ship masters in reaching compliance. Governments are also urged to liaise with each other‎ to share best practice, towards which a number of key authorities have already made significant progress”.

ENDS

About TT Club

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services.  As a mutual insurer, the TT Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

Customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines, busiest ports, biggest freight forwarders and cargo handling terminals, to companies operating on a smaller scale but whose operations face similar risks. TT Club specialises in the insurance of Intermodal Operators, NVOCs, Freight Forwarders, Logistics Operators, Marine Terminals, Stevedores, Port Authorities and Ship Operators. The TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller. www.ttclub.com

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services. Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include: Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals

  • Investment management for institutions and private clients
  • Professional services
  • Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com

Filed Under: TT Club

The American Club wins Lloyd’s List 2016 North American Maritime Services Award

May 23, 2016 by

Image 2 - Lloyd's List N American Awards 2016 - Winners #P&I Insurer recognised for best practice to the shipping industry

NEW YORK, MAY 23, 2015:  The American Club has won the Lloyd’s List North American Maritime Services Award for 2016. The presentation of the award took place in New York at the end of last week in the presence of a large congregation of luminaries from the North American maritime community, and the Chairman of the Board of the American Club, Arnold Witte, accepted the award on its behalf.

In a news release, Lloyd’s List said: “The Maritime Services Award – General is bestowed on an organisation, company or individual for an exceptional achievement or contribution to any service sector of the North American maritime industry and the judges were exceedingly impressed with the American P&I Club’s recent growth.”

Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of the American Club’s managers, Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., said:

“An important criterion explicitly identified by Lloyd’s List was the winner of this award should have gone ‘above and beyond best practice to offer the shipping industry something exceptional’ and we are absolutely delighted that the judges were satisfied we have achieved this.”

“The essence of our original entry is contained in the commendation of the Club (as below) which was taken into account by the judging panel in choosing the American Club for this award from a very strong field of finalists,” Hughes added.

This distinction was bestowed on the Club by a 14 strong judging panel representing many sectors of the shipping industry. It speaks to the high regard in which the American Club is held by the maritime community and represents a fitting tribute to all its Members on the eve of its centennial year.

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

The American Club Commendation in full

Commendation of the American Club recognising its success in winning the Lloyd’s List 2016 North American Maritime Services Award:

“The American P&I Club has developed over recent years into a strong player in international marine insurance. Having grown and diversified, it now has a truly global presence and a broad range of products. Approaching its centennial, the Club celebrates a distinguished past and welcomes a future of continuing success.

The American P&I Club is the only mutual protection and indemnity insurer domiciled in the Americas. Founded in 1917, it has provided nearly a century of dedicated service to both the domestic and international shipping communities.

For much of its history, the Club insured only US-based shipowners. But in the mid-1990s the Club adopted a new strategy of international growth and diversification. Since then, the American Club has undergone a remarkable transformation. Its achievements over the period include: a fivefold increase in entered tonnage; fourfold premium growth; eightfold growth in funds under investment and a tenfold increase in free reserves; a broad and expanding international membership, 47% of its revenue now coming from EMEA, 32% from the Americas and 20% from Asia. Twenty years ago, less than 10% of its income came from non-US sources.

The Club has also developed extensive international service capabilities. In addition to its New York headquarters, it has dedicated offices in London, Athens, Hong Kong and Shanghai, with a Houston office opening soon. Also, having originally been only a reinsured member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, the American Club is now a full member of this preeminent industry collective in which it plays an active and important role.

The American Club takes pride in its energetic promotion of maritime safety and loss prevention. Its publications and training materials – together with other focused initiatives – are second-to-none in the industry. Its proactivity in this area is driven not only by the benefits it brings to the Club but also by a desire to support society’s common interest in the safety of life at sea and the preservation of the marine environment.

The American Club has also expanded its line of insurance products in recent years. In addition to P&I and FD&D cover, the Club now provides a full catalogue of related protections. It has also pioneered new areas of business such as its Eagle Ocean Marine facility which boasts a growing footprint in the fixed premium P&I sector across the world. Most recently, the Club has further diversified into the hull insurance market through its investment in the American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company in Cyprus.

Occupying a unique position within the North American marine insurance community, there can be no better example than the American Club of US service outreach to the world in recent years, the Club having emerged as a global player commanding universal respect within the industry.”

