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Husbandry Services- Karval Shipping Agency Experts

Karval Shipping Agency is a reliable professional ship-husbandry service provider at major Greek ports. We offer a wide range of services to ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of vessels during their port calls. These services are handled by dedicated husbandry agents specializing in non-cargo matters related to the ship.

Some of the main husbandry services offered include:

Hospitality arrangements: Assisting with hotel bookings, transportation, and permits for crew members during their stay in port.

Financial services: Facilitating cash-to-master transactions, ensuring that the ship’s financial needs are met.

Medical appointments: Coordinating medical assistance for crew members, including arranging appointments with local healthcare providers.

Mobs/demobs: Handling crew changes and providing support during crew transitions.

Documentation services: Assisting with the procurement of shore passes, visa applications, and letters of invitation for crew members.

Ship spare sourcing and delivery: Procuring and delivering necessary spare parts promptly.

Bunkering: Arranging the supply of fuel and lubricants for the vessel.

Ship and equipment repairs: Coordinating repairs and maintenance services for the ship and its equipment.

Underwater inspections: Arranging for commercial dive companies to conduct inspections and maintenance of the hull and rigging.

Towing service: Assisting with towing operations, if required.

Survey arrangements: Facilitating any type of survey needed for the vessel.

Choosing Karval Shipping Agency’s husbandry services offers several advantages. With our extensive experience and strong connections in the marine sector, we ensure efficient and reliable service delivery. Our agents are available in all Greek ports, making sure that they’re able to help whenever needed. We prioritize protecting our client’s interests and offer cost-effective solutions. By relying on a single point of contact, vessel operators and charterers can save time and money. Karval Shipping Agency’s commitment to professionalism and expertise makes them a trusted choice for maritime stakeholders.

Overall, ship husbandry services provided by Karval Shipping Agency encompass various essential tasks to maintain vessels, comply with regulations, and ensure smooth port operations.

Electricity demand for future ships –a power shock for ports

Increasingly, ports are under pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of vessels calling at their berths, and that means utilizing shoreside power.

While most operational efficiencies can only be achieved on ships themselves, away from ports, shore-based power can be highly efficient if ports accept their new role as green energy generators.

This is one of the best examples of high-performing shore power in California’s ports, which have strict regulations to reduce at-berth emissions. “Berth regulations at all California ports have driven the increased implementation of shore power systems,” Zabel said. Wärtsilä has installed its container shore power solution more than 150 times in California’s ports to connect cargo ships to local power sources.

To reduce emissions in its ports and cities, the Chinese government is also promoting shore power solutions. In 2019, China mandated that new domestic vessels be equipped with shore power. Europe will soon tighten its port regulations concerning emissions, accelerating the widespread adoption of shore connection systems, according to Zabel.

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Indian – Owned Suezmax appoints us as husbandry agent

UNDERWATER SERVICES

For the last 35 years, we are proud to offer diversified Husbandry Agency services to major international shipowners & ship managers while always over-delivering based on our promised services. The fall season started extremely active for our Agency with offered services in different ports around Greece. The largest Indian-based shipowner has appointed our Agency to be by their side for all services during a major engineering repair in Eleusis Port. Furthermore, another Greek shipowner, currently based in Germany, entrusted our Underwater services as well as Spare Parts & Bond Stores supplies at Piraeus Anchorage which were completed in less than 48hours.

PARTICIPATING IN THE 30TH SMM HAMBURG FAIR

KARVAL SHIPPING AGENCY joins for the first time the 30th SMM Hamburg international maritime trade fair in Hamburg, Germany from 6 – 9 of September at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. We were excited to meet with our customers and peers and share information about our latest products and services. With over 30,000 visitors from over 100 nations, it was the first opportunity for 2,000 exhibitors, representing all technology areas in the maritime industry, to meet in person again after a long period of pandemic restrictions. All the participants and visitors from the maritime industry were interested in Identifying and addressing complex challenges, introducing groundbreaking innovations and finally to network, seek cooperation and forge alliances. That was the reason why our exceptional business development team was there to elaborate on all these subjects with numerous German and International clients as well as to interpret on the abundant opportunities that arise in the Greek region. KARVAL SHIPPING AGENCY continuously expands to many locations around Greece to satisfy the needs of its customers on the most reliable, transparent and trust-full way possible.

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Top Cyprus Shipmanagement company nominates us for husbandry agent

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

Due to the technical orientation of our sister company CARELL since the mid-50s’, we have been heavily focused on being the only Port Agency in Greece, specializing in supporting the Owners’ side during Ship Repairs and Dry Docking Projects. Our deep technical knowledge under the same management roof gives us a competitive advantage during the hectic and unexpected circumstances of the repair projects. Prioritization and proper planning can protect tremendously owners’ interests and avoid extra costs. This month, we managed to undertake under our agency two (2) major Dry Docking projects in Syros island, three (3) Afloat Repair projects in Piraeus & Eleusis area and five (5) transit calls at Piraeus anchorage.

