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Thome Group News

A publication of the Thome Group of Companies

16 Raffles Quay#43-01 Hong Leong Building Singapore 048581

Tel: 65 6220 7297Email: [email protected]: www.thome.com.sg

Tel: +44 (0) 1296 682051Website: www.elabor8.co.uk

Edited By: Maite Bolivar Klarup Thome Group

Sean Moloney Elaborate Communications

Debra Munford Elaborate Communications

Designed By: Mike Argles Elaborate Communications

Celebrating more than 50years of cutting edge

Maritime Service

2/ A word from our Chief Financial Officer:Martin McGregor

9/ Career Advancement Program

6/ Driving a compliance culture and doing it safely or not at all

3/ Setting the right values

4/ Fighting the impact of fatigue

10/ Thome Senior Management Team knows thevalue of frequent ship visits

8/ Dear Master, Officers and Crew

8/ Food for hought

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THOMEGROUPNews

Issue 36: March 2014 | 1

Thome Group News

18/ Vessel Familiarization Program

11/ Strong partnership for decades

15/ Seagull CBT moving online

16/ Bollywood glamour and tears of joy launch Mika Manx

32/ Meeting the offshore challenge

19/ Thome Marine Consultant bags kamsarmax newbuilding Supervision contact

20/ TSM Group supports typhoon survivors

24/ Introducing the new Head of Thome’s Human Resources Department

26/ Siem Offshore soaring to greater heights

28/ Shining a light on Vetting

25/ Attitude performance

30/ Thome CSR – Ready, Steady, Go for the Thome East Coast Run – Doing out bit – Life may end, but memories last forever – Welcome to the new Thome Photo Contest

12/ Crew Matters – Thome global cadet program – Thome annual conference – Thome’s first Regional Cadet Training Program, Gurgaon, India – January 2014 – Thome Assignment Program for: Officer, Trainees

22/ Newbuildings – Naming of the Ardmore Seavantage at SPP Shipyard, Korea – Leading from the front

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ContentsIssue 36: March 2014

2 | Issue 36: March 2014

Thome Group News

One of my non-shipping friends recently asked me, “What is shipmanagement”?

Give the front page of the first 2014 edition of Thome GroupNews to the CFO and you might expect the answer to be costcontrol. Ask the same question of Carsten, Thome ShipManagement CEO, and you will likely get an answer with a heavyemphasis on safety. Give space to Claes, Thome’s President andChief Commercial Officer, and “quality” may be to the fore.

Ship management is of course about all of these. Running shipssafely, to a quality standard that enables our Principals to trade theirvessels at the highest levels and that reinforces our reputation in theindustry, all with a keen eye on cost management, is what we liveand breathe every day, both on board and ashore.

These are the philosophies hard-wired into the DNA of our crewand shore-based fleet staff who have been with us for any length oftime, and which is rapidly inculcated in new recruits.

What of those functions and staff not directly associated withvessels’ operations? Does an accountant really play an active role incost control, safety and quality? Absolutely. Every employee inThome has a major part to play in serving our Principals, and that iswhat safety, quality and cost control add up to – serving ourPrincipals.

We established the Thome Shared Services Centre in Manilaback in 2010 to ensure that our accounting functions would continueto ‘get the basics right’ in support of a growing fleet; to provideaccurate, timely and consistent reports of vessel expenditures, toaccount to our Principals for the funds entrusted to us, and to enablesuperintendents to track costs against budget confident that thenumbers were accurate.

With the implementations of the shore-systems Eyeshare andQlikview, transparency was quickly added to the mix, giving our

Principals and staff access to accounting records and cost reporting& analysis directly online, linked to scanned copies of underlyinginvoices.

Our shared services centre has developed since 2010 into a trulyworld class back office, and our finance teams will continue thejourney into 2014 along the path of business partnering that wecommenced back in 2010 - centralized processing of accurate,timely, consistent and transparent accounting in Manila, providingfinance staff across the rest of the Group with the tools to supportThome’s division heads and vessel managers in making betterdecisions.

There are similar stories to tell across all support functions in theGroup, whether it be IT providing industry-leading system solutionsand network infrastructure, HR driving game-changing recruitment,development and training, or HSSEQ delivering the infrastructurebackbone ensuring safe operation of our vessels.

So back to that question, “what is ship management”?Five years in Thome have helped me come to an answer. Yes,

ship management is cost control, it is safety, it is quality. But it ismore than that; it is an entire interdependent eco-system – crew,vessel managers, crewing operations, hsseq, experts in everythingfrom security to vettings to dockings, accountants, support staff – alldriving forward with one core desire – to better serve our Principals.The result is delivering again and again safe, high quality, cost-efficient vessel management.

Welcome to 2014. Welcome to another year in Thome.

A word from ourChief Financial Officer

Martin McGregorChief Financial Officer,

Thome Group

Thome Group News


Setting the right valuesBy Carsten Ostenfeldt, Chief Executive Officer of Thome Ship Management

Thefive mainvalues are:■ Safety■ Communication■ Ownership■ Planning ahead ■ Human element andteam work

Please read through the details behindeach value, and think through where youstand. Following them by heart will, beyondany doubt, enrich anybody’s work satisfaction andalso improve our common performance.

I suggest you give them a go now and for the rest of 2014!

SAFETY GROUP PERFORMANCE "We do it safely or not at all" and “safety starts with me” – these

phrases embrace safety as a way of life both at sea and ashore. Whatwe need is full compliance of safety KPI/targets, tankermanagement self-assessment 2 (TMSA2) standards, zero pollution,zero collisions, zero fatalities, personal protective equipment (PPE)procedures and office safety guidelines.

COMMUNICATIONThe ideal employee is someone who speaks and writes in an

easily understood manner, communicates and presents effectivelyand confidently to all audience types, respectfully and activelylistens and solicits feedback; receives feedback openly andobjectively, shares work related ideas and information and ensuresthat relevant information is disseminated on a timely basis toothers, participates actively in meetings or interactions andencourages others to do likewise, as well as expresses clearinstructions.

OWNERSHIP With this key value we are

seeking individuals to be resourceful andtake full responsibility to get things done, be

accountable for decisions, outcomes and timelinesin areas of responsibility, ensure problems/challenges that

come to your attention are resolved, and escalate issues only whenappropriate to others who can act on them. In addition you shouldcommit to deliver with high quality and move away from thinking “it isnot my job” but instead effectively delegate and control.

PLANNING AHEADBe proactive, look ahead and anticipate potential problems and

opportunities, initiate action plans to address potential problems andopportunities, seek improvement and avoid problems within yourown work scope, while also ensuring careful and sufficientpreparation to ensure successful execution.

HUMAN ELEMENT/ TEAMWORKBe a team player. Embrace the right behavior, attitude and passion

by delivering quality work in a safe manner, building rapport withothers both at sea and ashore and supporting and helping others whoneed help. You should adapt your own behaviour and share resourcesand information to achieve team and organisational goals, carryingyour own share of the workload and taking on additionalresponsibilities when required. Listen to others and display respect fortheir abilities as well as being prepared to face and resolve conflicts toachieve shared goals.

In any company in the world there are some personal key pillars which support the companyfor decades or even centuries. In the Thome Group we have identified the most important onesfor each and everyone to pursue and follow in their daily work at sea or ashore. They should

be seen as a set of personal guidelines towards what we believe in and what we would like to see unfold in practice among our colleagues in the Group.


Thome Group News


Thome Group News

For many years, fatigue was discounted as a potential cause of,or contributor to, human error. However, international studies onmaritime accidents have shown that fatigue is widely perceived asthe main cause or a contributory factor in a considerable numberof casualties at sea resulting in the loss of life and damage to theenvironment and property.

The Exxon Valdez, one of the worst maritime environmentaldisasters in the past century, is one of the many mishaps wherefatigue was identified as a contributing factor. In fact, fatigue’sdetrimental role toward performance at work is leading to errorsbeing made, which may impact the normal operation of vesselsresulting in accidents and fatalities.

Fatigue is a problem for all 24-hour a day transportation modesand industries, the shipping industry included. However, there areunique aspects of seafaring that separate the marine industry fromthe others. It must be recognized that the seafarer is a captive ofhis/her work environment. Firstly, the average seafarer spendsfour months, and rating up to nine months working and livingaway from home, on a moving vessel that is subject tounpredictable environmental factors (i.e. weather conditions).

Secondly, while serving on board the vessel, there is no clearseparation between work and recreation. Thirdly, today’s crew iscomposed of seafarers from various nationalities and backgroundswho are expected to work and live together for long periods oftime. The operational aspects associated with shipping becomemore complex compared with standard industries, for reasonssuch as: variety of ship-types, pattern and length of sea passage,port-rotation, and length of time a ship remains in port. All these aspects present a unique combination of potential causes of fatigue.

