Odfjell nr 3 - 2005.indd

Fleet Asia – Operational andproviding tangible servicesBy Helge Olsen, Vice President Fleet AsiaFleet Asia has now been in operationfor ten months since the establishmenton November 15th, 2004. Since then lifefor Fleet Asia’s employees in Singaporehas been extremely hectic, but also professionallyrewarding.Fleet Asia is now fully operational in itsfirst phase, with 13 employees in placeat the Singapore office. 14 vessels havealready been transferred to the Fleet2, as it is now known, and more vesselsare scheduled to be transferred to uswithin the next month. With Fleet Asianow up and running, the Odfjell ShipManagement Department has expandedaccording to plan. It is now managingapproximately 50 vessels, as well assupervising vessels owned by Odfjell butunder third-party management.Fleet Asia organisation:The Fleet Asia organisation in Singaporecomprises the following team of experiencedand skilled professionals:Superintendents: Marine Superintendents: Assistant Superintendents:Subhanker Dastidar Capt. Meidel Eriksen Chief EngineerWilliam Lim Capt. Ferdinand Romero Geir BjørndalenAshok NairChief EngineerGeir TrulssenDante MangampatPurchasers: Purchasing Assistant: Ship ICT Support:Jamie Lian Adeline Lei Huiyi Addison SengRachael PoonMario Calangian from Odfjell’s Manilaoffice is also working primarily withFleet Asia’s vessels on a semi-permanentassignment as Catering Superintendent.In summary, Fleet Asia now has the capabilitiesto provide both full supportto the vessels as well as monitoring ourvessels’ performance.Some of Fleet Asia’s personnel (from left) Subhanker Dastidar, Jamie Lian, AdelineLei Huiyi, Ashok Nair, Helge Olsen, William Lim, Rachael Poon, Ove Normann andAddison Senggave a brief introduction to Fleet Asia’sorganisation and activities, before allOdfjell Singapore employees were invitedto see our new premises.Transfer of vesselsSince startup Fleet Asia has assumedmanagement of a number of vessels.One example was M/T Bow Power,which was handed over on May 27ththis year. The transfer of managementwent smoothly, and all involved partiescontributed actively with CaptainZacharias Cherouvis of Ceres Hellenichanding over command to Captain PedroLiporada.Office AccommodationInitially, the Fleet Asia team was accommodatedtemporarily (and somewhatcramped) together with our Chartering,Operations, Agency and Accounting/Administrationcolleagues withinthe Singapore office. As a result of theconsiderable expansion of our staffand responsibilities we needed morespace, and on May 20th we could moveinto new and larger office space adjacentto the existing Odfjell Singaporeoffice. During the opening ceremony weAshok Nair, William Lima and Subhanker Dastidar responding with technicalsupport to one of Fleet Asia’s vessels14 ODFJELL Quarterly October 2005