Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2020)

SHIP CLASSIFICATION & COVID-19

On COVID-19 and the newbuild orderbook: “Clarkson’s revised its forecast for 2020 from 71mGT in its October forecast to 39mGT in the latest March forecasts, a 45% reduction.”

Nick Brown, Marine and Offshore

Director, Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register vising new methods of working virtually changing trade patterns themselves could exactly what hit us, we quickly engaged and remotely in real-time. Keeping pace impact the industry for the coming years. our emergency protocol in various loca- with operational changes and clients’ “As the availability and access to dry- tions,” said Ørbeck-Nilssen. “It’s im- needs in the face of the COVID-19 pan- docks and maintenance teams is impact- pressive to see how employees are work- demic is rewriting the rules for all of us. ed, LR is actively encouraging regulators ing out of their homes and traveling to

The pandemic is driving classifcation to and the other Recognized Organizations vessels; our employees are extremely deliver more condition-based versus cal- to establish a uniform approach on the fexible, motivated and dedicated to their endar-based surveys, and it also is accel- postponement of ship surveys,” said work. This is something money cannot erating the modernization and upgrade of Nick Brown, Marine and Offshore Di- buy.”

SOLAS.” rector, Lloyd’s Register. “Clearly, CO- According to Wiernicki, ABS was

But while most feel pain, some sectors VID-19 has had an impact on new ship prepared to weather the COVID-19 have enjoyed gain, notably the tanker orders and construction schedules, with storm due to the strategic investments market which has beneftted by the plum- Clarkson’s revising its forecast for 2020 in people, processes and technologies. meting price of oil and an oil production from 71mGT in its October forecast to “During times like this, it is helpful to spat between Russia and Saudi Arabia 39mGT in the latest March forecasts, a have a clearly defned purpose, and ABS which effectively took massive amounts 45% reduction.” certainly does,” said Wiernicki. “We are of tankers out of trade routes for oil stor- doubling down on our commitment to in- age at sea. novating with technology and digital ser-Prepping for the ‘Black Swan’ “At the opposite end of the scale are While many larger organization plan vices to respond to the challenges our cli- cruise lines, which are banned from op- for business disruption and Black Swan ents and members face, and on assisting erating,” said Ørbeck-Nilssen. “Over the events, the sheer size, scope and dura- the industry in the new normal we will last four or fve years I’ve talked about tion of COVID-19 took most by surprise. all face once the mitigation measures are tectonic shifts in markets, regulation and “I am doubtful that anybody can truly eased.” technology, and it’s interesting to see say they were prepared for this specifc To that end, ABS has expanded its now how true these tectonic shifts are event,” said Ørbeck-Nilssen. “Most pro- remote survey options, including the affecting shipping. As 2019 drew to an fessional organizations like DNV GL run majority of annual class surveys. Si- end, we had no clue what was looming a regular risk assessment of operations; multaneously it launched guidance on just a few weeks ahead; struggles that we did not identify a pandemic, of this sanitizing and decontaminating marine could potentially endure to 2021 and be- scope, as a risk.” and offshore assets exposed to CO- yond.” But once it became clear that ‘busi- VID-19, and developed a risk-based

While the current feet of ships and ness as usual’ was no more, the mecha- framework to help organizations put to- crews face their own unique challenges, nism to operate differently was engaged gether a proactive plan to restart opera- looking forward at the likely dramatic almost immediately. “Once this pan- tions on the other side of the pandemic.

reduction of the newbuild orderbook and demic hit, even though we weren’t sure While most tout investments in ad- 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • May 2020