The most common causes of fatigue known to seafarers arelack of sleep, poor quality of rest, stress and excessive workload.Workload issues lie behind much of the stress we experience. Notonly can a heavy workload be tiring in its own right, worse thanthis, a heavy routine workload leaves us little time to deal withthe emergencies that could come up from time-to-time.

Effectively dealing with fatigue in the shipping environmentrequires a holistic approach. There is no one-system approach toaddressing fatigue, stress and excessive workload, but there arecertain principles (e.g. lifestyle habits, rest, medication,workload.) that must be addressed in order to gain the knowledgeand the understanding to manage this human element issue.

The complexity and the difficulties that the fatigue issuerepresents today in the shipping industry in terms of structural

adjustments, technological changes and operational requirementsemphasizes the need for establishing a safety culture among eachand every one of us, especially when it comes to personnel aboardship. This approach underlines the fact that our efforts should beundertaken to convince the personnel/seafarers that compliancewith the international maritime regulations regarding safety andthe role of fatigue issues toward maritime casualties, should bemade consciously.

The unique aspects of operational regime onboard that theshipping industry represents today, based mainly in prolongedworking hours, are an important element in generating fatigue and especially stress among seafarers. Regarding this issue, it isimportant to comply with the working schedules and the durationof the rest breaks to reduce the impact of fatigue factors towardseafarers.

In addition, a good monitoring of working hours will assist theseafarers to make a clear separation between work and restleading to the relief of fatigue at sea.

Furthermore, it is fundamentally a mind-set change concerninghow we manage human resources within the Thome Group ofCompanies. The philosophy, prevention is better than cureconcerning fatigue and safety problems should be the approach.

In light of these considerations, we encourage you to mitigatethe negative effects of fatigue thru THOME'S HUMANELEMENT a holistic approach to business excellence throughpeople, managing attitudes in order to manage risk. It clearlyillustrates that we want safety and quality within the ThomeGroup and in order to achieve this we must focus on the humanelement, our attitudes and how we work together as a team.

The result of fatigue, stress and workload is impaired performance and diminished alertness.

Fighting the impact of fatigueBy Olav Eek Thorstensen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,

Thome Group of Companies

Olav Eek Thorstensen,Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Thome Group ofCompanies


At Thome Group we aspire to be one of the very best providers of ship management services inthe world and be truly recognized as such by our many stakeholders!

Driving a compliance culture anddoing it safely or not at allBy Capt. Michael Elwert, Director Group HR, Strategy and Support, Thome Group

Thome Group News


Not an easy task but a suitable one for a strongThome ship shore team working hand in hand!

Our company vision is not just a statement onthe wall; rather it is a common commitment to dothe right things so well that we will be respectedand admired by our dear customers and ourcustomers’ customer; our competitors as well asall other stakeholders we engage with in ourconduct as a quality ship manager.

Throughout Thome Group of Companies wealso know that the foundation for a world classsuperior performance as a third party shipmanager is strongly linked to our ability tomaintain an impeccable safety and qualityperformance throughout our organisation.

The Thome Human Element concept ensuresour focus and constant strive to improve ourcompany safety and quality performance and ourslogan is well known to all: “We do it safely ornot at all’.

The best organizations in the world put safetyat the top of their list – so does Thome. Notbecause we are following a smart PR campaignbut because “doing it safely or not at all” is goodbusiness sense and the way we want things to be done!

We believe that investments in a strongcompany culture of safety, quality and serviceexcellence is an investment that gives us, as ourcustomers, a competitive edge and strongerbusiness results. Taking good care of ourselvesand each other is key!

Accordingly safety and running a qualityoperation must prevail in everything we do. Weexpect everyone in Thome to contribute 100% toour objective of zero accidents and zero pollution,regardless whether it is a fleet group manager,master of a VLCC, a bosun on our bulker fleet ora crewing executive in our office!

We are all committed in a shared responsibilityto do it safely or not at all!

Doing things right, the first time, every timeand “think before you do” is a strong driver forimproved safety performance! The ThomeHSSEQ system we use is based on internationalconventions and industry best practices. It has itssolid roots in the ISM, MLC, SOLAS, MARPOL,STCW, IMDG & ISPS as incorporatesrequirements from ISGOTT, TMSA2 and bestpractise from ICS. It complies with DNVISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS108801

standards. A long list of regulations and standardswe need to comply with!

How do we manage that? Well a good startingpoint is our HSSEQ system which is there to helpus provide a consistent performance, complianceand service excellence to our customers. Inaddition, let us never forget that our HSSEQsystem primarily helps us ensure an accident and incident free operation in how we manage our business!

The Thome HSSEQ system exits for the safetyof us all.

We can still further improve our quality andsafety performance in Thome and we need tocontinue the joint efforts to improve.

Let us look at a few of the factors which willinfluence the strength of a strong safety culture in Thome; ■ Our attitude to risk and risk management■ Our behaviours and our understanding of the concept of safety barriers■ Time pressure or perceived time pressure■ Design of vessels and equipment and how we interface with the hardware ■ Fatigue■ Communication■ The awareness of HSSEQ procedures and policies and follow them!!

We have dedicated this year in Thome as ayear to push for 100 % compliance to ourprocedures and policies. Whether we like it or notwe still have too many incidents and accidentswhich to some degree always hold an element of‘lack of compliance to our HSSEQ procedures’and human error. So we need to improve oursafety and quality performance further.

Therefore, we ask everyone in their offices aswell as on board our managed fleet, to ensurethey are fully aware of the parts of the ThomeHSSEQ system and procedures which pertain totheir particular area of responsibility so you allproactively get a solid understanding of the restof the Thome HSSEQ system via OceanManager.

If we all know our HSSEQ system andunderstand how to assess risks and eliminate ormitigate these through the use of safety barriers,we as a team and company will have come a verylong way towards realizing our Company vision:To be one of the very best global providers ofship manager services.

Thome Group News

Thome Group News

Dear Master,Officers and

CrewIt is with great excitement and equally great expectations that I have

taken over the position as Head of Tanker Crewing Operations withThome Ship Management based in Singapore. I shall be replacing RejiJoseph and will report to the Chief Operations Officer, Tankers as partof the Thome Tanker Division Management Team.

The shipping industry in general, and the tanker segment inparticular, has undergone tremendous changes over the past yearsand everything points in the direction of even more changes tocome. At Thome we take great pride in being at the forefront of theindustry in all aspects, and very few people involved in shippingwill disagree that the single most important asset to any company isits staff. Our ships will go nowhere without you and your dedicatedwork and efforts in a taxing and strenuous environment.

As a married and family man, and a proud ex-seafarer withalmost 20 years at sea followed by another almost 20 years in shore-based positions in shipping companies in Asia, Africa and Europe, Ifeel confident we can work together towards an even better andbrighter future for the company and for each of us individually. Toachieve that, a positive and constructive communication isparamount, and I am confident we can establish such a dialogue bymeans of personal contact at seminars, during visits to your ships oryour visits to the office in Singapore or elsewhere. Our dedicatedteam in the crewing department in Singapore together with all thecrewing offices in Asia and Europe will work closely with you toensure a mutually beneficial relationship.

Whatever thoughts and ideas you might have on how to improveon safety, security, procedures and anything else you might think of,please bring them forward. We at the office depend on your inputfrom the ships to be able to effect changes, where they are needed. Anew initiative aimed at facilitating an efficient communication onsuch matters is under way, and you will receive more informationabout this shortly.

Our crewing executives are your primarycontacts in the office for day to day issues,

but in case of urgent and serious matters,please feel free to contact me directlyat: [email protected] orcall me at +65 6329 4327.

I am looking very much forwardto embarking on this journey withyou.

Yours sincerely,Henrik Bisbo, Master Mariner

Head of Tanker Crewing OperationsThome Ship Management

No matter how scrambled a Rubik’sCube is, it can be solved in less than20 turns

***People who exercise regularly hvae a 30 to 40

percent lower risk of heart disease***

***The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has

released a new tool for unions fighting the negative effects ofHIV/AIDS in the world’s ports. The publication, HIV/AIDS and

Portworkers - a Resource Pack for Unions, is available onrequest and for immediate download from www.itfglobal.org

***

***The negative impact of high salt and fat levels in seafarers’ diets is

widely understood by ship managers but according to a newinternational health action group, high sugar levels are also an

important issue which can impact significantly on health and mustnot be ignored. Described as “the new tobacco” added sugar in allkinds of foods, from bread to soft drinks, is the focus of Action on

Sugar – a new group formed by health experts from around theglobe, with the aim of tackling high levels of obesity and diabetes

– diseases which the group has described as ‘epidemic’ inproportion. Obesity is an international problem, with far-reaching

health and social consequences and yet, as Action on Sugar claims,there is very little being done to tackle the issue internationally.

