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African AspirationsA differentiated view on the continent
and BBC Chartering’s activities
Intra Europe heavy lifts New lifting record and growing interest
for intra Europe services
No one will be left behindBBC Fuji Captain Hermes on the
rescue of 117 refugees
Partner Magazine of the BBC Chartering Group
Anchored by
excellenceE
ditio
n 1 | 2
014
page 2 | excellence
Content
04 A message from Svend Andersen Outlook 2014 - some promising signs
06 African aspirations On the world’s fastest growing continent
08 Developing business in Africa An exclusive interview with Hendriette Theron-Instinsky
12 Project briefs Heavylift services in Africa and Intra Europe
14 Intra Europe heavylift services BBC Mont Blanc performs 641mt heavy lift – more to come?
16 BBC = Best Business Centerfold Mythology is fascinating – especially if it delivers
real performance
18 The Congo River Crossing Project BBC Chartering’s involvement in a project of
national importance
20 A master’s job: mastering the job An interview with ‘CRX-Captain’ Pavel Gonchar of
the MV Skaftafell
22 More than a job – an attitude Leda shipping provides crewing services for BBC Chartering
24 No one will be left behind BBC Fuji Captain Norbert Hermes on the recent
rescue of 117 refugees
26 Supply chain challenges at ‘guara-lula’ BBC Chartering supports Brazilian oil field development
28 Brazilian award for BBC Chartering BBC as ‘best carrier for specialized cargoes’
29 BBC Chartering Events Q1/Q2 in 2014 Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Antwerp
30 BBC Chartering world map Contact BBC Chartering representatives nearest to you
22
26
7
14
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 3
Dear readers
Welcome back to our winter & spring edition of
‘excellence’. With this issue in your hands we are pleased
to take a closer look at an aspiring African continent, as
you might tell from the cover.
Inside we take the opportunity to talk to our regional
business development expert for Africa, and we present a
recent project where we supported Angola’s Congo River
Crossing project managed by our project division.
We are proud ‘to leave no-one behind’, and report about a
rescue mission of 117 refugees we supported with the BBC
Fuji south of Sicily. This again gives us a good opportunity
to talk about our crewing partners at Leda shipping.
Also inside we present the heaviest lift ever for a BBC
Chartering vessel to date and we are pleased to talk about
our MPP /HL vessels being employed on intra European
heavy-lift services supporting numerous projects.
As a new feature we also test a new format where we
show some project briefs highlighting BBC Chartering’s
assignments in Africa and Europe. We are proud to report
about Brazil where BBC Charting not only delivers for
the Guara-Lula project but also received an important
business award from Guia-Maritimo, a leading national
media resource. In conclusion, in his personal foreword
to this edition, Svend Andersen gives us his short term
outlook on the project shipping industry.
Being in its 9th edition so far, ‘excellence’ tells the BBC
Chartering story in innovative ways to our business
partners. I would like to take the opportunity to thank
the many people that helped to produce this issue.
On the content side these were Hendriette Theron-
Instinsky, Benjamin Nobel, Christoph Krueder, Mykola
Kazadayev, Francesca Oppicini, Capt. Norbert Herems,
Capt. Pavel Gonchar, Matthias Steffens, Janni Larsen,
Viviane Marques, Lena Pollmann, and André Olthuis. On
the production side this issue was supported by Dennis
Bruenings, Lisa Girgott, Sarah Bruton, and last but not
least Christina Kruse. Without the great work of the team
this ‘excellence’ would not be possible. I like to thank all
for their ‘excellence’ engagement and for their efforts to
further develop our partner magazine.
Nevertheless, we are always pleased to receive any
external comments or remarks, to make ‘excellence’ even
more enjoyable, informative, inspiring and entertaining.
Lastly, on behalf of our global team I hope you enjoy this
magazine and stay connected till the next issue.
Warm regards,
Raymond Fisch
‘excellence’ editor
ImprintResponsible for content:
Svend Andersen
Raymond Fisch
Contact and editing:
Raymond Fisch
Suggestions to:
Published by:
BBC Chartering GmbH
Hafenstr. 10b · 26789 Leer · Germany
© BBC Chartering 2014 - All rights reserved
page 4 | excellence
The year 2013 is history and we are looking ahead at a
new year, which may offer us many new opportunities to
learn and grow. I would like to take this opportunity today
to give a brief outlook on the world of project shipping
and what we may expect in the near future.
The breakbulk and project shipping market is still
challenging although growth of the project cargo sector
can be observed on the demand side. There is above
average demand growth in South America, Africa and
Asia. However, competition remains strong on all trades.
Demand for project logistics follows the orders and lead-
times of manufactured components for major projects.
Shop load is slowly increasing but currently ranges
around 50-70% in Asia and Europe and around 65-
90% in North America. Cost issues are still often above
schedule issues, but the situation is reversing here and
there. Forward looking shippers plan and secure capacity
ahead. In some trades we saw shipping rates moving up
by 30-35%.
Fundamental market dynamics need to be observed
carefully. The oil price is an important lead indicator.
We cannot predict the oil price, but the current level
still shows room for improvement to substantiate new
investments. The situation regarding commodity prices
is similar and we look forward for decreasing pressure on
prices here as well. There is some uncertainty, and as we
are confident about a positive signs, we might see a few
challenges in 2014 on that side.
In the past, cost issues have broadly influenced breakbulk
and project cargo logistics, but there are signs that 2014
may show an increase in schedule issues again. With the
fifth consecutive year in this crisis, we can look at a slow
recuperation of a global real economy but we can also
promote a stronger recovery.
