Fairsky in Athens is a global operator of 13 bulk carriers – five of the vessels to DNV class. Fairsky has some 400 crew members, there are 25 employees at its headquarters and the average age of the fleet is only eight and a half years. The vessels have an excellent Port State Control record, with almost no deficiencies and no detentions at all, and we asked the company president Liveris S. Stergiou how Fairsky can maintain such a healthy record.

“We try to keep our ships in good shape by the way we operate them. We ensure that our crews are up to our company standard by continuous training with regard to safety, security operational and technical matters. Training is conducted either onboard by visiting the vessels on a regular basis or by training seminars in the office here or in Odessa. It is important for us that all crew members operate within our guidelines,” says Stergiou. “But, equally important,” he adds, “is that our managers, including myself, have been with the company for a long time.” He has been with the group for 31 years, and the technical manager, Pavlos G. Perakis, has been some 24 years along with most the company’s senior staff.
“Secondly,” adds Stergiou, “we place great importance on the human factor on board. When we purchased six vessels from Sovcomflot, we also got Ukrainian crew members for the first time. We have trained them to our company standards and this experience has been very good for us. We trusted them and now they trust us.
“Thirdly, we do our best to apply preventive maintenance. We know for a fact, for instance, which engine parts will need to be replaced at which time, and we ship parts around the world to where our ships are. Also we visit every vessel every three to six months in order to find out what the crew and vessel really need.”
When asked about the current flamboyant bulk carrier market with steeply climbing rates, Stergiou points to the little crystal ball on his conference table. “It is like looking into the ball to predict how it goes. The rates are high right now, but just a look at past history shows that rates can also nosedive fast. We are happy to enjoy the market as long as it lasts, but there are after all newbuildings coming out and the growth in the world economy is plus minus zero.”
Finally, we discussed the relations between Fairsky and DNV and Stergiou points to the long business relationship: “We have a long tradition of working with DNV – we have been dealing with the DNV office in Piraeus ever since I can remember. Actually this is since 1979,” he adds. “If you cannot trust your business partners, there will be no business. With some 40% of the Fairsky ships to DNV class, there must be some trust in the relationship.”
Magne.A.Roe@dnv.com

Date: 12 February 2008