***


Food forthought

***

***

***Did you know that unless food is mixed with

saliva you can't taste it!***

Thome Group News

Career Advancement ProgramBy Claire Columna, Sr. Crewing Executive, Strategic Crewing and Capt. Veeresh Bahadur,

Operations Manager – Tankers, Marine Standards & Vetting

The Thome Career AdvancementProgram (CAP) for officers has recentlybeen established to further ensure careergrowth for our own talent and to secure apipeline of competent officers to sustain thecompany’s future growth.

The program is open to officers of allnationalities who possess the right attitude,ambitions and the potential to become acompetent Senior Officer.

It aims to provide training and coachingtailored to build necessary competences fornext rank through close interaction with theSenior Officers onboard and the CareerAdvancement Program team ashore.

What are the selection criteria?The following criteria are used as

guidance during the selection process:■ Candidates must be a graduate fromour Cadet Program or have at least twogood evaluation reports from previousassignments■ The present Master or Chief Engineermust recommend the candidate based onattitude, potential and interest■ The candidate must possess a higherlicense or intention to obtain a higherlicense within the near future■ The candidate must match thecompany’s preferred personal profile(Predictive Index survey)■ Candidates must express an interest inthe program as well as a willingness toinvest the time required for extra training,understudying and assignments ■ There is an age limit – below 35 forJunior Officers and below 45 for ChiefOfficer/Second Engineer

What awaits a successful candidate?The program provides a structured career

path for the officer by providing theframework for competence building throughtraining, coaching, assessment and feedbackas well as ensuring close monitoring of theprogress and timely vessel assignments.

It includes the following:

1. Understudying onboard for next rank:The candidate must understudy the

Senior Officers onboard by following adefined practical task list and this must besigned off by Senior Officers oncecompleted satisfactorily. 2. Write-ups:

The officer must submit a number ofwrite-ups (at least 300 words) to the CareerAdvancement Program team describing thevarious practical tasks which have beenunderstudied. The purpose of the write-upsis to ensure that each candidate is proficientin given tasks and to check their awarenessof the correct source of information for aparticular task.

3. CBT Seagull:The Officer must complete the Seagull

Training required as per the companytraining matrix for the next rank4. Thome Competence ManagementSystem:

The Officer must also complete theassessments in the Thome CompetenceManagement System for the next Rank5. Workshops:

Workshops on various topics will becreated providing further opportunities tointeract with, and assess, the officers. AChemical Tanker workshop is alreadybeing planned for March 2014 in Manilawhere topics such as cargo planning, tankcleaning, wall wash, etc will be covered.

What are the criteria for promotion?■ Task list performance completed ■ Write-ups satisfactorily completed ■ Workshop performance satisfactory(attitude, participation and tasksperformed are graded)■ Marine Superintendent or VesselManager’s report must recommend themfor promotion■ Two recommendations for promotionby Master or Chief Engineer ■ Compliance with training matrix forthe next rank ■ Candidates must have passedassessment for the next rank in the ThomeCompetence Management System

We have been extremely pleased withthe interest that many officers havealready shown in the program and thewillingness of onboard Senior Officers toassist with the understudying. Theprogram has already gained much tractionwith two Second Officer already promotedto Chief Officers in the Chemical Tankerfleet.

We do encourage any Officers whowish to be part of the program to contactClaire Columna through email [email protected]



Thome Group News

Representatives from ThomeSenior Management alwayslook to attend the many ThomeSenior Officer Seminars held allover the world. Likewise,during the daily senior officer inoffice briefings, priority isalways given to taking the timeto talk to those officers visitingour Singapore head officeenroute back to their vessels.We see this as a natural effort aspart of a senior managementcommitment to building astronger Thome team; aligningour priorities by keeping in

touch and getting valued directfeedback from our manycolleagues at sea.

Building a strong Thomeship to shore team based onmutual trust, respect andpersonal relations is high on thesenior management agenda.

In Thome we believe it isequally important to meet ourcolleagues as often as possibleonboard our managed fleet intheir day-to-day operatingenvironment. This allows seniormanagement to keep abreast ofthe operational challenges as

well as the complexity andconditions our many crews aretasked to handle.

When the seniormanagement visits the fleet, it iscommon practise to tour thevessel, meet as many of thecrew as possible, and, whenoperationally feasible, call forcrew briefings during whichThome strategies, expectationsand priorities arecommunicated. It is also anopportunity to give updates oncompany safety and securitycampaigns, as well as

encourage, through discussion,what is best practise.

Lastly and most importantly,senior management takes thetime to explain why we are soeager to empower all our crewsto strictly enforce our slogan:‘We do it safely or not at all’!!

Pushing for higher standards,safe performance and serviceexcellence must remain at theheart of everything we do!!

Please do take time toengage with Thome SeniorManagement colleagues nexttime they visit your vessel.

Global shipping is an industry which rewards performance, professionalism and teamwork. Soas part of the Thome Human Element concept, our Senior Management Team actively seeks to

engage as often as possible with our colleagues at sea.

Thome Senior Management Team knows the valueof frequent ship visits

By Capt. Michael Elwert, Director Group HR, Strategy and Support, Thome Group

Thome Group Chairman OlavEek Thorstensen visiting MTAsphalt Spring with Vessel

Manager Damir Pantalon andCapt Dano Cyril


The company was founded in 1994 by Karl K. Kvalheim andArne Viste when they bought the company called ChampionShipping AS which owned the tanker MT Champion. CT became theoperating company within the Champion Shipping AS. However,Karl’s and Arne’s partnership with Thome goes back even beyondthat time because the first vessel which they had given to Thome wasfor their ship broker company Nesttun Chartering AS, back in 1985.MT Champion as the very first Champion vessel, came to Thome

in 1994 and to date there were 20 different Champion vesselscoming in and out of Thome. Typically, CT would buy a 10 to 15year old tanker and then run it for 10 years before sending to ascrapyard for demolition. CT has acquired eight tankers in past threeyears after scrapping the old ones hoping this would give a newwind to their business. We are very proud for being recognised astheir important partner and being rewarded with all those recentacquisitions.

Today, CT controls 11 chemical oil tankers with a total tonnageof about 500,000 DWT. They own eight vessels and run three morefor EGD Holdings (Bergen) as their commercial managers. Vessels

are mainly employed on the spot market for carrying vegoil,palmoil, molasses, uan as well as the clean petroleum products. Outof 11 vessels under their portfolio, nine chem/oil tankers of between45,000 to 47000 DWT are managed by us which is the highestnumber given to Thome at the time.■ CHAMPION SPIRIT, built 1991 in Spain■ CHAMPION CORNELIA, 1996 in Spain■ CHAMPION TRUST, 1995 in Croatia■ CHAMPION TIDE, 1996 in Croatia■ CHAMPION TERN, 1999 in Croatia■ CHAMPION EBONY, 2004 in Croatia■ EMMA VICTORY, 1996 in Croatia■ NINA VICTORY, 1996 in Croatia■ LYNDA VICTORY, 1996 in Croatia

In spite of the recent shipping downturn and all difficultiesexperienced, there is no doubt that CT will remain strong on the market and continue to grow further. Thome will certainly keep doing its best to maintain this partnership for more decades to come.

Champion Tankers AS (CT) means more to Thome Ship Management than just a Principal asthis special long lasting partnership keeps going for nearly three decades.

Strong partnership for decadesBy Tihomir Baraba, Fleet Group Manager

Thome Group News


Thome Group News

At Thome we give importance to our cadetprogram to ensure we render superb service toour clients. Having well rounded and excellentindividuals is the key to the success of theprogram and that is the reason we have a veryrobust selection process.

The selection process starts by examining theapplicant’s resume, wherein good academiccredentials and experience are exceedinglyrelevant to precede to the next step. Then is theonline Logical Indicator (LI) survey, whichincludes multiple-choice questions to ascertainthe applicant’s aptitude. Short-listed applicantsare subsequently put through an onlinepersonality survey (Predictive Index - PI) todetermine a good fit for the position theapplicants are applying for. After going throughthe initial screening process the candidates are

put through a competence assessment comprisingnautical and engineering questions. The mostcrucial and final part of the entire process is theface-to-face interview with a Thomerepresentative.

Our cadets are a multi-national and multi-cultural group, fully representative of thediversity within the Thome Group. The cadetsrepresent a good blend of Asian, Far Eastern andEuropean culture.

In 2014, we plan to hire 200 cadets globally.The Philippines remains the core of the intakewhile we venture into Myanmar with a focus onelectrical cadets and increase our intake fromEurope to show our commitment and presence in that region. We have reduced the number fromIndonesia due to limited tonnage available toplace Indonesian cadets.

Since its inception in 2005, the Thome Global Cadet Program has handledover 1,000 cadets who now find themselves at different stages of their careers.Motivated and inspired, they continue to excel in their positions and make

Thome proud.