As there is light at the end of any tunnel, I like to adopt
a quote of Arthur Ashe saying whatever the situation is,
we have to “start where we are, use what we have, and
do what we can.” This, I am sure will get us ahead. This
“excellence” in your hand today certainly demonstrates
our purpose, conviction, and quality attitude in the world
of BBC Chartering, the world of project shipping.
No matter where, we hope to see you soon. We would be
pleased to welcome you at any of the upcoming events,
be it in Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Santiago or Antwerp.
Sincerely,
Svend Andersen
Chief Executive Officer
» Start where we are,
use what we have, do what we can «
Dear business partners
and friends
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 5
page 6 | excellence
african aspirationsthe world’s fastest growing continent
Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa remained
robust in 2012. Output increased by an estimated 4.7
percent, and projections for 2013–15 forecast growth of
more than 5 percent a year. Poverty has declined, with
the share of people living on less than $1.25 a day falling
from 58 percent in 1996 to about 48 percent in 2010. This
is the promising summary of the World Bank in its most
recent report.
Even “The Economist” reported in February 2013, that
never in the half-century since it won independence from
the colonial powers has Africa been in such good shape.
Its economy is flourishing. Most countries are at peace.
Ever fewer children bear arms and record numbers go to
school. Mobile phones are as ubiquitous as they are in India
and, in the worst-affected countries, HIV infections have
fallen by up to three-quarters.
It is also a great success that life expectancy rose by a
tenth in the past decade and foreign direct investment has
tripled. Consumer spending will almost double in the next
ten years; the number of countries with average incomes
above $1,000 per person a year will grow from less than
half of Africa’s 55 states to three-quarters.
Poverty may have become less visible in Africa’s capitals
but it remains widespread. The battle against hunger has
not been won. The spread of wealth is uneven and winners
from today’s boom all too often rush to fortify their gilded
positions inside guarded compounds. The financiers who
suggest that Africa could soon rival Asia have let their
imaginations run riot. Whereas one is the workshop of the
world, the other almost exclusively exports what grows
in fields or is dug out from below them. About a third of
Africa’s GDP growth comes from commodities. There is
a risk that this will not last as commodity markets have a
habit of collapsing sooner or later. Furthermore, gains in
agricultural commodities may be undermined by climate
change, becoming more irregular. One in five Africans
will be directly affected by 2020. Even as their continent
prospers, many of them will continue to depend on
agriculture and there is little they can do about the threats
to the world’s environment.
And Africa must make the most of two transitions it is now
going through. First-off the move from the countryside to
cities offers the chance of a one-off boost to productivity
both on the farm and in the slums. Africa’s population is
still growing rapidly; it will double to 2 billion by 2050.
This promises a “demographic dividend”, as the number
of workers relative to children and the elderly increases.
The continent must make use of this bulge of labor, and
the savings it produces, for development. If they miss it,
Africans will grow old before they grow rich.
Second-off Africa’s citizens are already striving to become
more productive. Still Africa’s entrepreneurs are often
stymied by the state. The bottom third countries in the
World Bank’s ease-of-business ranking are almost all in
Africa. Their people could easily have better lives; abundant
capital and technology offer big opportunities. The
infrastructure is improving yet there is a risk that useless
regulations create unnecessary bottlenecks. Bureaucrats
and customs officers inflate the cost of getting anything
done. For example, shipping a car from China to Tanzania
costs $4,000, but getting it from there to nearby Uganda
can cost another $5,000.
We can conclude that although Africans deserve the credit
for much positive development. Yet, enormous challenges
remain. The danger is that Africa settles for today’s pace
of change. Only if Africans raise their ambitions still
further will they reach their full potential. They need to
take on the difficult jobs of building infrastructure, rooting
out corruption and clearing the tangle of government
regulation that is still holding them back.
Sources: The Economist; World Bank
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 7
developing business in africa
For the past 5 years, developing business in Africa
has been on the agenda of Hendriette Theron-Instinsky
who works as Global Business Development Officer for
Africa and Europe for BBC Chartering. We took the
opportunity to talk to her on market specifics and oppor-
tunities in Africa, both in her capacity as Business Deve-
loper for the continent, and also as a South African born
global citizen.
page 8 | excellence
Hendriette, thanks for taking the time for this interview.
In recent years, the African economy has been
developing very dynamically. What do you project will
give us important market opportunities in the coming
years?
Hendriette Theron-Instinsky: The transportation of
equipment needed for the oil and gas industry, not just
for the upstream stages but
also midstream and down-
stream, will offer good oppor-
tunities in the coming years.
These projects will be a
basis for countries to invest in
infrastructure programs, power
projects (renewable, hydro, coal
fired power plants, combined
cycle power plants). As soon
as commodity prices rise, new
mining projects will go ahead with not just the
construction of new mines, but also railway lines required
to transport the commodities to the ports.
In my opinion, how fast these projects will be imple-
mented remains to be seen as the future economic
growth of some African countries are closely linked
with the global economy – foreign investment and
development loans are needed for the major projects.
Political stability is another key factor which will greatly
influence these developments.
How does BBC Chartering prepare to participate in the-
se developments?
HTI: We are already involved in these developments. It
is an on-going process in which we have been involved
for years and will be in the future. Most important for our
ongoing success was, and is, the building of strong
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 9
Hendriette Theron-Instinsky
page 10 | excellence
relationships and our reputation of being a reliable
partner. It is important to know the players in the market
and to talk to all of them; the owners and operators of the
projects, the EPC’s and the freight forwarders controlling
these shipments. Understanding the client’s needs, being
flexible, and understanding the culture and regulations
of the countries where we are operating is of utmost
importance in order to be successful.
