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Founder: John J. O?Malley 1905 - 1980 Charles P. O?Malley 1928 - 2000 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News (ISSN # 0025-3448) is published monthly by Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rates at New York, NY 10199 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send notification (Form 3579) regarding undeliverable maga- zines to Maritime Reporter/Engineering News, 118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010. Publishers are not responsible for the safekeeping or return of editorial material. ©2011 Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 tel: (212) 477-6700; fax: (212) 254-6271ISSN-0025-3448USPS-016-750No. 10Vol. 74 MemberBusiness Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc.www.marinelink.com MARITIMEREPORTER ANDENGINEERINGNEWS All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.Gregory R. Trauthwein, Editor & Associate Publisher [email protected] EDITORIALAsking ?How has the maritime industry most changed for the better or the worse over the course of your career? is a standard fare question in interviews with leading executives from around the globe. From where I sit, as a member of the maritime media for 20 years, if I ask myself thatquestion (which I just did) the answer is: ?Executives tend to be less forthcoming, more careful, more apt to ?toe the company line? instead of telling me how they really feel.? This is not the case, I?m pleased to say, with a pair of interviews that take center stage in this edition, the first with Robert Somerville, Chairman, American Bureau of Shipping, and the second with Dr. René Umlauft, the relatively new head of MAN Diesel & Turbo. In early October Mr. Somerville receives recognition from the Coast Guard Foundation at a black-tie NYC gala, so it seemed an appropriate opportunity to receive from Mr. Somerville, who after a more than 40-year career with ABS is set to retire in 2013, his insights and perspective on some of the more pressing matters fac- ing the industry as a whole, from ever-tightening environmental regulations to the continued economic crisis. While we write often of the cyclical nature of this industry, it is particularly enlightening to hear from a many of Mr. Somerville?s stature and tenure, as he has seen his fair share of ups and down?s. ?One of the advantages of age is that it provides perspective. Difficult as the current market may be, it is not yet anywhere near the disas- trous conditions that all sectors of the maritime industry faced in the late 1970s through the 1980s when we were sending ships to scrap yards right from delivery.? Somerville said. As this is our traditional ?Marine Design Annual? it seemed doubly appropriate to feature Mr. Somerville, as it was ABS which developed and launched ABS SafeHull, a revolutionary suite of structural analysis programs in the early 1990s.The interview with Mr. Somerville starts on page 30, and I?m willing to bet that with a thorough read you will walk away with new information and fresh perspective. We are pleased to present market and technical insights from Dr. René Umlauft of MAN Diesel & Turbo, who I sat with last month in Hamburg at the SMM 2012 exhibition. Chatting with the head of a global power leader is instructive for many reasons, the least of not which is the fact that Dr. Umlauft has been in his current post for now exactly one year, coming to the marine business from the stationary power side, which affords an in- teresting comparison and contrast. He take charge in challenging times, quite unlike five years ago when the large engine maker?s chief concern was a global crankshaft shortage and getting the engines out the door quickly enough.The power companies I find to be great interviews as they touch on every single topic that drives your busi- ness today (no pun intended) including: reduced emissions and fuel consumption, repair and maintenance andautomation. MAN Diesel & Turbo is in the midst of an alteration in which it goes about its global business, expanding facilities and empowering regional teams to get closer with the customers. Read Dr. Umlauft?s thoughts starting on page 8.6Maritime Reporter & Engineering News MR#10 (1-9):MR Template 10/5/2012 12:33 PM Page 6