The American Club

American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (the American Club) was established in New York in 1917. It is the only mutual Protection and Indemnity Club domiciled in the entire Americas and its headquarters are in New York, USA.

The American Club has been successful in recent years in building on its US heritage to create a truly international insurer with a global reach second-to-none in the industry. Day to day management of the American Club is provided by Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. also headquartered in New York.

The Club is able to provide local service for its members across all time zones, communicating in eleven languages, and has subsidiary offices located in London, Piraeus, Hong Kong and Shanghai, plus a worldwide network of correspondents.

The Club is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, a collective of thirteen mutuals which together provide Protection and Indemnity insurance for some 90% of all world shipping.

For more information, please visit the Club’s website http://www.american-club.com/

P&I Insurance

Protection and Indemnity insurance (commonly referred to as “P&I”) provides cover to shipowners and charterers against third-party liabilities encountered in their commercial operations; typical exposures include damage to cargo, pollution, death/injury or illness of passengers or crew or damage to docks and other installations.

Running in parallel with a ship’s hull and machinery cover, traditional P&I cover distinguishes itself from usual forms of marine insurance by being based on the not-for-profit principle of mutuality where Members of the Club are both the insurers and the assureds.

 

Filed Under: The American Club

GEODIS is preparing 13,000 Equipment Kits for delivery to the Referees and Volunteers taking part in EURO 2016

May 23, 2016 by

1 MAY 2016 

13,000 individual bags, 450 part numbers and 120 tonnes of goods to be delivered to 10 stadiums by the end of May: this is the challenge facing the GEODIS Distribution & Express staff tasked with preparing and delivering the equipment kits for the referees and volunteers taking part in Euro 2016, which starts on June 10.

Distribution & Express has already shipped Super Victor, the competition mascot standing 1.90m tall and weighing 70 kg, and installed it at the head office of the French Football Federation. It also transported the machine used for the official draw.

Since March 29, GEODIS staff has taken delivery of 750 pallets of equipment from the official competition sponsor at a dedicated warehouse in the Paris region. On this same date, a team set up for this purpose began preparing the bags. As part of their participation in Euro 2016, all the referees and the 6,500 volunteers will receive a sports bag with a complete outfit corresponding to their size, gender and shoe size.

After preparation, the bags will be shipped to the ten stadiums involved in the competition before May 31. For this purpose, Distribution & Express has put in place a team of ten dedicated drivers, approved by the UEFA, who will travel up and down France throughout Euro 2016.

ENDS

 

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a Supply Chain Operator ranking among the top companies in its field in Europe and the World. GEODIS, which is part of SNCF Logistics, which in turn is a business line of the SNCF Group, is the number one Transport and Logistics operator in France and ranked number four in Europe. The international reach includes a direct presence in 67 countries and a global network spanning over 120 countries. With its five Lines of Business (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express and Road Transport), GEODIS manages its customers Supply Chain by providing end-to-end solutions enabled by over 39,000 employees, its infrastructure, its processes and systems. In 2015, GEODIS recorded €8 billion in revenue.

PRESS CONTACT

Virginie HOURDIN-BREMOND

GEODIS Communications Director

Phone 00 33 (0)1 56 76 74 12

virginie.hourdin-bremond@geodis.com

 

 

 

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line Issuer Rating withdrawal from Moody’s

May 17, 2016 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) announces that Moody’s has downgraded the issuer rating of the company from “Ba2” to “Ba3”, effective from May 6, 2016.

Although we have continued constructive discussions with Moody’s based on a cyclical nature of shipping industry, it was regretful that downgrade implementation has been taken.  Based on nonecessity of continuous rating obtainment from business (operation) perspective, today, we have withdrawn issuer rating from Moody’s. Nevertheless, we will continue to keep our ratings from Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd and Rating and Investment Information, Inc.

http://www.kline.co.jp/en/ir/stock/rating/index.html

We hope our ratings to improve as we run our business steadily based on our Medium term Management Plan, released on April 28, 2016.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Hanjin, Hapag-Lloyd, “K”Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming to create a new partnership “THE Alliance”

May 17, 2016 by

Hanjin, Hapag-Lloyd, “K”Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming have agreed to create a new alliance covering all East-West trade lanes namely, Asia-Europe/ Mediterranean, Asia-North America West Coast, Asia-North America East Coast, Transatlantic and Asia-Middle East / Persian Gulf / Red Sea. A binding agreement has been concluded by all partners and “THE Alliance” is scheduled to begin operation in April 2017 subject to approval of all relevant regulatory authorities. The initial term of the cooperation will be five years.