It is a people’s business and we are selling a service which
is just a small part of the overall supply chain - and
therefore it is wise to not just focus on port to port
services alone, but to see and understand the whole
complexity of logistic services and know that we are a
part of a bigger picture.
Knowing of possible problems our clients and their
suppliers may be confronted with and being prepared
to work together on favourable solutions for all parties
makes the difference for us at BBC.
Today Nigeria, Angola and Algeria account for the lion s
share of the continent’s oil production – which nations
will come next in your view?
HTI: Nigeria, Angola and Algeria will remain strong on
the oil & gas field developments. The gas findings off
the shores of Mozambique & Tanzania are very exciting
ones and there is a scramble to get a piece of the pie.
The majority of the projects in Mozambique and Tanzania
are in exploration/drilling and appraisal stages but with
a clear signal that they will move towards extracting the
gasses. I expect to see big volumes of cargo movements
to these two countries. Congo, Ghana and Uganda have
a few interesting oil & gas field projects in the pipeline for
the future. These countries are also investing in power
projects and infrastructure programs.
You mentioned the infrastructure and energy sectors as
important markets. What are the typical solutions BBC
Chartering is asked to deliver?
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 11
HTI: BBC has a regular sailing to West- and South
Africa, this alone already provides our clients with more
flexibility. Especially when there are smaller parcels with
higher unit weights that need to be shipped to these
regions we have the perfect vessels to handle the heavy
lift operations. We have an excellent comprehension of
the ports and challenges confronting us in some of the
ports we call on a regular basis. Here we can caution
our clients in advance if we suspect complications at
the respective port of call which need to be taken into
consideration. In my opinion the most important aspect
of our service is that we understand how sensitive some
cargoes are and how to optimally handle them.
This especially accounts for the many shipments of
huge transformers which we handle for our customers.
This already starts with the booking stage and the
subsequent preparations for the transport. We have
our own technical department which generates a
method statement showing not just how the units will
be lifted but also where in the vessel they will be stowed
and lashed.This includes calculations for lashing and
acceleration forces during a normal sea voyage. To
complement this we have our experienced port captains
and crew at the points of loading and unloading ensuring
the safe discharging into girder bridge trailers or onto
hydraulic modular trailers in the ports. Basically we
supply transport solutions tailor-made to the specific
needs and requirements of our customers.
What is BBC Chartering’s market approach to African
clients?
HTI: It is all about building relationships based on trust.
The need to identify possibilities, understanding the
needs in the particular market, and develop a sound
business and marketing strategy are key factors. To
understand and respect the cultural environment of the
African countries in which we do business and to adapt
to their service needs.
What are the biggest risks and challenges?
HTI: In general, political turmoil, civil wars, labour
legislation, continuous change in regulations (such as
mining legislation), create uncertainty in the African
marketplace; these in return slow the investments
of foreign companies in Africa. In addition, energy
shortages and poor infrastructure hampers growth
– some of the most promising countries present the
highest risks. Instead of taking a gamble and investing
in Africa, companies would rather invest in other
economies in Asia. A lack of reasonably priced and
reliable power supply remains one of the most binding
constraints to economic growth throughout Africa.
Governments across the continent are working to attract
new trade and foreign investment that will sustain their
rapid economic growth.
What’s your short closing remark regarding all these as-
pirations of Africa in the future?
HTI: Aspirations are great – getting things done, however,
is the real measure of success!
Thanks Hendriette for your heads-up. We wish you all
the best and hope to talk soon again.
page 12 | excellence
project briefs / africa
The Matla Power Station in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a
coal-fired power plant operated by Eskom and consuming the
output from the Matla coal mine. Eskom has embarked on a
refurbishment and replacement program to secure the plant’s
output capacity. Helping this project, the heavy-lifter BBC Mont
Blanc was employed mid 2013 to transport a 320mt heavy SMIT
transformer from Antwerp to Richards Bay.
Project Ikhwezi is set to play an instrumental role in sustaining
the life of the gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery in Mossel Bay. It
involves tapping into gas reserves in PetroSA’s F-O field, which
is located 40km south-east of the F-A production platform
off the south coast of South Africa. BBC Chartering is a proud
supplier of this strategic project and was contracted to transport
offshore cable reels from Newcastle, UK, to Cape Town, South
Africa onboard the BBC Scandinavia.
Matla Power Plant, South Africa
Ikhwezi Project, South Africa
The Mozambique coal mining industry is currently consi-
dered the primary driver for infrastructure development in
the country. Improved logistics infrastructure is necessary to
export raw materials and to make mines successful and compe-
titive. A $22.4-billion program is underway investing in transport
infrastructure and about $9.7-billion in energy and power infra-
structure. In August 2013, the BBC Vesuvius was commissioned
to transport railway infrastructure equipment to Nacala.
In February 2012, Transnet announced a R80bln. upgrade
and expansion investment program for the ports of Richards
Bay and Durban. Both ports are critical hubs for South African
transports and logistics. Supporting these efforts, the BBC
Kibo was assigned to transport two Liebherr LHM550 mobile
harbor cranes (each 408mt) for these projects, which are
designed for the versatile and efficient cargo handling of post-
panamax-sized vessels.
Nacala Mine, Mozambique
Port Expansions, South Africa
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 13
project briefs / intra europe service
The Goliat oil and gas field is located roughly 85km northwest
of Hammerfest in Finnmark and 50km southeast of the Snøhvit
field. The plan for development and operations was approved
in June 2009. Production is expected to start up in the third
quarter of 2014.