Thome global cadet programBy Sartaj Gill, Deputy Managing Director (ROHQ) & Head of Group Training

and Maria Carmina Catindig, Management Trainee (ROHQ)

crew

mat

ters

Here are the top 3 reasons why YOU should participate this year

1. Learn new information and acquire knowledge from all the presenters and otherindustry partners which can be put to use in your everyday work2. Meet new people, share your experiences, brainstorm ideas and get immediate feedback3. Enjoy and have fun while learning


Last year over 700 delegates (Officers,Shore staff, Principal representatives andIndustry experts) from around the worldparticipated in seven Thome AnnualConferences in the Philippines, India,Croatia, Thailand, China, Indonesia andEstonia. Our conferences provide a platformwhere like-minded people congregate anddiscuss topics of common interest. Theseconferences are designed to give everyonelots of information on a variety of relevanttopics.

In 2014 we will be taking a more regionalapproach where we will have a mix ofnationalities of the officers attending the

conferences. These two day conferences willbe used to appraise the staff on Thome’sfuture direction and development, newcompany initiatives, best practice from 2013,new regulations coming into force, shipowners perspective and, last but not the least,the Thome Human Element with a difference.It is anticipated that the conferenceworkshops and breakout sessions will providea platform for the sea-based staff to interactwith their colleagues, the shore staff and thePrincipals thereby creating strongcamaraderie and foster collaborations.

The dates and location for the annualconferences for 2014 are as below.

Thome strategic push as part of itsglobal cadet program has resulted in theselection of cadets from different nationsbeing groomed and trained on board our vessels.

This ensures that while continuing toembrace diversity we progressively alsostrengthen our potential junior officerbase as the company grows.

In the past the selected cadets used tocomplete their company specific in-housetraining locally in their country ofresidence. However, in January 2014,freshly selected cadets from Sri-Lanka,Myanmar and India were brought togetherfor the first combined regional cadettraining program at AMTI – ThomeShipping India’s dedicated trainingfacility in Gurgaon, India.

The 22 cadets drawn from theengineering, nautical and electricalbranches resulted in a very cosmopolitanand diverse mix of 10 Sri-Lankan, 6Myanmar and 6 Indian cadets. Theyparticipated in HSSEQ familiarization andThome Human Element training coursesover a five day period.

For most of the cadets it was the firsttime out of their place of residence and asustained interaction with othernationalities. The rich interactions duringthe training program promoted bettercross-cultural understanding & interactionwhile show-casing the company’s culturaldiversity and synergy of working togetherin keeping with the principles of ‘ThomeHuman Element’.

Many a cadet left with a desire to comeback for more training.

Thome annual conference

Thome’s first RegionalCadet Training

Program, Gurgaon,India – January 2014

Dates

04-06 May

03-04 Jun

19-20 Aug

23-24 Sep

11-12 Nov

Manila

Istanbul

Beijing

Zagreb

India

Philippines / China / Korea

Turkey / Romanian / Ukrainian

China / Korea / Philippines

Croatia / Montenegro / Baltic / Russia

India / Srilanka / Myanmar

Venue Participating Nationalities

By Carol Cristobal, Training Assistant (ROHQ)

Thome Group News


Thome Group News

My name is Marin Bogdanand I have been serving foralmost two years as ChiefOfficer on board one of theMR1 vessels of the KirkKapital pool under Thome ShipManagement. I have alsoworked in other fleet groups onvessels such as chemical,products and bitumen tankers.

At the start of my one-month office assignment in thestrategic crewing department,I began with a familiarizationand leadership course which Ifound invaluable. One of mymain tasks was to participate inthe implementation of potablewater policy in compliancewith MLC 2006 and preparinga standard training booklet. Iwas also involved in the fasttrack officer training list. Thejob was interesting especiallyas I was also workingalongside several technicalsuperintendents, in particularfrom Fleet Group 1.

This assignment gave me agreat opportunity to observedifferences between working inthe office and on board ship. Iquickly realised that thepressure encountered on boardwith technical and commercialissues was transmitted also tothe office. It helped me tounderstand the currentchallenges facing the teamsand will allow me to bettermanage various problemswhich may occur on boardThome vessels.

I wish to thank to all in Thome for giving me this chance.

My name is Marin IgorandI have worked with TSMsince October 2009 as ChiefOfficer on Eitzen Chemicalvessels and so you can imaginehow delighted I was to havebeen asked to participate inthis program. Although I didn’tquite realize the workpressures I would face duringmy daily tasks.

During my officeassignment, I was mostlyinvolved in the fast trackpromotion program for thosesecond officers who have got agood potential aptitude andattitude to be promoted in thenear future.

The fast track promotionprogram currently has up to 33second mates as possiblecandidates and I can say thatmany officers and mastershave shown a lot ofenthusiasm for this program.Candidates have beencommenting in their messagesthat Masters and ChiefOfficers are taking a lot ofinterest in training them.

One of the challenges is tofind well trained ChiefOfficers on the market, so weneed to take whatever steps wecan to encourage our juniorofficer to grow in ranks. FastTrack is a new born projectand still under review by thesenior management.

I would like to thankThome for nominating me towork in the office and to havethis great experience.

I was given an opportunity to serve my internship atThome Ship Management in the Health, Safety, Security,Environmental and Quality department, or HSSEQ for short,and the six months I spent there have enriched the way I viewthe shipping industry. Without doubt, I have a more in-depthunderstanding of the workings of the HSSEQ department andthe wider ship management industry now.

My tasks were varied, from collecting documents andpacking packages for vessels to shadowing and learning aboutthe role of an HSSEQ Administrator. I was given manyopportunities to go on ship visits to learn and have first handexperience of the workings of a merchant vessel.

I visited the Pacific Sunrise, an oil tanker, and the OceanScorpio, a bulk carrier, which were at anchorage. Also, the ETC Ramsis, a crude oil carrier, at the newly built Tuas Shipyard.

Ship management is carried out by independent companieswho manage ships owned by other owning companies. Theship management company manages ships for an owner and inreturn receives a management fee which is settled between theowner and the ship management company. Ship managementcan take several forms, either full/technical managementwhere the complete running of the ship is carried out by athird party manager like Thome, or crew management where the crewing needs of that ship are handled by themanaging company.

I am really very thankful to Thome for giving me this greatopportunity to learn and gain unforgettable experiencesallowing me to bring all these experiences back to school toshare with my classmates.

Thome Assignment Progamme for

By Marin IgorBy Marin Bogdan By Chia Hui Shuen, a Year 2 Studentstudying a Diploma in Maritime Business at

the Singapore Polytechnic

Officer Trainees

It has been decided to make Seagull CBTavailable online to all seafarers in the ThomeGroup so that training modules can now beaccessed via the internet from any location whilethe seafarer is on vacation.

Seagull CBT training, which supplementsshore-based and on-the-job training, is animportant tool for developing the competence ofour Seafarers in Thome. Unfortunately, there hasbeen a recent decline in participation rate, partlydue to seafarers’ busy work schedule onboard.

In the future, compliance with the Seagull CBTtraining matrix will also be a requirement forpromotion. An interface between the Seagull andThome Crew Information System (Compas) hasrecently been established to better facilitate themonitoring of training progress and compliance.

New titles have recently been released by

Seagull and the following are now included in theSeagull CBT package: CBT # 0211 ECDIS System and Chart TypesCBT # 0212 ECDIS Display FeaturesCBT # 0213 Passage Planning with ECDISCBT # 0215 Voyage Planning - Pre DepartureCBT # 0215 Voyage Planning - The Sea PassageCBT # 0215 Voyage Planning - Pilotage andBerthingCBT # 0219 Oil Record Book Part IICBT # 0222 Galley Operations 3, Food HandlingCBT # 0223 Galley Operation, NutritionCBT # 0263 Principles of AssessmentCBT # 0264 Onboard Assessment

Access to Seagull online can be obtained fromthe Manning Agent or by contacting the ThomeCrewing Operations team.

Wishing everyone happy training!

The need for quality training onboard ship and ashore cannot be emphasisedenough which is why Thome has placed it as a major priority as part of its crew

development programme.

Seagull CBT moving onlineBy Dennis Svane Hansen, Head of Group Strategic Crewing


Thome Group News


Thome Group News

Senior Vessel Manager, Superintendent J Raju, shares his experiences of the take-over of “M.V. MIKA MANX” from the Tsuneishi Yard in Cebu Philippines.

Bollywood glamour and tears of joylaunch Mika Manx


Thome Group News

Nothing short of a grand Bollywood premier – that was experiencegenerated by the gamut of emotions, excitement and enthusiasm as MVMika Manx was launched from the Tsuneishi Yard.

The vessel’s proud owners, M/s LT Ugland Management Ltd, havehad five vessels rolled out of Tsuneishi Yard, with two more still in thepipeline and the respect shared between the senior board members ofTsuneishi and Sir Lars T Ugland, the CEO of LTU Management Ltdwas clear throughout this memorable ceremony.

