EXMAR banks on recruiting more Indian seafarers for their fleet expansion
EXMAR which is mainly active in the mid-size segment of the gas market with vessels from 22,000 - 40,000 m³ owned or under commercial management has plans to increase its footprint in India. Having already setup its main office for crewing operations in Mumbai under EXMAR Shipmanagement, their focus on getting more seafarers from India is likely to increase tremendously in the coming years. In fact, at the conference held in Mumbai recently, the company officials who were present made known the fact that the company has linked its future fleet expansion plans to availability of Indian crew.
With an acute seafarers’ shortage looming large and plans for getting quality marine officers for operating tanker fleet becoming more difficult by the day, Capt Boudewijn Baert, Marine Director of EXMAR informed, “We plan to expand our fleet but sometimes there have been difficulties in getting the right marine officers. Here in India we have begun proposing to prospective candidates about the brisk career path we offer on our gas carriers. Already we have people wanting to go on mid-sized gas vessels. Our LNGs are well manned and since we intend to continue managing gas carriers we will be offering Indian seafarers a good career at sea.”
He explained that in India they intended to go full scale into crewing. They find maritime education in India to be really excellent. Since they are able to get quality people they will undertake manning operations in India in a big way.
EXMAR has 30 tankers under their management. 18 are LPG carriers belonging mainly to EXMAR and one of Statoil. The rest of the 10 are LNG vessels belonging to EXMAR. Also it includes two chemical tankers. Of the 10 LNG carriers 7 are LNG RV’s (RV stands for re-gasification vessels). The 2 chemical tankers and pressurised LPG tankers trade mostly between France, England, Belgium and the channel.
Capt Baert further stated, “EXMAR has taken delivery of two re-gasification (RV) vessels and three pressure vessels of 3500 cubic capacity. Besides, one Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) has been taken on management from Statoil.
“Our vessels are on time charter for long period. That’s why we continue making good profits all through the economic downturn. Except for a few vessels which are on the spot market most of our vessels are on contract. Hence the main tonnage is on time charter. Our strategy to improve our management techniques, cut down on fuel consumption and bring down operating cost so that the ship owner gains from it all has been our strategy that has helped the company to grow.”
EXMAR which has played an integral role in the design of the only vessels to date having the facility to regasify LNG onboard and discharge natural gas into the pipeline system through the Energy Bridge process already employs nearly 200 Indian seafarers. The company endeavours to support sustainable growth by attaching the greatest importance to the quality of its fleet, the safety of personnel and equipment and the protection of the environment.