Goliat will be developed with subsea templates tied to a circular,
fixed floating production facility with an integrated loading
and storage system. This facility will be partially supplied with
power generated on land, which will reduce the need for local
power generation. It will be adapted to the prevailing climatic
conditions and will satisfy strict HSE regulations. The plan is to
develop the field with 22 wells drilled from eight templates. The
oil will be transported using shuttle tankers.
BBC Chartering is a proud supplier of the Goliat project and is
primarily charged to support logistics for cable reels from Le
Trait, northern France to Hammerfest, Norway. Multiple vessels
were employed on this project so far, amongst them BBC
Germany, BBC Kusan, and BBC Oder.
Goliat Field, Norway
The Dohuk extension project concerns the upgrade of the
existing 500 megawatt (MW) Dohuk power station. Four gas
turbines of 125 MW each should provide a total power upgrade
of 500 MW. The BBC Pearl was used to transport one of the gas
turbines from Antwerp to Iskenderun, Turkey. The BBC Lousiana
was employed to deliver a generator and the BBC Asia brought
other accessories. Via road the cargo went to Northern Iraq.
Dohuk Extension, Iraq
Subsea 7 has won a subsea, umbilicals, risers and flowlines
(SURF) contract to develop the Knarr field, in the Norwegian
sector of the North Sea. The scope of Subsea 7 is to carry out
engineering, procurement, construction and installation works
of a four kilometer flow-line containing production, water
injection and service lines. The BBC Everest transported a total
of 12 riser anchors (6x 90mt, 6x 126mt) for the project from
Aalborg, Denmark to Floro, Norway.
Knarr Field, Norway
page 14 | excellence
intra europe
heavy lift services
It’s not a secret that BBC Chartering meanwhile
operates one third of its fleet in a segment capable of
lifting 500mt and beyond.
This not only covers broad logistic challenges for charterers
on inter-continental trades, but also provides distinctive
heavy lift services on intra European trades. “There are
interesting options for charterers if you look at the cargo
intake and heavy lift capabilities of our vessels,“ says Matteo
Fortuna, Managing Director of BBC Chartering in Genoa,
Italy. “Often, some clients don’t have heavy lift vessels on
the radar and miss out on such transport solutions which
may prove very competitive even on regional trades.”
Fortuna says, “Our capabilities add a lot of value to the
Intra Europe heavy lift market. I am sure we can prepare
for more opportunities like the recent BBC Mont Blanc
shipment we did in September.”
The transport he refers to has been a one of kind so far, as
it concerns the single heaviest piece of cargo which has
been ever handled by BBC Chartering: a 641mt reactor!
The piece was 40m long, about 8m wide and needed to
be shipped together with a second lighter reactor of “only
568mt” to Ilychevsk port in the Black Sea, Ukraine. With
her 700mt lifting capacity, the BBC Mont Blanc was just
the right vessel to take on the heavy weights; loading them
directly from the Fagioli owned barge ‘Ticino’ onto the
Vessel type Deadweight Lifiting capacity
BBC Congo 17,000 dwt 500 mt
BBC Europe 7,500 dwt 500 mt
BBC Everest 9,282 dwt 700 mt
BBC Amber 14,800 dwt 800 mt
BBC Winter 19,320 dwt 800 mt
Current heavy lift series 500 - 800 mt lifiting capacitiy
vessel’s deck. Here the reactors were safely fastened, each
resting on multiple heavy duty flat-racks to spread the
heavy load on the weather deck. “Each reactor was loaded
through basket lift and we needed to employ both cranes
and a stability pontoon,“ said Fortuna. The discharge was
executed in the same way, and after safe unloading, the
reactors made their way to their final destination, the
Rosneft refiniery in Novokuibyshevsk.
More examples for Intra Europe heavy lifts
In January 2013, BBC Chartering safely transported a
470mt heavy Liebherr crane from Valencia to Tarragona on
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 15
board the BBC Kibo; another member of the Everest family,
which is like the BBC Mont Blanc, a 700mt lifter. Again, the
BBC Mont Blanc was hired this August to ship a giant tunnel
boring machine from Bilbao and Fos to Porto Empedocle,
Sicily where the equipment is needed to build highway
infrastructure. Other good examples for Intra-Europe
heavy lift services were the shipments of heavy generators
from Rotterdam to St. Petersburg on the HR Recognition
(2x 250mt cranes) and the BBC Rushmoore (2x 350mt).
The generators weighed 341mt and 320mt and were
shipped with accessory equipment to their final destination
in Russia; one going to the power plant Yuzhnouralskaya
GRES, and the other to the power station Mosenergo TEZ.
Comparing apples with apples
Heavy lift capabilities add value for many more projects
when charters compare and realize the economics behind
a reliable solution over a putative “cheap” solution. “There
are sad but true cargo stories out there and charters
eventually learn where they encountered losses. In the end,
they will not remember how cheap a job was done, but
how well it was done,” says Jens Meilvang, Chief Chartering
Officer from Leer. “We are happy to talk more about this
with our clients so they will really be able to compare
apples with apples, but please before (!) they actually sign
a contract.”
page 18 | excellence
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 19
especially if it deliversreal performance
mythology is fascinating
page 18 | excellence
The Congo River Canyon Crossing project (CRX) is
Angola’s most important project; designed to supply
natural gas from two offshore operations (Block 0 and
Block 14) to Angola’s gas liquefaction plant “ALNG”. As
a project of national importance, it is the cornerstone of
Angola’s plans to develop and commercialize its natural
gas resources, as well as reduce gas flaring.
The construction of the liquefaction plant began in 2008
west of the city of Soyo in the northwest corner of Angola.
