Page 6: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2005)

I love the opportunity to have a person on the cover of Maritime Reporter, for as often as we discuss vessel design, machinery technology and legislation within these pages, it is people, of course, that are the heart and soul of the maritime business. Don’t get me wrong, I, as much as the next guy, am thrilled to step aboard some of today’s true modern marvels and examine construction techniques and capabilities that would have been thought impos- sible only decades ago. However I’m equally intrigued by the people who envision, design, build and operate these machines.

In this edition I’m pleased to present information on one of the industry’s pio- neers, R.G. LeTrouneau, who was central to the design, construction and opera- tion of mobile platforms for the offshore oil industry. The story on LeTourneau’s first jack-up rig, built 50 years ago, starts on page 28.

People are central to this edition’s main feature, the Question & Answer with some of the world’s leading classification societies, including: Todd Grove of

ABS, Bernard Anne of BV, Fritz Grennemann of GL, Alan Gavin of LR and

Ugo Salerno of RINA.

Classification societies, justly or not, have become a lightning rod for criticism in recent years. When a ship breaks up and sinks — as rare of an occurance as that may be today — the mainstream media grabs tight and quickly looks for a destination to assign blame. Often lost, or simply ignored, are the tremendous strides our industry has made in regards to safe, efficient and environmentally sound navigation of the world’s waterways — initiatives often eminating from class. And where there is often a maze of owners, managers and charterers to navigate, the most expedient doorstep to drop blame seemingly is that of the classification society. Each of these executives, in a forthright and often revealing manner, discuss the inherent successes, shortcomings and challenges they face every single day to ensure the shipping industry’s integrity and future.

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No. 8 Vol. 67

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Business Publications

Audit of Circulation, Inc. 33 Communications 43 Finland 46 Deck Machinery 47 Repair & Conversion Facilities 52 Buyer’s Directory 55 Classifieds 56 Ad Index

On the Cover: Classification Societies today play a more critical role than ever in ensuring safe, efficient marine transporta- tion. The business of ship classification, however, faces many hurdles. Read the opinions of the world’s ship classification leaders starting on page 18.

Editor’s Note www.marinelink.com [email protected]

On the Cover

Circle 200 on Reader Service Card

Coming in Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

September 2005

The Marine Propulsion Annual

Offshore Production System Technology • Software Solutions

Annual Internet Resources Guidebook

October 2005

The Marine Design Annual

MEGAYACHTS Marine Salvage Maritime Security Products Annual

CADCAM Suppliers Guide Country Focus: Germany www.marinelink.com 6 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

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