The new partnership will build one of the leading networks in the container shipping industry combining approximately 3.5 million TEU or 18% share of the global container fleet capacity. All six partners operate advanced and competitive fleets with more than 620 ships in total. This will become the basis of a dedicated fleet deployed into the groups’ future service portfolio. Clients will be able to enjoy an outstanding product characterized by fast transit times, high frequency sailings and expansive port coverage.

On going discussions between Hapag-Lloyd and UASC are progressing according to plan, although an agreement on business combination has not yet been reached and will in any event be subject to regulatory approvals. It is anticipated that UASC will become part of THE Alliance, which will increase the overall alliance capacity to more than 4 million TEU.

“This agreement is a milestone and will enable the six partners of THE Alliance to offer sailing frequencies and direct coverage in the market,” member carriers said in a statement. “The unique product will feature enhanced port coverage in Asia, North America, Europe including the Mediterranean as well as Middle East. The network of THE Alliance will ensure frequent sailings, high reliability and very attractive transit times for all shippers in the East-West trade lanes.“

More details on the services and port rotations will be published when all necessary preparations are finalized.

 

 

Filed Under: "K" Line

“K” Line to Provide Free Ocean Transportation of Books for Children in the Republic of South Africa

May 12, 2016 by

Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has announced that it has provided free ocean transportation of books for children to be donated to the “Mobile Library Project” promoted by NPO “South African Primary Education Support Initiative (SAPESI)” in the Republic of South Africa.

SAPESI is an NPO established in South Africa to help improve the quality of primary education in the country, and the Mobile Library Project is an activity to operate mobile libraries, donated from Japan with books sent from various English speaking countries such as the United States, around primary schools across the country. “K” Line has been supporting the Project since 2011 by providing free transportation of children’s books that are collected and presented by group companies of Sony Corporation, who has been supporting the activity of SAPESI as well. This year, “K” Line has already transported more than 12,000 books from Singapore, UAE and the United States to the port of Durban, South Africa, with its container vessels.

In addition, after the arrival of those books at the port of Durban, staffs of “K” LINE SHIPPING (SOUTH AFRICA) PTY LTD, an affiliated company of “K” Line in South Africa, have voluntarily provided repairing and sorting works of the book, which have been sorted by direction and sent to each mobile library (photo 2).

“K” Line, in cooperation with Sony Corporation at each other’s local affiliates, has transported more than 100,000 books so far. Hoping that the books presented to the project may contribute to the improvement of the quality of education as well as give children in South Africa dreams for the future, “K” Line would continue to contribute to the society through its core business, ocean transportation.

* “K” Line’s supporting activity to SAPESI is introduced on “CSR” pages its corporate web-site, namely “Collaboration with Stakeholders”（http://www.kline.co.jp/en/csr/community/#2） and “Social Contribution Activities”　( http://www.kline.co.jp/en/csr/community/#3).

 

Filed Under: "K" Line

Five Marine Visionaries Honoured at 23rd Annual Maritime Hall of Fame Awards

May 12, 2016 by

New York, May 12, 2016:

The 23rd Annual International Maritime Hall of Fame reception and awards dinner took place yesterday evening in New York where five individuals were honoured in front of more than 350 of their colleagues from the international maritime transportation industry.

The Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey founded the Annual International Maritime Hall of Fame in 1993 to recognise maritime visionaries who, through excellence in their company, organisation or services, best exemplify the qualities of futuristic thinking that guides the maritime industry.

Funds raised from the Awards evening promote educational services for the sector and, whilst all previous honorees are from within the global maritime and related transportation industries, in 2013 former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg was recognised.

The five outstanding leaders honoured were:

  • Duff Hughes, President, The Vane Brothers Company.

Celebrating 25 years as President of Vane Brothers, Mr Hughes has overseen the company’s transition from a Baltimore-based ship chandlery, established in 1898, to a major marine transportation provider with 150 vessels operating out of seven locations along the U.S. East Coast.

Mr Hughes joined Vane Brothers as a junior partner in 1980 and, leading up to Vane’s 100th anniversary in 1998, spearheaded the construction and acquisition of a fleet of tugboats and barges greatly broadening the bunkering business.

