In this edition of DNV Forum you can read about Andreas Sohmen-Pao, CEO of the BW Group, who expects stricter regulations after the Gulf of Mexico blowout. Also inside: Kwon Tae Kim of Hyundai, Joe Corcoran in Wallem, Alexis Dugan de Baudan in AXA
Date: 14 October 2010
Making decisions based on uncertainty is one of the most compelling challenges in corporate leadership, particularly for global players that are exposed to uncertainty and risks in many dimensions.
Asia has been at the forefront of the global economic recovery. DNV Forum takes a closer look at the Asian market.
At the forefront of the global economic recovery has been Asia and the same very much goes for shipping markets. Asia, and in particular China, has been driving demand for energy and commodities. The region is also home to the vast majority of the world's shipbuilding capacity.
"The growth in Asia is impressive, and DNV is eager to make its contribution to companies and governments in ensuring that the growth is sustainable," says Remi Eriksen, newly appointed COO and Head of Division Asia, Pacific & Middle East in DNV. "I am convinced that our services to help customers identifying, assessing and managing risk will be valued - and needed - in the rapid growth of Asian economies."
World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is a breathtaking event, displaying China and all its provinces amidst pavilions of countries from all over the world. World Expo is a place where society and business meet.
"The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is widely expected to lead to tougher regulations with consequences for the whole offshore industry," says Andreas Sohmen-Pao, CEO of the BW Group. He adds that new requirements, if based on thoughtful regulation, can bring the industry forward and generate business opportunities for progressive companies.
In the lobby of Tokyo's NYK building, visitors can study a model of the Super Eco Ship 2030, the container ship design of the future. With eight retractable foil sails and 31,000 m2 of solar cells and solar panels on the side, the Super Eco Ship 2030 is designed to achieve the target of a 69% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030.
After establishing itself in the Korean renewable energy market, Hyundai Heavy Industries went abroad, entering the Chinese wind turbine market. Further expansion plans are in place.
Kwon Tae Kim, Executive Vice President and COO of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., is a firm believer in the renewable energy market. A transition to the renewable energy era seems almost inevitable; he predicts that such a future will come about sooner than expected.
"Close to 70,000 people dead and about 4.8 million people homeless. These were among the consequences of the devastating earthquake in the Sichuan province of China in MAY 2008. However, throughout the catastrophe and its aftermath, energy supply to the disaster-stricken area was stable. "One of the great examples of a successful implementation of pipeline integrity management," says Yang Zupei, a long-time veteran in the field.
CNOOC vice president Zhou Shouwei has followed the Chinese company's progress from offshore novice to major player.
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai visited DNV's headquarters in Oslo when the framework was set for how DNV will work proactively with Petrovietnam and their subsidiary PV Gas to safely and efficiently introduce and distribute LNG within Vietnam.
"Operations at sea do not exist in isolation; they are all part of a larger process. Safety statistics demonstrate that the riskiest operations take place when two or more entities have to work together," says Shravan Rewari, Managing Director of Applied Research International (ARI). This company is taking maritime education to the next level.
After 45 years in the industry, Captain Joe Corcoran, Wallem's Managing Director in Hamburg, has seen his fair share of scary moments. But as he recounts, when a fully loaded tanker hits an uncharted rock in a remote spot, and one noted for its outstanding beauty, the term 'scary' takes on a whole new meaning.
"The financial crisis is a type of crisis that we have never experienced before. My opinion is that the crisis is not over yet," says John Angelicoussis, CEO, Angelicoussis Group of Companies.
"Maran Tankers Management Inc. actively supports the industry initiatives to increase energy efficiency both by operational measures and by the introduction of tested technical innovative solutions," say Stavros Hatzigrigoris, Managing Director of the Oil and Gas tanker units of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group, and Sokratis Dimakopoulos, HSQ manager of MTM.
Founded in 1836, The National Technical University of Athens is the oldest and most prestigious technological educational institution in Greece.
“Part of the work we do for DNV is on the important issue of how to reduce emissions,” says Professor Hailaos N. Psaraftis, who heads the Laboratory for Maritime Transport at the National Technical University of Athens.
“It takes continued efforts in maritime R&D and the education of scientists, engineers and seafarers to ensure the competitiveness of the European maritime industry,” says Professor Apostolos D. Papanikolaou at the Laboratory of ship design, the National Technical University of Athens.
The AXA Group realises that staying ahead of the game in a turbulent and unpredictable global economy requires an ability to constantly adapt to customers’ new expectations and requirements.
The state of Maryland has a renewable portfolio standard, requiring 20% of its electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources by 2022.
According to DNV’s summer students, LNG could easily become the most feasible fuel for short sea shipping. The students’ report was presented in front of an audience of more than 200 people – including shipowners and representatives of the supply industry and Norwegian authorities.
The offshore industry invests considerable amounts in safety; these investments have resulted in a steady improvement in safety performance. Despite this – accidents still happen. Why is this, and what can we do to improve even further?
