BIMCO has established a new Ship Manager Advisory Panel following the success of regional advisory panels already set up in countries including Germany and Greece. The aim of the panel is to create a forum for top level executives to discuss developments and challenges facing ship manager members. The panel will also be used to inform participants about BIMCO’s ongoing work.
On 2 November 2021, the first BIMCO Ship Manager Advisory Panel meeting took place, hosted by the panel’s Chairperson, Kishore Rajvanshy, Managing Director of Fleet Management in Hong Kong (Fleet Management is also a member of InterManager) . The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 21 April 2022 and the main topic for discussion is expected to be an update of the coming review of BIMCO’s ship manager contracts.The agenda at future meetings could include important topics such as contractual issues, new IMO regulation, bunker issues and the security situation in Nigeria.
The Panel will facilitate dialogue among the ship managers and create input for BIMCO’s ongoing work. BIMCO will therefore channel the insight from the panel meetings into BIMCO’s work, including the BIMCO committee structure.
At the first meeting one of the main topics was the EU ETS proposal, which leaves the responsibility for compliance with the ship manager. The other main topic at the panel meeting was the challenges related to crew change. Around 20 of BIMCO’s ship manager members participated, exchanging views and insight.
“It is an honour to be named Chairman of BIMCO’s newly formed Ship Manager Advisory Panel. Ship managers are uniquely positioned in the value chain - we are intimately aware of the key issues and concerns among ship owners, and we’re able to leverage the depth and breadth of our expertise and experience to help drive change and tackle the big challenges confronting our industry,” says Rajvanshy.
“I applaud BIMCO for taking note of this and broadening its agenda to include issues that are important to ship managers worldwide, and I am confident this will only strengthen the organisation’s representation and mission moving forward,” Rajvanshy added.
Details about the new Panel
- Meets online twice a year, with ad hoc meetings as required
- Provides a forum for open dialogue and inspiration
- Delivers input to the BIMCO committees
- Invites industry experts to attend meetings when necessary
- Operates under the Chatham House rule
All ship managers within the BIMCO membership can participate if at top executive level.
The new panel initiative is part of BIMCO’s ambition to strengthen its engagement with members in addition to its many committees. Regional advisory panels, including those in Germany and Greece - the two countries with the most BIMCO members - have been a success and will be developed further.
For more information, please contact Deputy Secretary General Michael Lund mlu@bimco.org.