Our day began early with an hour-long journey to the DeliveryCeremony along winding, hilly roads through the scenic Cebumountain range. We were all dressed in traditional Filipino Barang,which is a mix between casual and formal dressing.

Reaching the yard at 0930 hrs, after formal introductions we weretaken to the ceremonial dais where our beautiful lady MIKA MANXwas dressed immaculately for the occasion.

At the launch jetty, a crowd of more than 100 school childrenwelcomed us with a splendid dance performance. As the music playedall around, the enthusiastic and smiling school children swayed to awell-rehearsed dance ballet.

After the traditional speeches from the dignitaries on the dais,MIKA MANX was officially named by Mrs Liv K Ugland, who is boththe company’s Sales Manager/Consultant and also daughter of SirLars, to thunderous applause and celebration.

Following a photo session we then stepped in to an elevator car tobe lifted by crane on to the vessel. While we were in the air, suddenlyall the school kids standing below gave another round of danceperformance and it looked heavenly to see from above.

The crane put us on the main deck and we were received on boardby the ship staff led by Captain Ruperto Leque and Chief EngineerJose Tanigue. The staff was equally well dressed with the top fourofficers in full ceremonial blue while the crew wore clean trademarkLTU boiler suits.

It was a sight to behold and I felt proud to be Superintendent of thevessel. My ship was shining and my crew was making it all happen sowell. There were even tears – something which is unusual in shipping.

We showcased the vessel to the owners and the dignitaries fromTHOME. Mrs Liv was particularly keen to see the galley where thefood is cooked for the crew. This did not surprise me as LTU’s care forthe well-being of its crews is legendary.

Back onshore we prepared to leave. I could sense one moresurprise in the offing. Suddenly, hundreds of flags were distributedand we heard the ship’s horn blaring.

The staff on board the ship – yes my own staff – had gathered ondeck in groups and were throwing reels and reels of colouredribbons from the main deck. They had planned this surprise and I donot know when they got the time to rehearse their arrangement,particularly as right up to the last minute I had been driving themcrazy with my pre-delivery checklists and storage of items.

Miles and miles of coloured ribbons went flying in the air,descending on us below like flower petals. The tugs stationedbehind started pulling MIKA MANX slowly away from the jetty andsuddenly huge speakers blared the tune “I am sailing,” thetraditional departing song, and the emotional moment brought tearsof joy to the eyes of every single person standing below. We were allswaying crazily with flags in our hand, as if bidding farewell to ourbeloved and crying in anticipation for the great times ahead!!

It was sheer emotion all around and this is something I had neverseen before in more than ten years ashore and after attendingcountless deliveries. It was an unbelievable feeling and an equallyunbelievable moment.

The ship was then taken out on to the high seas and we keptwaving until our hands got tired and eyes strained.

As we boarded the vehicles taking us to the Official Lunch in theyard hotel, I noticed Sir Lars affectionately putting a hand on hisdaughter, Mrs Liv’s, shoulder as they watched the ship movegracefully into the ocean. Their sense of pride was clear as they senttheir ‘baby’ off to sea.

The Luncheon was perfect with great speech by Mrs Liv, MrClaes, our own Thome President, and of course the vessel’s ownerSir Lars who thanked everyone who worked on the project. Themutual respect between Tsuneishi and LTU was clear and we havealso done our best to create a similar association between THOMEand LTU.

As a Superintendent, I feel proud to be associated with LTUVessels and Sir Lars. While we are always extremely professional inour approach towards ship management, the relationship with LTUis particularly close and the LTU vessels are cherished by everyseafarer on board.


Thome Group News

Before I embarked on my week-long adventure, I boosted mybasic vessel operation knowledge by undertaking several SeagullCBT modules. Those modules were informative and helpful andgave me a brief idea on the different aspects of vessel operation – so at least I knew what to expect when I was onboard. I also wentthrough a medical examination to ensure I was fit for the journey.According to Thome’s HSSEQ system, all seafarers must take amedical examination and be proved to be fit before he or she canjoin the vessel. For a supernumerary, there is no exception. Champion Ebony is owned by one of Thome’s oldest partners,

Champion Tankers AS. She is a Norwegian flagged oil tankerengaged mostly in edible oil trades worldwide. For the leg fromHong Kong to Sandakan, I managed to experience many differentactivities as followed:■ Annual survey by Lloyd’s Register■ Pilotage■ Onboard safety security tour and familiarization■ Stowage planning■ Tank cleaning■ Watch duties■ Chart correction■ Drills■ Mooring ■ Ballast tank sounding ■ Potable water onboard testing

Besides working alongside colleagues in the deck department, Ialso spent time with the engineering department in the EngineRoom. I learned a lot about the various bits of machinery onboard. Itwas amazing how helpful practical experience was in acquiring newknowledge. As someone with a very limited technical background,

after spending some time with our friendly officers onboard, Imanaged to understand how cargo heating systems work; how theFRAMO pump system works as well as how the main engine andboilers work.Champion Ebony is equipped with the SMSCrew mail system

and the Horizonsat system. Crew members can obtain theirSMSCrew account and user name from the Captain free of chargeand use it to communicate with shore via e-mails or messages.Horizonsat connects the vessel to the shore wherever she goes byusing satellite. Crew members can connect to the satellite networkwirelessly by purchasing an account and top-up card: credit on thecard is deducted based on the data usage. Once the client port isinstalled on crews’ laptops, the crew can use the same account for e-mails and phone calls. The Champion Ebony was recently installedwith free internet onboard.

When the vessel is sailing in the open sea, everyone has theirown responsibility and everyone plays an essential part in runningthe vessel. There is something of a family atmosphere onboard too.

This onboard experience was invaluable to me, as it is to thecrew members onboard, in getting a better idea of the rationalebehind certain requirements we have in our HSSEQ system. As akey concept in Thome Human Element, dual-directioncommunication is essential in minimizing possible human errors.

I am very grateful to Capt. Arnold Quino, C/E CiufudeanBogdan, C/E Sugiana I Nyoman and the rest of the crew onboardChampion Ebony for their hospitality and kind guidance when I wasonboard. Because of all of you, I had an enjoyable and at the sametime, meaningful seven-days onboard. Last but not least, I wouldlike to wish all of you a safe and smooth 2014.

Stay happy and healthy!

Seven days is definitely not enough time to explore every aspect of life onboard ship,however, I appreciated the chance to sail with the Champion Ebony from Hong Kong to

Sandakan in Malaysia.

Vessel Familiarization ProgramBy Jackie Lan Li, Management Trainee


Thome Group News

SDTR Marine Pte Ltd has announcedplans to build six Kamsarmax bulk carriers(with an option for an additional four) inChina and has appointed Thome MarineConsultant Pte Ltd (TMC) to projectmanage the newbuildings at China’sNanjing-based Jiangsu Jinling Shipyard.

On the 27th January 2014, ManagingDirector of TMC, Mr Raul Matovic, in thepresence of THOME Group Chairman, MrOlav Eek Thorstensen, SDTR MarineGeneral Manager, David Xiong and Headof Ship Management Department, Mr

Wellman Lim, witnessed the officialsigning of the Agreement For Ship-Building Project Management at theSDTR Marine’s Singapore Office. Thesteel cutting will start in June 2015 andTMC will start the plan approval in thefirst half of the year 2014.

The project is expected to finish byMay 2018 when the last (10th ifconstructed) vessel is scheduled to bedelivered.

SDTR Marine Pte Ltd is a joint venturebetween Shandong Shipping and

Singapore’s Transcenden Global with theformer being the major stakeholder. Itwas set up in Singapore in August 2013and is currently focusing on the dry bulk trade.

This signing event marks thebeginning of a close collaborationbetween the two companies. We lookforward to working closely with SDTRstaff towards the successful projectmanagement and potential shipmanagement business in the near future.

Congtratulations Team THOME!

Thome Marine Consultant bags kamsarmaxnewbuilding supervision contract

By Shirish Sharma, Project Manager


Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, wreaked havoc and caused extensive loss oflives and destruction of homes and businesses last year.

TSM Group supports typhoonsurvivorsBy Ian R. Garcia, CEO, TSM Group

Thome Group News


Thome Group News

The plight of the Philippine peopletouched everyone’s hearts and millions ofpeople all over the world donated funds andhelp for the disaster survivors. ThomeGroup and TSM Group, with their strongbusiness links and history in the Philippines,were quick to put their support behind therelief operations.

Many of our seafarers and their familieshave been directly affected by the typhoon.Everyone in the company has voluntarilypulled together to make a difference to thecommunities that urgently need help.

It is in times of crises like this when thebest in every human being comes out.Strongly determined and with unquestionablecompassion, TSM Group staff gladlycontributed P500 of their earnings to thecompany’s calamity fund to assist the needsof the typhoon survivors and even wentwithout their Christmas party in order todonate more funds to the relief efforts.