In 2014, Mr Hughes donated Vane’s flagship tug, the Elizabeth Anne, as a training vessel for midshipmen.

  • Robert (Rob) P. Kusiciel, Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain Logistics and Transportation, Honeywell International, Inc.

Prior to becoming Vice President in 2014, Mr Kusiciel spent several years at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. before joining Honeywell in 2001 as Director of Global Transportation. He has held a number of executive roles, most recently Vice President of International Transportation and also as Director of Global Services.

Before joining Wal-Mart, he was the Vice President of Product Development for i-Scope, an Internet-based start-up of global order fulfillment systems and, prior to that, spent 15 years with global industry leaders in transportation such as Sea-Land Service, Hapag Lloyd, APL and Cast North America. Mr Kusiciel holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois.

  • Symeon P. Palios, Chairman and CEO, Diana Shipping, Inc.

Mr Palios is a qualified naval architect and engineer and has been actively involved in the shipping industry for his entire working life.

He purchased his first ship the m.v. “SEMIRA” in 1969, after forming Diana Shipping Agencies S.A., a company he served as its Managing Director and President.

After purchasing and operating a number of cargo vessels capable of carrying both dry and wet cargoes for over 30 years, he formed Diana Shipping Inc., and in February 2005 became its Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Since 2011, Mr Palios has been a Board Member of the “Maria Tsakos” Foundation which is closely involved in matters affecting maritime technology and the marine environment.

  • William (Bill) Payne, Vice Chairman, NYK Line (NA), Inc., and Vice President, NYK Ports, LLC.

Mr Payne took his first maritime job as a relief summer deckhand in 1973 on a newsprint carrier calling at mills in western British Columbia and returning to San Francisco and the newspaper industry in his native California.

Following graduation from UC Berkeley in 1976, Mr Payne joined the San Francisco office of Kerr Steamship Company in 1978. Then in 1989 he was recruited to NYK Line (North America) which was in the process of opening its own offices in lieu of using a general agent.

Promoted to Vice President of Liner Operations and Customer Service in 1999, in 2006 he became Senior Vice President of Marketing, Pricing, and Trade management for the Transpacific and Transatlantic services for NYK Line.

In 2008 Mr Payne became COO and Executive Vice President rising in 2011 to President of NYK Line (North America).

  • Christopher (Chris) J. Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO, American Bureau of Shipping, Inc.

Mr Wiernicki is an internationally recognized naval architect and business leader.

He joined the American Bureau of Shipping in 1993 and has served in many positions in the organisation. Prior to American Bureau of Shipping, Mr Wiernicki was President and CEO of Designers and Planners Inc., one of the leading naval architecture firms in the US.

Mr Wiernicki holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt, a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from George Washington University.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Joe Hughes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager of the American P&I Club.

A past President and current Director of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, Mr Hughes was himself honoured in the 2011 International Maritime Hall of Fame and is a well known figure in the marine insurance industry internationally.

 

Notes For Editors

About the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey

Although it has served the port since 1873, the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey can trace its beginnings back to the early 1860s when the Merchants Exchange and News Association collected and distributed information concerning ships’ sailings and arrivals.

It provided the most updated information of New York’s ships’ positions as they travelled, as well as other maritime information, and became known as the Pine Street News Room, building up a good reputation for reliable shipping news.

As maritime activity in New York flourished, the need for more information exchange increased and the Maritime Association of the Port of New York was formally opened in February 1873.

The organisation’s usefulness gained prestige and, in 1879, it became Lloyd’s of London’s United States ship intelligence representative.

In 1944 the Maritime Association created the Joint Committee on New York Port Protection, which joined the United States Coast Guard and Navy to protect piers, ships, and cargo from damage as, by this year, more ships travelled through the New York port than any other in the world.

In 1982 the Maritime Association completed the renovation of the Statue of Liberty, the great symbol of American freedom.

Every year the Association hosts the acclaimed International Maritime Hall of Fame Awards, in the early years at the Statue of Liberty Island, then at the World Trade Center’s Windows On the World and at the United Nations.

Today, through its marine intelligence staff, the Association works 24 hours a day, providing ship traffic information through its PINS System (Port Information Network System) that announces ship arrivals and departures with real-time data through a network of computer systems easily accessible for Association members.

 

Filed Under: The American Club
Next Page »