The Golden Union Shipping Company will shortly be celebrating 28 years of operation in the dry bulk sector. Today, this company, which has more than 25 bulk carriers of close to 2,500,000 tons DWT - predominantly Panamax size but with five modern Capes - is looking to the future with optimism.

Established in Piraeus in 1977 by Theodore Veniamis, it took advantage of two niche markets, the bulk/car carrier market, which at the time was in the process of changing over to PCCs, and the bulk cement market, which was breaking into the Middle East.
Golden Union is a modern company, geared to meet any challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves at any given time. However, it is also a company of tradition and commitment, maintaining as it does the values and experience of generations past, and it remains committed to providing good performance and high quality services to the shipping industry.
Success may be measured in power and accumulated wealth, but to become successful you have to invest in people and leadership; to interact and cooperate creatively and effectively and to motivate your people. This has been Golden Union’s dogma from the beginning and has proven to be its strength time and time again.
The company personnel, both in the offices and on board ships, are trained on a continuous basis, attending special seminars so as to meet the company’s commitment to safety and quality as well as the expectations of shippers and the need to maintain a dominant position in the market.
“DNV has for many years been a provider of good and practical training and training seminars,” says Mr Veniamis.
With its commitment to performance, Golden Union both maintains its equipment and ships and adds new generations of vessels to its existing fleet.
“DNV was chosen to classify the majority of our NB vessels not only because of our good relationship but also, and mainly, because of its commitment to and support in achieving a more robust vessel.”
Mr Veniamis does not only pay lip service to this issue. As Vice Chairman of the powerful Greek Shipowners Union and Vice Chairman of the DNV Greek Committee, he has been most critical and outspoken about the watering down of the Class rules in favour of shipbuilding efficiency. He is currently championing the support for the adoption of goal-based standards and common rules and requirements by Class societies in order to ensure the building of more robust ships, fit for purpose. “…it is very important for the classification societies to have an open line with the shipping industry (not only the shipbuilding industry) before they proceed unilaterally into rule or policy. The shipbuilder may be the one to build a ship, but the owner/operator is the one who will have to live with it, charter it, and maintain and repair it throughout its lifetime.” “..we support the adoption of common rules by all IACS members and shall be very actively involved in the discussions in order to ensure the increase of scantlings and strength and improvement of standards and procedures, for the sake of improving safety and ensuring the protection of the environment.”

Nikolaos.Boussounis@dnv.com

Date: 12 February 2008