To date, employee donations havereached nearly P900,000 and this moneyhas been used to purchase two batches ofrelief packages, totaling 2,256 bags which

have been distributed to the affectedcommunities.

As the impact of the storm, which has leftmost people in the typhoon-torn communitieswith almost nothing, became more apparentTSM Group received further donations fromits board of directors, management,Principals and partners and the company hasnow raised more than P8.5 million.

Our commitment to helping is made allthe stronger by the knowledge that morethan 1,208 of our seafarers live in theaffected areas. We were particularly anxiousto help locate seafarers’ missing families.We have established a dedicated bankaccount for donations which has alreadyhelped more than 40 people and are in theprocess of helping at least 55 more.

TSM Group has vowed to remain ofservice to those affected by typhoon Haiyanin the best way we can by contributing torehabilitation projects. We are alsocontinuing the humanitarian efforts andcommunity involvement programs that wehave been running for several years andwhich endorse our company commitment to

helping make a positive impact on societyand in building a stronger nation.

These projects include a communityservice programme at Taguig NationalHigh School which, since 2010, has seen24 volunteers help repair and clean up theschool; and Christmas gift giving schemesin Iloilo City and Cebu City which havebeen attended by more than 160 seafarersand their families. In addition, a giftgiving scheme at the Jose Reyes MemorialMedical Center, now on its sixth year, hasenabled the distribution of 420 grocerybags, donated by TSM Group staff, to thepatients of this government hospital.

The Chief Executive Officer of TSMGroup said: “We have a strongcommitment to corporate socialresponsibility and a culture ofvolunteering and giving. I am very proudthat our staff and business colleagues havebeen able to give so much support to theongoing relief efforts in the Philippinesand we will continue to work hard to helpthe Filipino people recover from thisterrible disaster.”


Thome Group News

new

build

ings

With these words, the Godmothers carried outthe naming ceremony of Ardmore Seavantage andArdmore Seavanguard. This was followed with agrand display of fireworks.

It was a beautiful and bright morning onWednesday, the 15th of January 2014, when MrsSarah Jones (the wife of Reginald Jones, Chairmanand Director of Ardmore Shipping) and MrsMarianne Gurnee (wife of Anthinee Gurnee, CEOof Ardmore Shipping) took part in the naming of thetwo vessels. The Group Chairman and CEO ofThome Group Olav Eek Thortensen alsoparticipated in the event along with other luminariesof the Industry. After the naming ceremony theguests enjoyed a tour of the vessel which wasfollowed by a Gala lunch and dinner. Mr Thortensentook great intrest in visiting the vessel and alsointeracting with the crew.

Built in the SPP Shipyard, the ArdmoreSeavantage is a 49,999 dwt, IMO III, MR Productand Chemical Tanker. Built to high specifications,the vessel is manned by a complement ofEuropean and Filipino officers and crew. Thetakeover officers joined one month prior todelivery to participate in the sea-trials and

familiarize themselves thoroughly with the vessel. The vessel is built to the latest eco-design and

fitted with up to date MAN ME Engines. She isfitted with Skysails for dynamic monitoring andmanagement of fuel consumption. The Mewisduct has been fitted prior to the delivery stageitself and this adds further to the fuel economy.

The vessel came into the management ofThome Ship Management following her deliveryon 17th January 2014 and sailed out on hermaiden voyage to load a cargo of gasoline atOnsan, Korea under the Command of Capt Robert Gaina.

We wish Capt. Gaina, Chief Engineer Valchevand her crew safe and smooth seas!

‘"I name this ship Ardmore Seavantage. May God bless all who built her andall who will sail on her"

Naming of the Ardmore Seavantageat SPP Shipyard, Korea

By Ashish Malik, Fleet Group Manager

Under the able command of Capt MPredovan & Chief Engineer Mr P Chobanovon 4th Dec 2013, Thome took over thedelivery of the vessel Front Avon from STXoffshore & shipbuilding yard, Jinhae,Korea. After delivery, she loaded palm oilfrom Malaysia and discharged successfullyin Rotterdam in sub-zero temperatures. Thesecond vessel Front Dee was taken over on3rd Jan, 2014 from the same yard. Sheloaded vegetable oil from Malaysia fordischarging in Rotterdam around 22nd Feb2014. The 3rd vessel for Thome ShipManagement is scheduled to be delivered on14th Feb 2014 from STX Ship building,Jinhae, S Korea. She completed her seatrials and is going through ISM/ ISPSaudits. These vessels are commerciallyoperated by Scorpio and V.Ships Glasgow

shall also be monitoring the commercialmanagement.

The MR tankers each have a deadweightof 50,000dwt with a length of 175.9m, abreadth of 32.2m and a draft of 19.10m aswell as a service speed of about 14.5knots.The vessels are IMO Type II & III tankersand designed/certified to carry MarpolAnnex I & Annex II cargoes as per thecertificate of fitness listed cargoes. Theirconstruction has been supervised andcontrolled by the Frontline site team in STXJinhae. Sea trails for these vessels weresuccessfully completed approximately 15days before their scheduled delivery dates.They are flagged under the Marshall Islandsand classed with DNV.

The ships are equipped with Framopumps for the effective stripping & cargo

handling as required by the Type II & IIItankers and are in full compliance withnavigation by ECDIS. Main engine is aMAN B&W 6S50ME-B9.2 (NOX TIER II)and designed to develop 7,260 KW @99RPM power. The vessels are fitted with 3 x6L23/30H – G02 – MCO 960KW@900RPM aux engines to cater for thepower requirement. These vessels’ engine &hull are designed and built to deliver thebest fuel efficiency in this category resultingin very good emission control standards andfriendliness to the environment.

During the sea trials and also in thevoyages after delivery – these vessels werefound to perform very well. Speed andconsumption results are as per thespecification. We wish the Owner and thevessels all the very best and safe sailing.


Thome Group News

Thome Ship Management recently took delivery of three product/chemical Medium Range (MR)tankers from STX Offshore & Ship building Co. Ltd., Jinhae, Korea shipyard on behalf ofFrontline 2012 Ltd. These product tankers are designed and built to run fuel efficiently and

with ‘green’ ships notation (environmentally friendly).

Leading from the frontBy Ranga Prakash C, Fleet Group Manager


Eleana Choy recently joined Thome asHead of Group Human Resources.

She is a very experienced HRpractitioner whose previous senior HR rolewas at Sembawang Shipyard for 20 yearswhere she led a team of 13 HR personnel.

Eleana holds an Executive MasterBusiness Administration (EMBA) fromNanyang Technological University.

How long have you been in Thome andhave you settled down well?

I have been with Thome for three monthsand I have assimilated well into thecompany with the support of all. The peoplein Thome are nice, professional and helpful

Being in Thome for this short period,what is your view on the group HR andwhat are the challenges ahead?

Three months into the job whatimpressed upon me is the Thome HumanElement drive in the company and howstrongly the Human Element is imbedded ineverything we do.

The first thought which comes to mymind about Group HR is “Rethinking HR”.My view is that the current HR is moretransactional, more administrative. I believe

our HR needs to adapt by being morestrategic, to bring HR to a greater height tosupport the business.

Strategic HR is taking a more forward-thinking approach whereas the transactionalis more administrative. They are twodifferent elements of Human Resources,however, and they cannot be separated aswe need both. So the biggest challenge forme now is to align the team in our pursuit tobe more strategically focused.

I would like to quote Helen Drinan,Former President and CEO of the Societyfor Human Resources Management: “If HR does not force its way into the

heart of strategic planning in organizations,it will default to a technical andtransactional dead end”

What will be your first steps toachieving your goals for Thome’s HRdepartment?

First and foremost, what I would like tosee is the HR team to take on more of aBusiness Partner role where the departmenthas a good understanding of the company’sbusiness and is run like a business bythinking what would best serve the overall

business, and by proactively contributing tothe development and accomplishment of theorganization-wide business plan andobjectives.

HR has to move away from beingadministrative and become consultants tothe line managers, giving advice on HRrelated matters. We will be the point ofcontact for each department, supportingthem to achieve their business goals.

I would also like to see more HRfunctions driven down to departmentmanagers with the guidance from HR. It iscritical to have line managers taking on therole of HR manager in managing theirpeople, after all it is in their interest ifpeople stay because of their goodmanagement.

Other key aspects to moving forwardinclude attracting new talent, retaining goodemployees, identifying and nurturing newtalent within the organisation, and engagingour employees in a meaningful way whichenhances their employment satisfaction.

I am looking forward to meeting thesechallenges and working with the HR teamto build on our successes.

Introducing the new Head of Thome’sHuman Resources Department

Thome Group News

Eleana Choy


Thome Group News

A high performing organisation is an organisation which, despite operating in an environmentwhere hazards are numerous and the consequences of failure catastrophic, manages its operations

in such a way that its error rate is consistently very low.