The facility is designed to process 1.1 billion cubic feet of
natural gas per day, 5.2 million metric tons per year. Gas
from offshore fields will be piped into the plant, which will
supply up to 125 million cubic feet of natural gas per day
to Sonangol for Angolan distribution. Project partners
are Chevron (36.4 percent interest), Sonangol (22.8
percent interest), Eni, Total and BP (with 13.6 percent
interest each). BBC Chartering’s project division engaged
in providing pipe feeding solutions for this project and
project coordinator Christoph Krüder reports about his
experiences.
SAIPEM as turnkey contractor
The Congo River Crossing (CRX) includes an 81-mile
pipeline originating at South Nemba platform and
terminating at ALNG. A major share of the project went to
Saipem, a well known international turnkey contractor in
the oil and gas industry. Through a contract awarded by
the Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC), Saipem was
asked to provide engineering, procurement, construction
and installation of three subsea pipelines (with a total
length of 110 kilometers), the subsea spools, as well as
trenching and crossing works in water depths up to 117
meters. BBC Chartering’s Christoph Krüder said, “CRX
project execution started in Q4/2012 and it was planned
to be completed by the end of 2013. To support the
logistics, we were the selected maritime transport partner
to provide pipe feeding and offshore storage solutions for
the first lot of the project called CRX I.”
Pipe feeding and offshore storage solutions
It was in December 2012, when BBC Chartering got involved
in helping deliver the logistic spread of the assignment.
Three vessels were supplied: the BBC Germany, as “pipe
congo rivercrossing project
mother vessel”, mainly in charge of executing discharge
operations in safe offshore waters, and two “pipe feeder
vessels”, the MV Saxum and MV Barbarossa, which were
tasked to supply pipes from the mother vessel to a pipe
laying barge. “All three vessels commenced the project by
loading pipes in Leith, Scotland and then sailed to Luanda
Bay, Angola to provide onsite services as required,” said
Christoph.
The unit which needed to be served by the feeder vessels
was the S355, a barge for shallow water pipe-laying works.
In order to stay in position, the S355 barge employs a
4-point-mooring-system, i.e. an anchor and winch system
that keeps the vessel in position at sea. Through this
system, the barge can only berth vessels of a maximum
length up to 83 meters to fit between the mooring lines.
This led to the selection of the MV Barbarossa and MV
Saxum. With a length of 82.5 meters they were the most
suitable candidates for the job. “During this project spread
BBC Chartering vessels feedered a total of 10,000mt of
pipes until February 2013,” remarked Christoph.
more in the pipeline?
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 19
Mainly charged with managing the commercial task of
the project, Christoph Krüder said “The vessel crews
were instrumental for the successful onsite delivery of
the assignment. We were very grateful for the great
cooperation in this project.” These were the teams
around Capt. Nikolay Gombalevsky (BBC Germany), Capt.
Bogdan Kowalski (MV Saxum), and Capt. Igor Ivannikov
(MV Barbarossa).
Services were continued on CRX II
The completion of this first project, demonstratedthe
performance of vessels and crews, and BBC Chartering
won another share for the continuation of the CRX project
in June 2013. This time three “mother vessels” were
supplied by BBC Chartering to support the installation
works of the pipe layer CASTORO 7. As the works had
to be carried out in deeper waters further offshore,
requirements for safe marine operations needed to be
met. Christoph Krüder said, “this time, we had to focus on
the mother vessels only. So called platform supply vessels
(PSVs) with a DP system had to be employed as feeding
units by the client.”
The BBC Chartering provided vessels were the MV
Skaftafell, MV BBC Thames and MV HR Marion. Starting
July 2013, the vessels loaded a total of about 35,000mt
of pipes in Leth, Scotland before making their way to
Angolan waters. “Also this time the challenge was that
lifting trials had to be done to test a potential new pipe
transfer location offshore Cabinda,“ said Christoph.
“The site however showed unfavorable swell conditions
and in the end operations were moved back to Luanda
Bay.” The project was concluded by the BBC Thames in
the beginning of November, after HR MARION already
completed her part in mid-October 2013 and the Skaftafell
by mid-September. “It is always a challenge to make
ends meet with the client and all the parties involved,”
reported the project coordinator, “but again we made it
happen, and we like to thank the crews around Capt. Pavel
Gonchar (MV Skaftafell), Capt. Vitaliy Teplow (MV BBC
Thames) and Capt. Yevhen Dems’ky (MV HR Marion) for
their support and engagement.”
The next assignment is already in the works as the project
division was awarded another pipe feeding and offshore
storage contract on the Mafumeira project offshore
Angola. “We just started in September 2013,” said
Christoph, “and we are glad to have the MV Stoertebeker,
the MV Barbarossa, and their experienced crews around
Capt. Alexander Fomin and Capt. Igor Ivannikov currently
deliver the project.” This project is planned to end in
March 2014.
We can conclude from the many pipelines being built
at the moment that Angola clearly holds an interesting
pipeline of future projects, which we are convinced may
also prove beneficial for Angola’s economy and people.
BBC Chartering is proud it could support such “a project
of national importance,” as it is considered by the Angolan
government. We take this opportunity to thank all parties
involved for their solicitousness, engagement and support
that made things happen!
page 20 | excellence
It was in 2007 when Pavel Gonchar hired at Leda
Shipping, BBC Chartering’s crewing partner. In his six
years of service, he has mainly worked on coastal tramp
shipping services. Recently, as a master of the MV
Skaftafell he got involved in the world of project shipping;
supporting the Congo River Crossing Project. Christoph
Krüder of BBC’s project division took the opportunity to
talk to Pavel regarding his experiences on this assignment.
