While the voting procedure for the 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards is open, Capt. Dimitrios Mattheou, CEO / Managing Director at Arcadia Shipmanagement Co Ltd explains how the Greek-based company has achieved high safety and quality standards, for which it has been shortlisted in the ‘Tanker Operator’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. Capt. Mattheou highlights that Arcadia’s performance is highly attributed to company’s investment in human capital. Namely, investment in the human capacity, to rectify human defects and inspire human nobility results in high organizational performance; Arcadia, which counts 20 years of operations, is proud to witness such progress.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards in the ‘Tanker Operator’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What is the background and the key drivers behind this nomination/shortlisting?
Capt. Dimitris Mattheou: ARCADIA has been nominated for providing safe and reliable transportation of oil by sea, through a modern fleet, with top priorities set on achieving excellence over safety, quality and environmental protection. Company’s dedicated efforts to increase the safety onboard, have resulted to top rated Vetting and PSC results, prefixing a significant quality indicator.
However, everything starts and ends in our people; our human capital. In Arcadia we are based on our values and principles to design our theoretical framework and put our employees into action. We are people-focused and forward –thinking shipping leaders who continuously invest in the human capacity, rectify human defects and inspire human nobility in order to develop a high-performing organisation.
Our values and principles are excellence in service, through innovation, by people who care while the successful growth of our company is the direct result of these people. It is a win-win relationship; we invest in our employees’ talents and skills and in return we have gained their utmost respect and engagement in achieving excellence. Their dedication and discipline serve as a vital link in the chain which drives our day-to-day operation effectively and efficiently. We have established an ongoing commitment that gains more power and value over time and ensures a bright and successful future together as a team!”
S4S: When it comes to tackling the safety challenges around the shipping sector, what are the key priorities on your agenda?
Capt. D.M.: ARCADIA, since the beginning, has been dedicated on delivering the highest quality management service, focusing on safety and environmental friendly operations, aiming on cost effectiveness, continuous improvement and sustainability. To achieve these, the Company is dedicated to develop and extend a strong working relationship with all parties involved in international oil trade, based upon mutual trust and reliability.
By encouraging consistency and sustainability, for the last 20 years Arcadia continually develops and protects its workplace and ethic culture. Company’s objectives are being met by protecting all personnel from injuries and damages to health, by undertaking all duties safely and without putting the environment into risk and by maintaining the highest HSQE, operational and technical standards on fleet vessels.
S4S: Which best practices would you recommend from your perspective to enhance safety performance onboard and ashore?
Capt. D.M.: ARCADIA maintains top safety standards that go beyond statutory regulations and cover a wide range of aspects, including ship equipment, emissions, human factor, management and implementation of the best practices.
The Company has also invested heavily in strengthening its management and ships’ staff, with continuous training and education. ARCADIA strongly believes that experienced and well trained personnel, both at sea and ashore, provides and guarantees the high quality of services to its customers’ demands. In line to this belief, an in-house training centre has been established and is in close co-operation with accredited training centers and service providers, applying the latest trends in reflective and resilient training, seeking for the best outcome in advanced training.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans, related with your safety performance that you would like to share with the industry?
Capt. D.M.: Four new tankers were recently added to the fleet, allowing ARCADIA to continue providing the transportation of petroleum products, with advanced and modern equipment in a safe and reliable manner. This investment has not only helped the Company to grow, but also provided jobs for people and enabled all personnel to run our business with greater prosperity. The technically advanced systems which are fitted on board, provide the challenge for all into the Company to become more skilled and to continue our pursuit towards new professional achievements.
S4S: What is your key message for enhancing safety culture onboard?
Capt. D.M.: ARCADIA will continue to broaden the values and ideas that build safety and environmental excellence, applying effective management systems in strict compliance with incoming regulations, to consistently achieve reliable and environmental incident-free performance.
By setting and achieving tougher voluntary standards, the Company will continue the efforts towards the reduction of identified environmental impacts to air, sea and land and the conservation of energy and materials through recycling and waste reduction programs.
We are confident and believe that, by practicing our principles and professionalism, we will reach onboard all fleet vessels, the Arcadia’s vision for ZERO Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety incidents”.
You may cast your vote for Arcadia Shipmanagement Co Ltd at 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 7th of September 2018!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
