Twenty years ago, the maritime industry was just starting to incorporate what then seemed like advanced technologies. Much of today’s regulatory guidance had not been written and the industry was on the precipice of a significant period of change. That change brought with it incredible opportunity and achievements in advancing our industry that we could not have imagined possible. Twenty years on, we find ourselves at another precipice, looking to a future rift with possibility and opportunity. The question we must ask ourselves is – how do we prepare?
International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry have fully embraced a sustainable future for the maritime industry, and we believe that preparing for that future requires collaboration to find solutions that meet the needs of today and support the vision of the future. With 28 offices worldwide, we are in a unique position to collaborate and support research and development projects around the world. Our team members are a part of the cross-sector leadership and collaborative thinking that we believe is necessary to take advantage of the opportunities of the future. This is not a new position for IRI, which provides administrative and technical support to the RMI maritime and corporate registries. For many decades, the RMI Registry has been an industry leader in mapping out the future of shipping and IRI through our work with industry stakeholders, clients, and regulators.
Preparation comes in many forms, and our collaborations with industry stakeholders in the areas of decarbonization, alternative fuels, and new ship designs, coupled with the RMI’s permanent representative and active delegation at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), give RMI owners a voice in the development of future regulations, as well as access to experienced technical teams in the development and application of new technologies. New technologies, regulations, and innovative ideas are coming together to protect our vessels, seafarers, and our fragile marine ecosystem. We see these technologies already in use in our fleet – RMI’s owners and operators are eager to avail themselves of high-quality solutions. Thanks to our involvement and support of research and development projects, the Registry has been well positioned to advise and support on these solutions.
From a compliance perspective, RMI’s long-term commitment to regulatory compliance and high-quality is not new and is highlighted in our excellent port State Control (PSC) record, with an unprecedented 18 years on the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG’s) QUALSHIP 21 program, ranked in the top 10 of both the Paris and Tokyo Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) whitelists, and maintains an excellent record with the Australian Maritime Safety Administration (AMSA). Our company and culture have always been focused on compliance and high-quality vessel operations.
The benefits of a proactive approach to the future are evident throughout our Registry. The most recent Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee (GSCC) report released in March 2022 indicates that the RMI registered significantly more vessels than anyone else in Greece last year. According to the report, the RMI fleet had 1,427 vessels and 59,162,801 gross tons controlled by a Greek company. RMI has also seen significant registrations from the Middle East and Asia, underlining our global strength and service.
Internally, we are transitioning to prepare for the future as well. Earlier this year we opened our Vancouver and Qingdao offices to further support vessel operations and Registry services from Asia and North America. At the end of June 2022, IRI’s long-time COO, John Ramage, will retire after 20 years with IRI and more than 50 in the maritime industry. John has been a stalwart of the maritime industry and someone whose experience we have leaned on time and time again. Looking ahead at this period of change, IRI recognized that having the right team in leadership roles will be critical to helping our clients address the challenges of the future. That is why IRI has promoted Simon Bonnett to Chief Maritime Officer and me as Chief Commercial Officer. Simon will guide the Registry’s Maritime Services Group (MSG), which supports the RMI Registry’s fleet of more than 5,100 vessels from our London office. The MSG assists, supports, and advises clients on new and advanced technologies, as well as provides traditional services such as expert technical support in the busiest ports around the world. In my role as Chief Commercial Officer, I will continue to support owners and operators globally from our Piraeus office, and focus on the Registry’s growth worldwide, with a continued eye toward emerging markets such as the global renewables market. I will also lead the global vessel registration teams and drive projects and expertise in the areas of advanced technology and alternative energies.
Periods of transition are times of great opportunity, but only for those that are prepared and positioned to take advantage of it. RMI owners and operators know that their flag State is capable and qualified to provide the support they need as they innovate their vessels, processes, and technology to meet the future.
