Page 24: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Mar/Apr 2018)

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Dubai Maritime Cluster

Credit: Dubai Maritime Cluster Offce resistance to it from the shipowners. We have seen the number “The whole sector is now more cost aware and conscious of of 3D scans double last year compared to 2016, but many com- credit terms, so we are not seeing the same sort of prices that panies are still planning on leaving it until the last minute. One were there before,” Daniel Vikstrom, Vice President Marine contract we signed in 2016 for ten vessels has been postponed Services Middle East at Inchcape explains. “It is no longer several times and they will probably pick it up again in 2023 to based on service levels and personal relationships, but purely carry out the installation. We have scanned the vessels, carried out on price with many companies. As an example, the average conceptual design but it has been on hold until the last minute.” charge for a tanker call into Dubai is now $500 down from

Plumtree says that shipowners are still hoping that they will around $2,400 before the oil price dropped.” be able to avoid the installation. “While there is this general ac- One of the major challenges established agents face is that there ceptance, shipowners are still thinking that at some point there are no barriers to entry into this industry. “If I wanted to I could may be a change in the regulations and vessels of a certain age resign my position, get in my car and drive to Fujairah and apply may be exempted. The problem with BWM is that the technol- for a license and set up as an agent with very little overheads,” ogy has still not been proven; it’s out there and installed on Vikstrom adds. “There are more and more smaller companies many vessels now but is still an unknown factor about how it emerging that will not be able to cope in the long run. The trend operates. There is no return on investment for a BWM system, will be that there will be some consolidation with the big three it is purely a cost. You can’t charge more because you have a probably ending up with around 15 percent of the market each.”

BWM system because it will be a requirement.”

Local Port, Global Reach

Managing the Market With a seat at the grownups table at IMO, and world class

When it comes to shipping services, being able to handle an facilities packaged in a high tech service package, the Dubai account anywhere in the world is a great asset. With 300 of- Maritime Cluster is determined to further develop an already fces in 70 countries Inchcape Shipping Services are in prime impressive regional logistics hub, into one of the world’s top position with that regard. Their offce in Dubai handles the shipping destinations. Leveraging global vendors, solid local two key ports in Dubai and is the pivot for their Middle East infrastructure and regional relationships, they are well on their operations. It’s just more reason that Dubai is rising to meet way to doing just that. The Dubai Maritime Vision 2030 initia- the global logistics challenge. tive, launched just four years ago, is already yielding fruit. The

One of three global maritime service suppliers – along with next twelve years therefore promise to be even more exciting.

Ulstein Ship Services and Gulf Agency Company – together they capture 15 percent of the global market – each with fve percent. However, their tightest competitors are not the other

Mark Venables

The Author two global companies but the local companies who are often is an experienced maritime journalist and editor that has covered the sector for over 20 years for both stronger and more fexible. In the Middle East region that is national press and maritime trade publications.

Kanoo Shipping and Sharaf.

24 Maritime Logistics Professional March/April 2018 | |