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New Dual Leadership at Hansa Mare
ON BOARD interviews the Management Board
Thorsten Mackenthun and Dr. Andreas Opatz, Managing Directors of the Hansa Mare Reederei
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In addition to Thorsten Mackenthun (born in 1959) Dr. Andreas Opatz (born in 1963) now joins the Man-aging Board of the Hansa Mare Reederei. Thorsten Mackenthun has already worked for the shipping company for 14 years, over seven of those as a member of the Management Board. Dr. Andreas Opatz, who took over the executive functions of Dr. Meier-Hedde, has been appointed Managing Director of Hansa Mare Reederei. ON BOARD spoke with the new dual leadership.
ON BOARD:
Mr. Mackenthun, Mr. Opatz, you have been jointly man-aging the business activities of Hansa Mare Reederei for two months. How has your cooperation worked out so far?
Thorsten Mackenthun:
Very well, we knew each other from a few shipping events. Our cooperation within the corporate management is set up such that our responsibilities intermesh, but as is generally customary, we have assigned the respective areas of responsibility directly to the persons. Mr. Opatz assumes responsibility for ship operation, technical inspection, crewing, insurance as well as finance & controlling. Chartering, charter markets, capital market activities and corporate communication fall within my scope of responsibility.
Dr. Andreas Opatz:
We maintain reg-ular contact. In addition to discussing daily issues, there is a fixed day every week to exchange information, to coordinate the work of the individual departments and to plan our next steps. The cooperation is very intensive and constructive.
OB:
Chartering and operation of the container vessels are the core business of Hansa Mare Reederei. The demands here are increasing constantly. How do you see the future development of these segments?
T. M.:
Chartering and operation are closely connected to each other. Charterers focus solely on the performance of the vessels, i.e. more specifically compliance with the schedule and avoidance of “off hire” times! A logical consequence follows from this: if the ships perform well, the charterer is satisfied and there is a chance of extending the charter contract.
A. O.:
However, good performance necessitates constant, reliable vessel maintenance based on foresighted planning. Ships are technical goods that have to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The goal is to approach this ideal as closely as possible. The Hansa Mare Fleet has shown good to above-average performance to date.
T. M.:
In addition, due to increasing mergers on the part of charterers, there is a future trend towards a declining number of charterers. Long-term performance of the vessels, constant contact to the charterer and a transparent information policy form the basis for cooperation based on trust, particularly in times of weaker market development. Then it is not only the price that is decisive, but also how thick or thin the “File” between the shipping company and charterer is. The thinner it is, the fewer the prob-lems and consequently the better the chance of extending employment. Chartering has not only been purely a business transaction for many years, but the owner also has the specific function of offering solutions to his customers, the liner carriers. A very complex and varied field that requires more than specialist skills if you want to perform professionally. The focus is on technical and economic concepts, financing, environmental regulations, etc. That is actually the cue for operation – like I said: it all intermeshes.
OB:
Mr. Opatz, maritime shipping organisations are intensively preoccupied with tighter environmental regulations and safety measures. What challenges has the shipping company already targeted and which ones will it have to tackle in future?
A. O.:
In the area of environmental protection we are already undergoing process of change. Far-reaching resolutions for lowering the emissions of ship engines were adopted at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the United Nations at the beginning of April 2008. In particular sulphur emissions (SOx) and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are to be curbed to a greater extent according to a specified timetable. Furthermore, a decision has been made to find a scheme for reduction of greenhouse gases (CO2) by the end of 2009.
Another major step is the revision of Annex VI to the International Marpol Convention (which went into force on 19th May 2005), which provides for strict limits to sulphur concentration in fuels. We have already tackled these increased requirements. The container vessels of the Hansa Mare Fleet are technically equipped such that it is possible to change over to a special low TBN oil while using low-sulphur fuels with a sulphur concentration less than 1.1 %. As a result, Hansa Mare vessels can be operated worldwide without restriction – even with respect to the expected introduction of ECA (Emission Control Areas). All ships of the Hansa Mare Fleet are certified in accordance with MARPOL Annex IV and VI (pollution due to wastewater and exhaust emissions).
OB:
How are the crews prepared for these challenges? What training measures does Hansa Mare Reederei offer?
A. O.:
Maritime shipping currently has a great need for junior nautical staff. The Navigation faculty at the Hochschule Bremen offers a course of studies “Engineer with a Qualification in Economics for Maritime Transport” that involves two practical semesters. The related traineeships required are provided to the students or cadets in this context on all container vessels of the Hansa Mare Reederei.
T. M.:
In addition to national initiatives for educating and training junior staff, the members of the Bremen Shipowners’ Association – and thus Hansa Mare as well – are financing an endowment university chair for five years. This commitment enables the Bremen University of Applied Sciences to expand capacity in the Nautical Science Department from 67 to 107 first semester places a year at present. (Editorial note: Mr. Mackenthun has been chairman of the Bremen Shipowners’ Association since July 2007)
A.O.:
Hansa Mare Reederei regularly conducts a Senior Officers’ Training Seminar (SOTS) for our nautical officers. It took place in Bremen only recently, on 20th and 21st May, with the focal points “Navigation in Adverse Weather Conditions“ and “Maritime Safety and Security Environment“. Furthermore, topics and novelties from the shore organisation are treated.
OB:
What changes will international maritime shipping and Hansa Mare Reederei be faced with in the coming years?
T. M.:
Maritime shipping has always been dynamic. Introduction of the container over 50 years ago revolutionised world trade and was thus the motor of the world economy. In future it will be important to develop new schedule and infrastructure concepts for Super-Post-Panmax vessels so as to take additional environmentally sound measures like reducing emissions, even though maritime shipping is already the most economical and ecological mode of transportation today, based on quantity transported.
A. O.:
The growing fleet requires entirely new qualification concepts since new engine technologies necessitate high-tech know-how. New personnel markets have to be developed with the corresponding comprehensive training. Maritime shipping can model itself after aviation and provide several simulator training courses a year. Exact maintenance programmes for cost-conscious management must be optimised with regard to costs, availability and wear. This means we are moving ahead and there is a lot to do.
OB:
We would like to thank both of you for your time and the informative interview.
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(ON BOARD 56) - Integrated Terminal-Ship System
(ON BOARD 55) - Precision Work – Stable Stowage
(ON BOARD 54) - New Dual Leadership
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