Attitude performance

Leadership

Culture

Attitude

Let us look at theCharacteristics we believe in…

High performing and reliableorganisations have a number ofdefining characteristics ofwhich the following areexamples.

LEADERSHIP:exceptionally high performingleaders are visible leaders whoengage with our frontline staffthrough vessel visits, and whowalk the talk so they have amuch more realistic picture ofoperations. They are alsoproactive in commissioningaudits on the basis of events inother companies, not just eventsin their own, and they arecharacterised by an ability tobalance commercial and safetyimperatives. They achieve thisby empowering employees to

make decisions which are safein the short-term, but profitablein the long-term.

Thome Leaders arerecognised by the resourcesthey invest in terms of staff andtime not only to ensureoperational safety, but also torespond to unexpected events.They encourage and arereceptive to bottom upcommunications of ‘bad news’from frontline staff; employeesare not afraid to say whenthings go wrong. Finally, theirleadership style is described asmanagement by exception;leaders focus on the strategicdirection of the company and donot interfere in operationaldecisions except to intervenewhen there is an unplanneddeviation.

ATTITUDE: attitude tosafety is characterised as beingpreoccupied with failure; ahigh performing person seesincidents and near-misses asthe indicators of the health andreliability of the organisationand view such errors as failingsof the system rather than asfailings of an individual ordepartment. In terms of attitudetowards authority, HROs areoften organised hierarchicallywith clearly defined roles andresponsibilities, but whenemergencies occur, deferenceis switched to those with theexpertise rather than to thosewith status in the organisation.Lastly, their attitude to learningis demonstrated by thecontinuous technical trainingthat staff receive, the openness

of communication and sharingof information betweenoperations and management,and a commitment to learningfrom experiences and errors.

CULTURE: is described ashaving norms of behaviourwhich represent a just culture.Within such cultures,individuals can openly reportincidents and near-misseswithout fear of punishment, butnot all behaviour is tolerated. Aline is drawn betweennecessary violations due toinadequacies in equipment orthe design of the workingenvironment that makecompliance with proceduresdifficult, and those behavioursthat are unacceptable ornegligent where disciplinaryaction is warranted.

By Capt. Michael Elwert, Director Group HR, Strategy and Support, Thome Group


Its owned fleet of 45- 50 vessels, includes newbuilds underconstruction in Brazil and Norway, while vessels in operation includelarge-capacity anchor-handling, tug and supply (AHTS) vessels, mid-size and large-size platform supply vessels (PSVs), multi-purposefield-and ROV-support vessels (MRSVs), and other types of offshorevessel designed to meet the most challenging environments. Withfurther vessels under-construction – PSVs, oil spill recovery vessels(OSRVs), and offshore construction vessels (OCVs) we are seeing asignificant increase in future service capacity.

And as Siem Management is a company which sets high standardsof health, safety, environment and quality, it is a good fit in what wefocus on and deliver in Thome Offshore.

Management discussion first started in the third quarter of last yearfor Thome Offshore to carry out the technical management of threeSiem offshore vessels with two new builds coming onboard in the nearfuture. The proposal was for two x PSVs and one x MRSV. At the end

of the third quarter signed Bimco ship management agreements wereconcluded and Thome Offshore management set about its task oftaking over the three vessels.

The Siem Louisa is a medium sized VS 470 Mk II designed PSV.This vessel was taken over in Takoradi, Ghana. The vessel had justcompleted a charter and was required, once the takeover wascompleted, to sail to Luanda, Angola to embark on a long-termcontract for Total E & P Angola.Siem Sasha is also a medium sized VS 470 Mk II designed PSV.

She was taken over in Cape Town while on voyage to Nigeria to start anew charter under Marine Platform & Charters Chevron. Siem Sashahad just completed docking and DP 2 up-grade and other majormachinery overhauls in Sir-Lanka.

The Siem Marlin is a diesel electric driven propulsion, ROV andlight construction vessel. Its 100 tonne heave compensated offshorecrane and its multipurpose design meet the general needs of the

Siem Offshore Inc is a company which provides a wide range of services to theglobal oil and gas industry with a modern, environmentally-friendly and

technically-advanced fleet.

Siem Offshore soaring to greater heightsBy Paul Schaab, General Manager, Thome Offshore Management

Thome Group News


Thome Group News

offshore supply market, especially with low fuel consumption(reduction in emissions) and low noise and vibration in the hull andsuperstructure to ensure excellent sea-keeping and maximum comfortfor the crew and personnel.

The takeover of the Siem Marlin was more challenging than thefirst vessels, as she was in an ROV operation offshore Nigeria andcould not be released to carry out the takeover in port. The situationrequired precise planning – especially as the owner’s reps (MarinePlatform) and charterers (Chevron) etc. were onboard. The task tobringing crew, surveyors and all other requirements for the takeover of the vessel was successfully accomplished without interruption to the operation.

Siem’s latest addition to its fleet, the state of the art OCV SiemSpearfish and Siem Stingray (STX OCV 03 design) will be ready toembark on long term contract directly from a Norwegian shipyard inthe second and third quarters of 2014.

Siem Spearfish and Siem Stingray are designed for subsea operationduties such as construction and installation work, inspection andmaintenance. These vessels have a clean design; are environmental-friendly, have accommodation for 110 persons and a focus on low fuelconsumption through their diesel electric machinery. With a 250 tonneheave compensated offshore crane with 3,000 m operating depth, theadvance design and technology of these two new OCVs will be in theforefront of the construction and maintenance world.

Preparation for the takeover of these two vessels starts withfinding the correct crew. Crew requirements and qualifications arecrucial factors for a smooth operation onboard this type and size of tonnage.

We appreciate the trust that Siem Management has given ThomeOffshore and we would like to thank them for the opportunity towork with them. And so we we look forward to a bigger, brighterand stronger business relationship.


Thome Group News

Ensuring our managed vessels are maintained to the highest standards is a priority for ourteams at Thome Ship Management, which is why the work of our 15 strong team of vetting

inspectors is crucial to the day-to-day operation of our fleets.

Shining a light on vettingBy Capt Atul Vatsa, Senior Manager Marine Standards & Vetting

To say we are busy is a bit of anunderstatement as we inspect every vesselin our managed fleet as least twice a year inall parts of the world and achievementsspeak volumes for the dedication our teamsput into ensuring our ships meet all industrystandards as well.

2013 was a good year for us and I wouldlike to thank all our teams for finishing theyear on a high note with the best ever resultfor the Group. In December we achieved2.92 observations per inspection which in

layman’s terms meant that for the 74inspections we carried out, we found 70observations. This result in Decemberimproved our year to date performance to4.07 observations per inspection.

Based on this performance, our KPI for2014 has been set at 3.75.

The KEY TO SUCCESS for a goodinspection is: professionalism; integrity;respect; attitude; ownership andassertiveness. Without doubt, people makethe difference in everything that we do and

good vetting results need preparation aswell as active support.

The main focus of our department hasbeen to ensure the safe operation of ourvessels and to ensure the vessels aremaintained to the highest standards at alltimes. They are ready for an inspection atany time.

Oil Major/CDI inspection is one of themain areas in which the Marine Teamoversees. These inspections are the key tosuccess for all owners and they look to us to


Thome Group News

ensure their vessels are acceptable to OilMajors when proposed for business and thisin turn produces excellent vetting results.

Oil Majors are tracking our fleet to see ifthere are any repeats because questions willthen arise in their minds whether what we sayor do as PREVENTIVE ACTION is actuallyworking. We have now started to categorizeour observation based on five of thecategories as mentioned in the two graphsand the focus should be eliminating theModerate and High Risk observations. Theseaccount for 35% of the observations and thetarget is to reduce this by half in 2014.


Staff well-being and personal health were topof the agenda at the beginning of November when50 intrepid Thome staff donned their running gear,braved the cool and cloudy weather, andembarked on the last Thome East Coast Run of 2013.

The running route was the same as previously,namely a 6.5km coastal route from east coast car-park B1 to car-park F2. One rollerblader togetherwith one first-aider patrolled the route to ensurethe on-going safety of the runners while anotherfirst-aider was stationed at the first water point on standby.

The warm-up was led by Ray Lee from theSecurity Department and then, at 6pm sharp, therace was on. A little light drizzle only served tospur the runners on and by 6:50pm all runners hadarrived at the finishing point where they tuckedinto delicious barbequed food.

Our own Chief Financial Officer Mr MartinMcGregor was the first one to pass the finishingline, followed by Mr Huang Runhua, Mr RajivMalhotra, Ms Emily Choo and Mr MichaelElwert. The Thome East Coast Run is not merelyabout running, it reflects the management’s focuson staff’s well-being and personal health. Theevent helps to promote the idea of having ahealthy lifestyle, which is a vital concept ofThome’s Health Awareness and Human ElementPackage.