Pavel, thanks for making the time. What were your imme-
diate thoughts when you heard your vessel would join a
longterm “offshore” job for Saipem in West Africa?
You are welcome Christoph. I got quite curious and thought
that it might be an interesting and challenging time for the
crew and me. I also thought it was a good opportunity to
learn more about double banking operations and offshore
cargo operations regarding the handling and transfer of
concrete coated pipes to PSVs.
How did you manage the strong HSEQ requirements and
special inspections ordered by our client(s)?
I felt well informed in advance about these requirements.
It was enough time to organize trainings with the crew,
to arrange an additional supply of required personal
protective equipment (PPE) as well as to make some
arrangements like painting safety lines on the edges of the
hatch covers and mooring stations.
Since this was the first time you executed such a project
with BBC’s Project Division, can you tell how the commu-
nication worked out?
The communication from BBC’s side was well organized,
but there have been challenges regarding the client
communication. E.g. we needed to deal with a lack
of information regarding some cargo units changing
destination just after completion of loading and with
regards to a very long stay at Luanda.
What was the most challenging situation during the pro-
ject, and how did you manage it?
Although we filled up our provision and freshwater stock
completely upon our departure in Las Palmas, we ran short
on provisions due to the long stay at Luanda anchorage.
We needed to arrange provision and freshwater supply at
a master s job: mastering the job
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 21
Luanda roads. This proved to be a challenge as we had
to deal with very long response times of local agents and
suppliers. Eventually, we got great support from BBC and
the client to arrange supplies at Luanda roads.
What were the best experiences during the project?
On a very positive note, I was surprised how fast the
response was from the local agency on my request of
medical assistance for one of my crew members. He was
delivered to the hospital in only 30 minutes after my first
call. Technically speaking, I liked how we managed the
double banking operation and the transfer of pipes to the
PSVs that served as feeding units.
How was the collaboration with the PSVs and their crews?
Working with PSVs, the discharging was a little bit slow
in the beginning, because of positioning of the first bay
of pipes. After that we continued operations with a good
discharging rate and I was very satisfied with how the
PSV‘s crew was stowing pipes on deck of the PSV. For sure
this was not their girst job, they had experience with this
kind of operation. My crew did a very good, professional
job as well, by crane driving and connecting pipes to slings.
How do you think West Africa is different compared to
the other areas you’ve been, and how do you feel about
Angola as a destination in general?
West Africa has always been different. It is a challenging
destination because of comparably low degree of
organization, business ethics and morale in the ports.
However, there are differences; I have seen worse desti-
nations in West Africa than Angola. Still in any case, it is our
challenge to make the best out of any situation and make
things work over and over again.
All said and done, would you join us again for another BBC
project division job?
(Laughs) Yes, this will of course be very interesting and
I would say it’s also a good opportunity for any crew
member to gain offshore experience; I think that’s also a
plus in any seafarers CV.
Pavel, thanks for sharing your experiences with us. We
hope to see you and your colleagues back soon.
page 22 | excellence
more than a job– an attitude
Leda Shipping provides crewing for BBC Chartering vessels
LEDA Shipping also manages crew documents according
to STCW 95 and the respective flag states requirements;
issues employment contracts and executes payment of
wages; assures crew P&I insurance and the proper handling
of respective claims.
A crewing client can also appreciate implementation and
follow-up of drug and alcohol policies, a supply of working
clothes for the crew, regular visits to the vessel by a
LEDA Shipping Superintendent, regular consultation and
reporting, and lastly, the handling of all matters related to
the I.T.F. (International Transport Workers’ Federation).
From a recruiting perspective, LEDA Shipping and its
affiliates are always interested in hiring Seafarers of a
variety of professions and ranks. At BBC Chartering, we
appreciate that each one of these roles carries unique
responsibilities which are integral to the successful
operation of our vessel. If you are interested in applying for
a seafaring position onboard a BBC Chartering operated
vessel please contact our crewing partners:
Leda Shipping (Leer/Germany)
www.ledaship.de
Email: [email protected]
Briese Swallow (St.Petersburg/Russia)
www.briese.ru
Email: [email protected]
Briese Swallow (Sevastopol/Ukraine)
www.briese.net.ua
Email: [email protected]
HeavyLift Manila (Manila/Philippines)
www.crewasia.com
Email: [email protected]
If you share our purpose, work out of conviction and
demonstrate a quality attitude, we hope to see you soon
onboard a BBC Chartering vessel.
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 23
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to
go to the forest to gather wood, saw it, and nail the planks
together. Instead, teach them the desire for the sea,” said
World War II pilot and French writer, Antoine de Saint-
Exupéry.
That quotation holds great meaning because it suggests
a profound difference between routine and passion.
And all of us, we believe, want to be people of passion.
Seaman always had that certain attitude; they mostly were
passionate men through all seafaring ages: the age of
navigation, the age of discovery, the age of sail, the age of
steam, and the age of global commerce.
With globalization, the whole industry expanded massively
and today faces the situation that qualified seagoing
people are needed all over the world. At the same time,
ship-owners and principals face massive competition
fighting two fronts: the war for passionate seafarer talent
and the war for efficiency.
Although the often cited seafaring romance has gone in
today’s economic world, there are spaces in the industry
that provide exciting opportunities and interesting jobs. If
you have asked yourself, for instance, how BBC Chartering’s
vessels are crewed, this article gives you a glimpse behind
the scenes. As, BBC Chartering sailor, you are very likely
sailing with LEDA Shipping, a crew management company
based in Leer. It is a 100% subsidiary of the Leer-based
shipping company Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG
which currently manages and operates about 130 vessels.