COLLABORATING TOWARDS GREENER SHIPPING

During Maritime Cyprus Conference 2022, at one of the most insightful panels for “Collaborating Towards Greener Shipping” moderated by Mr. Julian Bray, Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, and presented by Mr. George Wells, Global Head Assets & Structuring, Cargill International SA, Mr. Nikolaus H. Schües, President Designate, BIMCO, Mr. Claes Berglund, immediate Past President ECSA, and Mr. Dieter Rohdenburg, Vice President, Cyprus Shipping Chamber, and CEO, Internship Navigation Co. Ltd. Mr. Nikolaus H. Schües pointed out that the cost of decarbonization would not be achieved alone while Mr. George Wells emphasized that the whole entire supply chain should bear the transition cost. Furthermore, a thorough discussion was carried out on what the next green fuel will be and Mr. Berglund responded by discussing the benefits and the regulatory trajectory of LNG as a fuel.

TRANSITION TO A NEW "GREENER ERA"

As one of the most carbon-efficient modes of commercial transport, shipping respects international and regional environmental targets and also the urgency of protecting the marine environment. However, serious issues hinder the shipping industry’s decarbonization efforts, as the targets are nearing. The shipping industry should focus on marine technology research and innovation to address the knowledge gap and global challenges, including climate change and sustainable development, as well as reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency. Developing alternative fuels and intelligent digital solutions is essential to shipping’s green transition. To transform the shipping industry and enhance business processes, new technologies will be developed through automation and digitization, utilizing shipping big data from ship operations. As a result of these new technologies, shipping operations can be more efficient and safer, ship designs can be improved in the future, and environmental performance can be increased. The above complexities involving shipping’s successful and safe transition to a “greener era” calls for a mixture of synergies among the public and private sectors, academia, and a call for private and public funding, to facilitate investment in developing the required green shipping technologies. Shipping’s green transition also requires a unified industry “voice” among shipping stakeholders such as shipowners, fuel producers, engine manufacturers, shipyards, and port operators, to meet the new regulations and improve operating efficiencies.

Welding process ship repair at floating dry dock in shipyard

US Dry Bulk Company Trusts KARVAL Shipping Agency

Dry bulk freight market frenziness has slowed down a bit during the last month and this allowed a US-based shipping company to entrust us as their Husbandry Agents during her call in Piraeus, Greece. From formalities clearance, spare parts handling as well as specialists visiting the vessel on board were handled in smooth and fast coordination with the managers’ operations and technical team. So nice to have international partners in our area!

Container Market: A more chaotic peak season this year?

According to the Container xChange survey, 51% expect the third-quarter peak season in 2022 to be worse, 26% expect it to be less chaotic, and 22% expect it to be about the same. Encountering another disrupted year, following the pandemic’s damage to the container market, the container line reliability dropped even further in the first quarter of 2022. With China’s lockdowns, it has become strenuous to produce / ship as much product as planned. This is more evidence of growing concerns that the release of lockdowns in China may surge exports, further disrupting supply chains to Europe and North America. When the lockdown rules get eased and truckers are allowed to return to work, the backlogs will arrive at the same time as peak season orders, which could lead to supply chain congestion at ports in Europe and the US. However, there is little indication thus far that China is willing to compromise health policy to boost trade.

Welding process ship repair at floating dry dock in shipyard

Cruise Vessel Reactivation Procedure

Cruise sector has definitely been hit the most during the two year pandemic era.Nevertheless, we were privileged to act as Husbandry Agent for a German owner during the reactivation of a laid up cruise vessel lady. Our team was responsible to bring on board all new crew members, present all necessary formalities to local Port Authorities and the vessel’s Classification Society in regards to the vessel’s reactivation as well as to arrange the smooth transport of all necessary equipment on board the vessel. In addition, we got them full package of bond stores and provisions for their first months on board the vessel. What a great project for all parties involved and we can’t wait for the next cruise vessel lady next winter to welcome her for a nice winter time at the Meditteranean sea.

In the wake of a war

The war in Ukraine has delivered a shock to global energy markets with the planet facing a deeper crisis: a shortage of food. Prices for food, fertilizer, oil, gas, and even metals like aluminum, nickel, and palladium are all rising fast, and experts expect worse as the effects cascade. While a crucial portion of the world’s wheat, corn, and barley is trapped in Russia and Ukraine, the Ukrainian government has already warned that the country’s planting and harvest have already been severely disrupted by the war.

European fertilizer plants are significantly cutting production because of high energy prices and farmers are cutting back on fertilizer, threatening the size of the next harvests. With that not being enough, the ICS has warned that the supply chain disruptions are set to be worsened by a shortfall in shipping crew due to the war. 

The ongoing war has the shipping industry bracing for new shocks to its labor force which relies on experienced crew from both countries. Ukrainian and Russian seafarers account for 15% of the global shipping workforce. To maintain this unfettered trade, seafarers must be able to join and disembark ships (crew change) freely across the world. However, flights have been canceled to and from the region, making this increasingly difficult. Several crew members have already abandoned their ships due to security worries and others to reunite with their families or fight for their country.