While the voting procedure for the 2019 SMART4SEA Awards is open, Mr. Salvatore d’Amico, Fleet Director of d’Amico Group, outlines few of the measures that d’Amico has taken for which the Group has been shortlisted in the ‘Energy Efficiency’ category, alongside other distinguished nominees. Their aim is to become one of the most efficient and sustainable shipping groups worldwide, Mr. d’Amico mentions, highlighting that this also requires investment in the training and development of ship and shore staff. Mr. Salvatore d’Amico says that there is still a large gap in the required standards on board dry cargo ships compared to oil tankers. Therefore, operators need to go beyond compliance with industry’s standards regardless the type of vessel and at the same the shipping industry itself needs to raise the bar.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2019 SMART4SEA Awards in the ‘Energy Efficiency’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What would you like to share with industry’s stakeholders with respect to this development?
Salvatore d’Amico: At d’Amico, to protect and respect the environment is one of the missions anchored in our corporate values. Therefore, the core aspect of our business gravitates towards the environment and, in particular, the sea, and one of our top priorities is to care for the oceans.
S4S: When it comes to tackling the shipping challenges with respect to energy efficiency, what are the core priorities on your agenda?
S.A.: Thanks to all its environmental friendly measures d’Amico is becoming one of the most efficient and sustainable shipping groups worldwide. We as d’Amico Group, have invested in the last few years in an important “eco-ship” new buildings program, thus confirming our constant efforts in technological development and showing great anticipation in relation to the international energy efficiency standards that all maritime transport operators will have to comply by 2025.
S4S: What is your organization doing differently in order to prepare for a more sustainable future?
S.A.: The performance management through automatic data acquisition associated with powerful analytics and reporting, provides indications on how to maximize the business potential. Data are exploited to with machine learning to create hydrodynamic models of the ships, evaluate hull degradation due to fouling or detect possible critical events that reduce propulsion efficiency in line with ISO 19030, analysis of the dry-dock payback period to evaluate the real impact of each refitting action on the ships’ performance.
New technologies, from those of new generation engines to the installation of new propellers on some types of ships and to use of silicone paints on the hulls, all of which already allow considerable reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. Such hull forms can also maximize water flow over the propeller, eliminating the so-called blind spot in the propulsion system. d’Amico demonstrates therefore, that data collecting and monitoring is the best way to improve the energy efficiency of the whole fleet and makes a step forward in the culture of energy saving.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans that you would like to share with the rest of the industry?
S.A.: We very much count on the new Fleet Operation Center, which offers the opportunity to increase safety and operational efficiency of the fleet anywhere, anytime. With a combination of hardware equipment, software packages and fleet intelligence d’Amico will be able to provide support the fleet from ashore in the most effective way. Technology combines the increased availability of affordable satellite communication solutions, tracking technologies and data-analysis platforms, enabling real-time information sharing between ships and specialized onshore support teams.
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
S.A.: In d’Amico we invest a lot in the training and development of our ship and shore staff, because we realized that unfortunately the compulsory training, especially for the seafarers, is not sufficient to operate the ships in a total safe way. Therefore, I would like that there were higher crews’ competency standards regardless the in house training provided by the shipowner companies. I also believe that there is still a too large gap in the required standards on board dry cargo ships compared to oil tankers. As I believe that due to the impact that shipping can have on the environment, and more generally on all stakeholders, it is essential to raise the standards at the highest levels regardless of the type of vessel. In d’Amico we are convinced of this, therefore we have been applying for the already 10 years common standards for both our dry and tanker fleet. However, the change of pace in the industry cannot take place because of some regulations but only if the shipping industry itself asks for it.
You may cast your vote for d’Amico at 2019 SMART4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 21st of December 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.
About Salvatore d’Amico , Fleet Director d’Amico Group
Salvatore d’Amico is one of the members of third generation of d’Amico family who works within the Group. He holds a degree in Economics obtained in Rome. He experienced the life on board very young when he begun to sail on the d’Amico vessels for school summer holidays.
During the academic years, he worked with JP Morgan in Geneva before returning to d’Amico Group where he completed his internal training by enriching his professional development in different departments. After achieving a degree in Economics, he spent two years in d’Amico Dublin office before returning to Rome where he currently holds the position of Group Fleet Director. He is member in many Boards of the Group companies, in particular in d’Amico Shipping Singapore e d’Amico Shipping Italia. He is also the CEO of Ishima since 2013.
