Shipowning Companies Intership Navigation and Athena Marine: Five Stars for Excellent Quality

Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009

Cyprus based shipowning companies Intership Navigation Co. Ltd. (ISN) and Athena Marine Co. Ltd. received the "GL Excellence - 5 Stars" certificate of classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL). Capt. Eugen H. Adami, Managing Director of ISN/Athena, received the certificate and the trophy from GL's COO and Executive Vice President Torsten Schramm in presence of more than 300 guests at the archaelogical site of Amathunta in Limassol. The "GL Excellence - 5 Stars" certificate is awarded for the introduction of highest and up-to-date safety, environment protection and quality standards.

International standards and management systems improve and constantly monitor safety, environmental compatibility as well as operation processes of vessels. The "GL Excellence" certificate of Germanischer Lloyd documents the implementation of such standards - both obligatory and voluntary ones. Consequently, organisations can prove their commitment to better quality, reliability, safety and social compatibility by presenting an independent certificate.

Shipowners are entitled to receive the "GL Excellence - 5 Stars"

certificate if they meet the obligatory requirements - amongst others at least five management systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, Occupational Health and Safety, ISM and ISPS. ISN and Athena Marine have received the certificate for their GL classed fleet.

The management systems ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 as well as the ISM and ISPS Codes have been implemented successfully on ISN's and Athena Marine's vessels. In addition, the introduction of an "Environmental Passport" has been verified and both companies qualified for the Emergency Response Service of GL. Therefore, "GL Excellence"

serves as evidence for reliable ship operation and documents the compliance of highest safety and quality standards.

About Germanischer Lloyd

Germanischer Lloyd is a ship classification society and an international technical assurance and consulting company for the energy sector. The company employs more than 6,900 engineers, surveyors, experts and administrative staff in 80 countries. The global network consists of more than 200 locations around the globe.

GL is dedicated to ensuring the safety of life and property at sea, and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. As an independent third party, GL is developing state of the art rules, procedures and guidance for ship owners, ship yards and the maritime supply industry in order to offer relevant answers in times of economic challenges and tight regulatory regimes. GL classes container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, multipurpose vessels, high-speed ferries and cruise ships as well as superyachts and sport boats. GL's fleet in service amounts to 80 million gross tons. More than 6,870 ships are currently surveyed on a regular basis by GL.

Forecasting a steady increase in oil prices in the years to come, GL is working on optimising new designs and ship operations. New technologies will deliver economic benefits if energy efficiency is taken into account. With an optimised hull, substantial savings in fuel can be achieved together with corresponding reductions in the emission of CO2,

SO2 and NOx.

Finding the best parameters for on-board systems and an optimal ship design are key prerequisites for efficient ship operation. To prepare for these challenges, GL established its subsidiary FutureShip, offering various services for ship operation, on-board systems as well as hydrodynamics of ship hulls in a "whole ship" approach. FutureShip is part of "Maritime Solutions", a new business unit within GL's structure that unites new and additional activities in the non-classificatory section.

With the new business segment "Maritime Solutions", GL further expands its expertise for shipowners and shipyards in the areas of training, software solutions, certification, and consulting. Shipowners, shipyards and the maritime supply industry can profit from GL's expertise in identifying the most effective solutions to reduce operational costs and emissions. GL's FuelSaver programme, including CO2 analysis

(ECO-Patterns) and operational fuel consumption analysis services (ECO-Practices), forms the basis of a range of expert consultation offerings geared towards reducing fuel consumption.

Source: GL