LEDA Shipping GmbH takes care of the vessels of the
mother company, as well as vessels belonging to other
shipping companies. Depending on the client‘s given
parameters, Leda Shipping is able to act as agent for the
foreign employer or as direct employer. In either case,
LEDA Shipping covers the entire crew management
process and provides selection and recruitment of duly
qualified and experienced captains, officers and ratings;
arrangement of trainings; all related administration with
the crew‘s embarkation and repatriation, including visa
formalities and traveling arrangements.
page 24 | excellence
On the 24th September 2013 discharging operations
on board of BBC Fuji were completed and the vessel
was already heading her passage to Gibraltar, when
a message was received from MRCC Roma (Maritime
Rescue Coordination Center) indicating that a boat was
in distress with about 130 persons on-board.
The given position was 50 nm ahead, in the South of Sicily.
“The position was not far away and I decided to proceed
to same immediately,” explained Capt. Hermes. The details
of the distressed boat and the situation of the people were
unknown, but it was said that women and children were
supposed to be on-board and that people needed water.
“There is no standing order for what to do in such a
situation, but we did our utmost to reach the boat as fast
as possible,” said Capt. Hermes, “I informed the crew
about the situation and we tried to have all necessary
equipment ready at hand. The rescue boat was prepared;
a pilot ladder was rigged on starboard side; ropes, life
belts, stretcher and fresh water were put on deck.”
At 07:10 UTC BBC Fuji found a rubber boat. “At first
we couldn’t see the object. But then we found a
boat overcrowded with people. It was impossible for
the refugees to sit, everyone was standing upright,”
remembered Capt. Hermes.
Immediate assistance for the refugees
Seeing the physical condition of the refugees, Capt.
Hermes immediately decided to let them all on-board
the BBC Fuji. There were also some babies amongst
the fugitives. To bring them on-board safely, the crew
members used a strong sports bag as a baby basket which
they pulled up. The embarkation took about one hour and
in total 117 refugees (95 men, 16 women and 6 children)
transferred to the BBC FUJI. There was even a pregnant
woman on-board of the rubber boat.
To accommodate the refugees on-board, the crew
arranged some space between the poop deck and cargo
hold, which provided some shade. Also the Suez cabin was
opened for the sick and for the women with their babies.
Water and food were supplied to the weak fugitives. “One
woman suffered from heart problems, one man showed
shock symptoms and many people were complaining
about strong pain in their feet,” remembered Captain
Hermes. In the meantime, MRCC Rome was informed of
the situation and the vessel got clearance to proceed
to the port of Augusta to disembark the refugees. The
MRCC Malta also contacted the vessel and asked for
health conditions of the fugitives. A rescue helicopter
no one will be left behind at sea
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 25
was sent and two paramedics winched down to examine
the refugees. Their health condition were assessed and
considered sufficiently stable.
Fears on board
During the passage to Augusta the crew tried to com-
municate with the refugees. This was very difficult: firstly,
the language barrier and secondly, the refugees‘ fears
concerning their future. The crew observed that some
refugees threw their papers / ID cards and other personal
belongings over board. However, some said they came
from Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. They also said that
they were originally sailing with two rubber boats, but
further information on the second rubber boat and its
whereabouts wasn’t available.
“Such an escape is usually a planned process. We have
learned that some of the refugees paid to sail with this
rubber boat,” knew Capt. Hermes. “We noticed from their
behavior that one of the refugees was their group leader
who might have organized their escape.”
Fateful past – fateful future?
In the morning of September 25th, the BBC Fuji reached the
pilot station at Augusta. “Initially the refugees were scared
because they thought that the coast in sight was the coast
of Tripoli, but the crew and the group leader assured them
it was Augusta, Italy,” remembered the Master of BBC Fuji.
After disembarkation, medical assistance was given by the
Italian Red Cross and the Coast Guard. Captain Hermes
learned from the Italian Coast Guard that the refugees will
stay at Sicily for the time being.
Captain Hermes was proud of the excellent job and team
spirit of his crew: “That was a new experience for all of
us as no one had ever done such a sea rescue before. I’m
happy that we reached the Port of Augusta safely and I
want to take the opportunity to thank BBC Chartering,
the Briese Inspection, Leda Crewing and all official parties
involved for their support. Also everybody’s solicitousness
was very much appreciated”.
One remark of Captain Hermes really stuck in my mind
after the conversation: “Of course we help, and no one will
be left behind at sea. However, it’s not on us to judge this
escape, but what we can certainly say is that the refugees
are most needed in their countries where they are actually
fleeing from.”
We like to thank Lena
Pollmann (BBC Chartering
trainee in her third year),
for preparing the interview
and Capt. Hermes for his
availability and dedication
to the job.
page 26 | excellence
The Lula field was discovered in October 2006 by
Petrobras. It is located in the Santos Basin, approximately
260 kilometres off the coasts of the Rio de Janeiro and
São Paulo States. The Lula field lies below 2,000 meters
(6,600 ft) of water and then 5,000 meters (16,000
ft) of salt, sand and rocks. The field was discovered in
a geological formation known as the Pre-salt layer. It
is estimated that the Lula accumulation in the Santos
basin contains at least 5 billion barrels (0.79 km³) of
recoverable oil which makes it Brazil’s most important
oil field.
Back in 2011, Petrobras awarded Saipem an EPIC contract
for the Guara & Lula-Northeast gas export pipelines. The
contract encompasses the transportation, installation
and pre-commissioning of two export pipelines (54 km
and 22 km), as well as the engineering, procurement
and construction of related subsea equipment. BBC
supply chain challenges at ‘guara-lula’
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 27
Chartering supported this project providing the MV
Stoertebeker as a pipe feeder vessel to Saipem.