Last but not the least, all runners then gave abig round of applause to the organizing committeewho had not only made this event happen but hadspent a lot of their own time running the eventsthroughout 2013.

Following on the back of last year’s success,we look forward to the exciting series of ThomeHealth awareness events in 2014.

Ready, steady, go for theThome East Coast Run

Staff well-being and personal health were top of the agenda at the beginningof November as 50 intrepid Thome staff donned their running gear, bravedthe cool and cloudy weather, and embarked on the last Thome East CoastRun of 2013.

By Jackie Lan Li,Management Trainee

(HSSEQ)

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rThome Group News


It was trousers rolled up timefor our team at Thome Thailandwho got happy and messyplanting mangroves at BangpuSeaside as part of thecompany’s Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) program,writes Capt.Seksit Pratoomsri,Training Manager & MLC.

Planting mangroves can be atricky occupation for those notin the know as it can be difficultto pull your legs out of the mudbut it was smiles all round asour excellent planters did theirbit for preserving our seasidehabitat and preventing coastalerosion.

Life may end, butmemories last forever

Doing our bit!

“Life may end, but memorieslast forever…” – This quotecaptures the essence of theMemory Box project, whichDover Park Hospice is planning toroll out in April 2014.

It is a meaningful initiativewhere each patient will receive anempty but nicely-designedmemory box upon their admission,for them to store their personalbelongings and other items of

sentimental value during theirstay at our hospice. The boxescontaining these memorabilia,symbols of the patients’memories, will then bereturned to their familymembers for remembranceand keepsake when thepatients are discharged or havepassed on, as part of DPH’sbereavement service.

Each year, more than 500DPH patients (and theirfamilies) will receive thememory box as part of thisproject, and we are gratefulfor the kind support fromThome Group who made this initiative possibleenabling us to make ameaningful difference to patients lives.

A picture, as they say, isworth a thousand words andwe at Thome believe in thepower of the image to tellstories that can't be told anyother way. The Thome PhotoContest is a celebration ofthat belief and an invitationto all of you to share yourstory in Thome with the world.

So we are encouragingeveryone ashore and offshorein Thome Group to send inyour photographs that show,through your creativity, atypical day for you inThome. The photographsmust be about Thome, andthey should be in highresolution at 300 dpi.

Select your best work andsubmit your photos by May1st 2014 to: PR - [email protected] and you could win anIPad and IPad mini in prizes.

Welcome to thenew ThomePhoto Contest

Thome Group News


The Balai Cluster Risk Service Contract wasawarded in August 2011 to BC Petroleum SdnBhd.

The EPV Balai Mutiara was converted from atanker to an early production vessel which sailedout from Keppel shipyard in May 2013 andThome Oil and Gas took the vessel out to the fieldsoon after.

Given the weather conditions during thisperiod of the year, she went for extensive seatrials to test her station holding capacity in thefield -130 km northeast of Bintulu, Sarawak .

After successfully completing the trials theEPV Balai Mutiara, with on board storagecapacity of about 50,000 barrels, well testingfacilities and accommodation for 40 persons, was on site in time.

The first oil commenced on 6th Nov 2013 andthe vessel proved its capability braving the heavyweather in the field. Thome Oil and Gas has been

involved in this project right from day one and hasbeen rendering its Operation and Maintenancemanagement services with great success.

Developing marginal oil fields in an economically attractive manner is often challenging, asthey need the same expensive infrastructure as large fields, while the expected revenue

streams are smaller due to the smaller reserve sizes.

Meeting the offshore challenge

Thome Group News

By Sanjay Dasmunshy, Fleet Group Manager

Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd (HQ)Thome JapanRepresentative Office

Thome Ship Management(Korea) Co., Ltd

Thome Ship ManagementNorway AS

Thome OffshoreManagement (Malaysia)SDN. BHD.

Thome Shipping(Myanmar) Limited

Thome Ship ManagementPte. Ltd. - ROHQ

TSM Shipping (Phils) Inc.

MST Marine Services(Philippines) Inc

Thome Ship Management(Thailand) Co., Ltd

Thome RepresentativeOffice (Netherlands)

Thome OffshoreManagement Pte Ltd

Thome Oil and GasPte Ltd

Thome MarineConsultants Pte Ltd

Timur Ship ManagementPte Ltd (Singapore)

Thome OffshoreManagement Pte Ltd Brazil

Thome Ship ManagementDenmark

TimurShip Management(Phils) Inc.

TSM Offshore ( Phils) Inc.

Thome EnterpriseManagement (Shanghai)Co. Ltd

Thome Zadar d.o.o.

Thome Shipping (India)Private Limited

PT. Timur ShipManagement Pte Ltd

Contacts

16 Raffles Quay, #43-01 Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527 Email: [email protected]

16 Raffles Quay, #43-01 HongLeong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527 Email: [email protected]

Thome Ship Agency16 Raffles Quay, #42-01 HongLeong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527 Email: [email protected]

7th Fl., Haenam Building, 21,Bukchang-dong, Jung-Gu, Seoul,KoreaTel: (82) 2 6496 7254Fax: (82) 2 6496 7256 Email: [email protected]

Level 7 Menara Milenium, JalanDamanlela, Pusat BandarDamansara, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTelephone: (+65) 62207291Fax: (+65) 62251527Email: [email protected]

No. 4C, 99 Condo, Damazedi Road,Kamayut Township, Republic of theUnion of Myanmar.Tel: (+95) 1 501331Mobile: (+95) 942000 4902Email: [email protected]

Buildings 1751, 1753 & TSMMaritime Center, 1749, 1751, 1753Dian Street, Palanan, Makati City,Philippines 1235Tel: (+63) 2 8607500 | (+63) 25557600Fax: (+63) 2 5566074 | (+63) 25519077Email: [email protected]

TSM House 1747, 1749 & 1751Dian Street, Palanan 1235 MakatiCity, PhilippinesTel: (63 2) 860 7500 / (63 2) 5519096Email: [email protected]: www.tsmphil.com.ph

TSM Offshore ( Phils. ),Inc. 1751 Bldg. Dian St. Palanan,Makati City, Philippines 1235Tel: ( 632) 860 7541 Email:[email protected]: www.tsmphil.com.ph

TSM House 1747, 1749 & 1751Dian Street, Palanan 1235 MakatiCity, PhilippinesTel: (63 2) 860 7500 / (63 2) 5519096Email: [email protected]: www.tsmphil.com.ph

Parkveien 57, 0256 Oslo, NorwayTel: (47) 2311 5515Fax: (47) 2311 5518Email: [email protected]

Varich Building, 88 Soi Bangna-Trad 30, Bangna-Trad Road,Bangkok, 10260, ThailandTel: (662) 398 7650-2Fax: (662) 401 3206 Email: [email protected]

Zuid-Hollandlaan 7, 2596 AL TheHague, The NetherlandsTel/Fax: (+31) 70 324 19 07Email:[email protected] Marine Crewing Centerwww.dutchmarinecrewing.com

16 Raffles Quay, #34-04 HongLeong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527Email: [email protected]

1751 Dian Street, Palanan, MakatiCity, Philippines 1235Tel: (632) 860 7500 / (632) 5557610 | Fax: (632) 556 6074Email:[email protected]

210, Shalimar Morya Park,Off. New Andheri Link Road,Andheri (West), Mumbai-400053,IndiaTel : +91 22 40680300Fax: +91 22 40680330Email: [email protected]

Permata Kuningan Building16th Floor, Unit 01-02Jl. Kuningan Mulia Kav. 9CJakarta 12980, IndonesiaTel: (62) 21 290 79 141Fax: (62) 21 290 79 140Email: [email protected]

Akimoto Building, 4F 2-12 Miyuki-Dori, Shunan-City,Yamaguchi Pref., Japan 745-0034Tel: (834) 276544Fax: (834) 276545Email: [email protected]

Room16E, Jin Sui Mansion, 379 Pudong South Road,Pudong, Shanghai 200120Tel: (86) 21 6886 9769Fax: (86) 21 6886 9770Email: [email protected]

Obala Kneza Trpimira 2,23000 Zadar, CroatiaTel: 385 (0) 23 400 050Fax: 385 (0) 23400 051Email: [email protected]

Flamengo Park Towers, Praia doFlamengo, 66, Bloco B, Sala 806 -Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro – RJCEP.: 22210-030Telephone: (5521) 3649-4211 /3649-4311Website: www.gcomex.com.br

Amaliegade 33B, 1256 Copenhagen, DenmarkTel: (+45) 38415170 Email: [email protected]

16 Raffles Quay, #34-01/02 HongLeong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527Email: [email protected]

16 Raffles Quay, #34-01/02 HongLeong Building, Singapore 048581Tel: (65) 6220 7291Fax: (65) 6225 1527Email: [email protected]

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