Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2014)

www.marinelink.com 41

Balancing commercial responsibility with regulation is absolutely essential to ensure proper maintenance and safe operation of ships, despite a decrease in vessel earnings. Having surpassed 100 million gross tons ear- lier this year, one of the challenges we face is managing our fl eet growth while maintaining the same level of quality, reputation and service. CM In shipping, as in other industries, inno- vative companies can turn challenge into opportunity.

An example of that can be seen in the Liberian Regis- try’s response to continual pressure exerted on German shipowners by their national association (VDR) to reg- ister 30 percent of their fl eets under an EU fl ag. Most

German owners prefer the Liberian fl ag, and a large percentage of the Liberian fl eet is linked to German owners. So, as part of its commitment to supporting its clients in all circumstances, YCF Maritime, the parent organization of LISCR, LLC, has created a Luxem- bourg-resident sister organization - EuroFlag Services

S.à.r.L - to carry out ship registration and management services for shipowners seeking to register vessels un- der the Luxembourg fl ag.

This option allows owners the status of having an EU fl ag, while still retaining LISCR’s service, expertise and technical know-how.

How has your organization invested recently? TX As mentioned above, one of our recent challenges is managing fl eet growth while maintain- ing the same level of quality, reputation and service.

While the RMI Registry’s robust network of offi ces, the largest among any registry, allow for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we are always keenly aware of enhancing and leveraging technology so we are able to maintain, and if possible, improve service overall. The RMI Registry fi rst decentralized its regis- tration services, and since has decentralized all aspects including regulatory affairs, technical, marine safety and seafarer’s identifi cation to worldwide offi ces. This was done through an electronic platform and database that keeps all of the offi ces interconnected. Since we live in an age of constant technological change, it is imperative that we review and monitor the technol- ogy we utilize and make updates as quickly as possible to ensure all worldwide offi ces are able to operate in a timely fashion, and where possible, provide clients with better access to information. One of the most re- cent initiatives is to further decentralize the production of Offi cer Certifi cates (OCs) and Seafarer Identifi cation and Record Books (SIRBs). While all offi ces are able to accept documentation and issue a Certifi cate of Receipt of Application (CRA), only the Reston, Piraeus, Hong

Kong, Ft. Lauderdale and Mumbai offi ces are able to issue OCs and SIRBs. It is anticipated that the London offi ce, in the fall of this year, will also be able to issue

OCs and SIRBs.

SOHRE TURBOMACHINERY® INC. 0RQVRQ0DVV86$?7HO ,1)2#62+5(785%2&20?:::62+5(785%2&20 $UH6WUD\(OHFWULFDO&XUUHQWV 'HVWUR\LQJ<RXU0DFKLQHU\"

Sohre SHAFT GROUNDING (EARTHING) BRUSHES are used on propeller shafts, turbines, generators, electric motors, gears, pumps, etc. Failure to properly ground (earth) rotating shafts can result in expensive damage to seals, bearings, or other critical components.
?6HOI&OHDQLQJ
?2SHUDWHGU\RUZLWKRLO
?*ROGVLOYHUEULVWOHV
?:RUNLQJSDUWVDUHUHPRYDEOH during operation
?%UXVKLQWHUQDOVDUH insulated from casing
?9ROWDJHDQGFXUUHQWPRQLWRUV are available
?/LWWOHRUQRPDLQWHQDQFH © 2013 Sohre Turbomachinery, Inc. “Greek shipowners invested around $13 billion in 2013, and already $5 billion in Q1 2014.”

Theo Xenakoudis, International Registries, Inc.

MR #7 (32-41).indd 41 7/3/2014 9:33:16 AM