Supply chain issues for the ‘Guara-Lula’ represent
ongoing major challenges for the project owners. With
increased attention, the pressure was on to manage the
expectations tied to the overall execution of any related
project spread. Under these conditions two more BBC
Chartering vessel were successfully employed for the
Gura-Lula project.
First, although only indirectly, the BBC Germany was busy
as an intra-European heavylift shuttle to bring together
a total of 32 reels (max. 150mt) with thread cords to
Arendal. There, they were collected to be brought by
another vessel to South America. And second, it was
the BBC Citrine that loaded time critical components,
a module and a pressure tank, in Batam, Indonesia for
delivery to Angra dos Reis,
Brazil. The BBC Citirine is
one of the new BBC Amber-
type heavy lift vessels that
feature 2 x 400mt lifting
capability and 14,800 dwt.
With weights of 200mt
for the module and 150mt
for the tank, the lift was a
relative lightweight which
could be executed safely both at loading and discharging
operations.
As schedule issues remain a major concern, high quality
execution and performance are at the center of attention
for supplied transport services. BBC Chartering is proud
its services helped the project progress.
page 28 | excellence
BBC Chartering is pleased to announce it was awarded
first winner in the category “best carrier for specialized
cargoes” by the Brazilian magazine and maritime guide
“Guia Marítimo”.
On Sept. 16, the magazine publicly awarded the industry
recognitions during a ceremony staged in Sao Paolo. The
award was based on assessments given in an online survey
executed in the first quarter of the year amongst global
traders selected by the publication. This year, more than
1,200 maritime companies, including terminals, ports,
freight forwarders, port agents, and cargo customers,
participated in this field study, marking a new record.
Washington de Barros, President of BBC do Brazil, took
reception of the prize and stated: “We feel honored to
receive this award for a second time. It is very important
for us as it conveys how much our services are valued
by the market. I would like to thank the global team of
BBC Chartering, which enables us to do our job, and our
business partners for their assessment. We can assure
you that this motivates us even more to keep up our hard
work and keep improving so we will be able to satisfy our
clients over and over again.”
best carrier for specialized cargoes
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 2529purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 29
China exports are a major driver for the world’s breakbulk
and project cargo industry. We look forward to seeing you at the
upcoming Breakbulk event in Shanghai to discuss your business
opportunities in Asia.
Event date Location
Mar. 10 - 13, 2014 World Expo Exhibition & Convention
Center Shanghai, China, Booth #A108
Breakbulk Asia, Shanghai
Intermodal South America is the leading integrated exhibition
and conference event for international trade, logistics, transport
and cargo handling in Latin America. See us at the show to talk
about your cargo challenges.
Event date Location
Apr 01 - 03, 2014 Transamerica Expo Center, Sao Paulo,
Brazil, Booth #B-190
Intermodal, Sao Paulo
Visit us at Expomin. The key industry event and one of the
world’s most important gatherings in the mining industry, a
branch of fundamental importance for the Chilean economy.
We look forward seeing you there.
Event date Location
Apr 21 - 25, 2014 Espacio Riesco Av. El Salto 5000,
Huechuraba, Booth #600A, Hall 2B
Expomin, Santiago
Breakbulk Europe is the largest and most important gathering
in Europe for companies involved in the handling of heavy-lift and
oversized cargoes. We are excited to see you in Antwerp for the
2014 event.
Event date Location
May. 12 - 15, 2014 Antwerp Expo in Antwerp, Belgium
Booth #706 Hall 4
Breakbulk Europe, Antwerp
events 1st half 2014
worldwide offices
page 30 | excellence
São Paulo
Phone +55 11 5542 7446
Genoa
Phone +39 010 899 0950
Antwerp
Phone +32 3540 5645
Houston
Phone +1 713 668 4020
New Orleans
Phone +1 504 830 3900
Liverpool
Phone +44 151 600 5390
Leer, Headquarters
Phone +49 491 9 25 20 90
St. Petersburg
Phone +7 812 448 3714
Bremen
Phone +49 421 330 75 0
Istanbul
Phone +90 216 4632 322
Rouen
Phone +33 (0) 2 3218 2737
Montreal
Phone +1 514 904 0484
purpose. conviction. quality attitude. | page 31
Shanghai
Phone +86 21 6336 9901
Guayaquil
Phone +593 4 236 5585
Buenos Aires I
Phone +54 11 4331 4643
Bogota
Phone +57 1 300 4227
Singapore
Phone +65 6576 4130
Brisbane
Phone +61 407 965 502
Tokyo
Phone +81 3 6228 6433
Rio de Janeiro
Phone +55 21 3550 4451
Quito
Phone +593 2 381 7630
Santiago de Chile
Phone +56 2 2847 3900
Seoul
Phone +82 2 795 0008
Lima
Phone +51 1 616 5100
Dubai
Phone +971 4 386 0829
Buenos Aires II
Phone +54 11 4871 8533
Melbourne
Phone +61 3 9510 8410
‘Bienvenue en France’
France is not only a central region in Europe, it also represents an
important market for BBC Chartering’s activities. Just starting in
2014, we happily introduce our new BBC Chartering representation
in Rouen. With this new presence we are pleased to bring our unique
MPP / HL fleet and performance concept now one step closer to
our customers in France. We hope to see you soon – Salut et
bienvenue en France!
www.bbc-chartering.com
Contact Details:
19 boulevard du midi76100 Rouen · FrancePhone +33(0) 2 3218 2737Mobile +33(0) 6 7433 [email protected]
