Esbjerg: Shockingly the number of seafarers that lose their lives to faulty lifeboat systems is virtually akin to the amount that are saved by the bright orange vessels. The main reason for this tragedy has been blamed on the faulty way lifeboats are released, something that is set to change very soon. Shipowners, bombarded with constant regulation changes, are perhaps unaware just how little time they have to make changes to their lifeboat systems. The IMO’s new requirements for lifeboat release and retrieval systems are included in a number of Maritime Safety Committee resolutions and circulars that specify acceptable hook attributes. All ships are required to comply with the new SOLAS amendment III/1.5 not later than the first scheduled dry-docking after July 1, 2014, but not later than July 1, 2019. Denmark’s Viking Life-saving Equipment is one of the companies offering solutions to this shipowner conundrum.
”Shipowners don’t have long,” warns Viking’s ceo Henrik Uhd Christensen.
Viking has come a long way from its Nordic origins bach when it focused almost exclusively on liferafts. Nowadays it is a diversified global player offering a complete range of safety equipment with a strong focus on marine and offshore evacuation.
Among new kit that it is offering is a dual-approved thermal lifejacket as well as an offshore wind farm work suit.
For Christensen, 42, who has been with Viking since 1992 and occupied the ceo role for the last three years, the key to business success is to meet all the needs of his customers.
“It is clear to us that shipowners are looking for a single-point service provider, who can deliver quality service with fast response times. Even in these financially testing times we experience that they value quality and speed more than global fixed prices,” Christensen says.
Christensen has presided over a dramatic global roll out of offices at 53-year old Viking.
“With the costs and difficulties of port delays receiving growing focus in the shipping industry, we’re putting a lot of effort into ensuring that our shipowner customers can avoid unnecessary waiting, administrative frustrations, or unforeseen expenditure,” Christensen says. “Our shipowner agreements have been providing this level of service for some years now, but we’re always ready to deal with new situations such as the impact of hook retrofit compliance, aiming to achieve the bare minimum of disruption to shipping schedules.” [08/07/13]
