FULL MANAGEMENT
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but, if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties"
(Francis Bacon (1561-1626), Advancement of Learning I.v.8)
The art of full Shipmanagement
As mature professional managers, with our technical focus, we can manage large fleets on behalf of many owners and we have developed unparalleled strengths in training, sourcing and managing crews from both; traditional and non-traditional shipping nations. This gave owners the aptitude to manage their costs efficiently and boost competitiveness together with the choice to enlarge or lessen their fleets devoid of distressing about their need to either increase or deplete their technical resources.
Galileos has managed through its years of establishment to provide safe technical decisions, quality and operational costs, which they were being, managed effectively leaving all of our clients to merely focus upon market opportunities.
Full management includes:
- Crew recruitment including join and repatriation procedure; medical examination together will crew relevant qualification/ certificates
- Maintaining all the necessary manuals and certificates on board the vessel
- Maintenance of vessels as to the extend, which it is agreed within the contract (i.e. repairs, dry docking) and in sequence preparation of the analogous report including superintendent's expenses.
- Supply of provisions, stores, and lubricants oils
- Dealing with all operational issues regarding operation in relation to either time charter or spot market
- Dealing with all charter party disputes including cargo claims, demurrage, dispatch, bunkering, port agents, hire disputes and freight disputes.
- Maintaining for P&I cover as well as for the minimum H&M insurance.
COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT
"The market is elastic as our vessel flexibility and cargo handling systems allow it to be: it is not easy to build up a market based upon the ship. The name of the game is to build the ship around the market."
(Bengt Koch, Managing Director, Atlantic Container Line Services, at RO RO 83 Conference, Gothenberg, 1983)
Galileos is responsible on behalf of its partners to run the vessels either on a time charter basis or on a spot market. Either way, the operation team which is responsible for the running of the vessels will decide accordingly; the team will study and delve into a research for gaining accurate information in prior to any commercial decision as it is the company's foremost objective to maximize the benefits of our partners. In further, it is a matter of duty to be in touch with all other surround departments and co-operators like brokers, charters, port agents and of course provision and bunker suppliers.
Our chartering department is active on a world wide basis in different types of commodities and sizes from coasters to Panamax. We rely heavily on direct connections with major trading houses in Europe, Middle East importers-exporters, and a host of selected exclusive chartering brokers.
We have local knowledge of different markets which gives us an edge when committing our vessels for employment; we keep abreast with market developments, forecasts, and international trade out look. Having the correct information at the right time can not be overemphasized in shipping.
Our brokers have diverse background and have complete knowledge of overall ship operations, characteristics which serves to enable them to choose the optimum employment for a particular vessel by choosing the most suitable cargoes and balancing profits against potential risks of trade.
Recently Galileos also is activated very successful in the field of Forward Freight Agreements (FFA). Our consulting team is consisting from experienced brokers and ex-bankers that can weigh the risk in its occasion. FFAs have a great potential of profit and future employment of a fleet (bunkers as well) but always after careful consideration of the market.
TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
One of the most critical aspects of ship management is the technical management. Galileos with well-trained technical officers and modem computerized systems has achieved to attain an excellent maintained fleet always with cost-efficient and quality orientation.
Precisely, we have prepared Maintenance Program for various types of vessels. Conducting of maintenance is achieved with great support of crew employed. Nowadays, when vessels run fast from port to port and stay period is very limited, we do also practice employment of 'riding team' of specialists, who can carry out required job.
The principle is to arrange proper maintenance as preventive measure and avoid serious damages. Professional handling of vessel's equipment is our top objective.
Maintenance is divided to four sections. The heads of Engine Room and Deck Departments are responsible for planning and executing particular tasks referred in General Guidance. Proper feed back forms are used as reports, in which maintenance work is recorded. Monthly reports are documents allowing control of Maintenance Program on board every particular ship under management.
Condition of vessels is frequently checked by Superintendent in charge. Inspection is carved out at least once per 3 months. Reports are prepared after inspections and are reviewed and followed by verification action.
Generally maintenance is spread out among the objectives to achieve as follows:
- To keep proper overhauling intervals of machinery and devices;
- To review in cheapest and fastest way the worn-out components of working machinery, ducts and devices;
- To keep all ship's systems in working condition;
- To maintain safety equipment at high standard and ready to use;
- To keep proper condition of hull and its structure;
- To plan in long term major repairs strategy and prepare in advance dry-docking services in order to minimize costs;
- To keep cargo gears in proper usable condition;
- To fulfill all standard demands emerging from U.S. and EU regulations;
- To get granted and updated Classification documents.
In order to assure proper maintenance we provide all necessary measures and requested replacements. In case when the parts cannot be substituted we use to review new design and other rectification methods.
Our fleet maintenance is reliable and leads to economical and much more than sufficient up keeping of vessels.
CREW MANAGEMENT
Galileos has a well established network from a pool of some 1000 sea staff. Based upon this peculiarity, Galileos has focused upon the manner on which seagoing personnel is trained and educated for the accomplishment of competent workforce. The ordinary way of employing seafarers through crew agents it is proved through the time that results to minor and sometimes to nothing positive improvements; neither to the shipowner nor to the seafarer. Therefore, Galileos has focused on the policy to offer a better and steady environment to seafarers; training, regular assessments, and in further career progress. Hence by means of this way it views both; the shipowner and the seafarer because both are our clients. Lastly, Galileos follows all International Standards and Regulations.
Crew Management System
In synopsis, the crew pool system is well thought-out to be an active recourse for the company, which it may well provide a latent solution when thinking of shipowners who go all-out for crew competent as well as a incessant of crew supply and not only; for seafarers aim for a better career and progress!
Thus, in order for our company to obtain the best results for all three parties- Galileos as shipmanager, shipowners and seafarers- offers the subsequent package:
- Crew recruitment including join and repatriation procedure;
- Medical examination together with all other fitness certificates;
- According to the rank of each seafarer the analogous qualified certificates are obtained ;
- Analogous interview and training by the company in prior to seafarer's employment;
- Visits on board the vessels for regular physical checks about their duties and responsibilities by our superintendent;
- Updating crew with new regulation and provide them with extra seminars if necessary;
- Pay wages on time and in pay any overtime or bonus as it is agreed at their contract of employment;
- Crew P&I Insurance;
- Execution as well as keeping records of drug and alcohol policy.
