V.Group urges industry to embrace change

(Posted on 18/06/20)

Global ship management company V.Group has produced a series of discussion papers entitled ‘Life After Lockdown’.

Each paper focusses on a specific area of maritime operations affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and sets out some of the key lessons learned.

Aimed at stimulating debate, the papers challenge some of the long-established ways the industry operates by posing questions and inviting the views of others in the industry.

The first paper, ‘Irreversible shifts in crew management’, looks at crew wellbeing. The importance of communication and appreciation are covered, along with a rallying call to make the general public more aware of the vital role of the maritime industry.

Commenting on why V.Group has produced the series of papers, CEO Graham Westgarth, said:

“Although our industry continues to be ravaged by the global impact of Covid-19, we think the time has come to look to the future. Collectively, we have all learned something and need to put this knowledge to good use in the future.

“At V.Group, we are always seeking ways to enhance the way we work. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that companies embrace the opportunity to learn and adjust. Failure to do so could threaten the future viability of many in our sector.”

Since its formation in 1984, V.Group has grown to become the world’s leading provider of ship management and marine support services. With 60 offices worldwide, vessels under its management include tankers, bulk carriers, gas carriers, container ships, cruise and passenger vessels.