Registering more than 150 gas carriers over the years
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry remains the choice of flag for owners/operators of the worlds gas carrier fleet. The RMI has registered more than 150 gas carriers over the years, with the first gas carrier registration taking place in 1997.
As of the end of July 2014, there were 120 active gas carriers in the RMI fleet (53 liquid petroleum gas (LPG), 65 liquid natural gas (LNG) and 2 LNG/LPG carriers). Over 15% of the worlds gas carrier fleet, in terms of cubic meters, is registered with the RMI. International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) provide administrative and technical support to the RMI Registry and have hired another expert to better support this unique market. Eric Linsner, who joined the Registrys New York office in 2011 as an LNG/LPG Specialist, was joined in July 2014 by Capt. Warren Kedenburg, the Registrys LNG Advisor, who is living and working in Japan.
While 75% of the gas carriers in the RMI Registry were built in yards in Korea, Japan and China, more than 25% of the Registrys gas carriers were delivered from yards located in Japan, said Masaharu Okamoto, IRIs Chief Representative in Tokyo. Having a liaison like Warren working locally with the owners, classification societies, and yards in Japan and Asia is in furtherance of the Registrys initiative to more effectively service clients, he continued.
Both Eric Linsner and Capt. Kedenburg spent the majority of their careers working for Energy Transportation Corporation and PRONAV Ship Management. Capt. Kedenburg was the Master of the LNG TAURUS for nearly two decades before he came ashore in 2000, which is when the LNG TAURUS joined the RMI Registry, said Bill Gallagher, President of IRI. We are pleased that Warren has joined the Registry; with his experience at sea and in the development, planning and execution of LNG projects, coupled with Erics development of international gas carrier regulations, we have a very sophisticated and experienced team, continued Mr. Gallagher.
The RMI Registry works closely with owners and operators. Those owners operating vessels registered under the RMI flag achieve consistently high ratings in the port State control (PSC) international rankings. The RMI Registry continues to be white listed on both the Paris and Tokyo Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). While the 2013 United States Coast Guard (USCG) Annual Report has not yet been published, the RMI Maritime Administrator received a certificate from the USCG recognizing the RMIs 2014 qualification for Qualship 21. This marks an unprecedented tenth consecutive year that the RMI has achieved this recognition; no other major registry has achieved the same.
Another area where the RMI Registry provides service is with respect to its delegations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The RMI delegation is actively involved in the revisions of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gasses in Bulk (IGC Code) and the drafting of the new International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint fuels (IGF Code).
We intend to leverage our experience and ongoing reputation for quality to contribute to the future development of the gas carrier industry, concluded Mr. Gallagher.
Source: RMI Registry
