Risky by nature
Why is The National Patient Safety Agency using DNV, a risk management company with roots in shipping and the oil and gas industry, as consultants integrated in NPSA's leadership team? Probably because the NPSA is rather particular in its choice of risk management expertise.
Building trust and confidence
Staying competitive in a rapidly changing business environment places high demands on companies. The need to make organisational changes, enhance cost efficiency and meet new and increasingly strict laws and regulations are some of the challenges that companies have to address on a day-to-day basis.
On the runway to a carbon restricted future
With the establishment of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Europe is calling for companies to manage their greenhouse gas emissions, meaning that CO2 emissions shortly will have a direct impact on a company's financial performance.
Cold comfort
In the winter of 2002/2003, temperatures fell to a ten year low in the Baltic Sea. These icy conditions, combined with increased tanker traffic, have raised concerns about environmental safety. Oil tankers operating in cold climates, in particular those serving Primosk terminal, create risk management challenges that are far more complex than those faced by tankers operating in warmer climates.
Keeping one step ahead of emission legislation
Emitting 80 million tons of greenhouse gas emission each year - the equivalent to almost twice Switzerland's total annual emission level - Lafarge, the French, multinational global cement producer, is clamping down its own activities to create a greener, cleaner environment.
Lafarge takes the proactive approach
Gaeelle Monteiller, senior vice-president for public affairs and the environment at the French cement manufacturer Lafarge, is very clear about the challenges facing the company once the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme is implemented.
An Italian tradition since 1780
Farchioni Olii SpA, the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil producer, has implemented traceability and quality management systems in order to strengthen the Farchioni brand. In a growing and highly competitive industry, the company is committed to further developing consumer confidence in their product.
Raising the stakes, not the risks
Expanding the world's third largest producer of liquefied petroleum gases is a complex and demanding process. Plant production must go forward as normal while the construction work, such as installation of new equipment, welding and tie-ins continues.
Going for Gold
The processes required to mine precious metals dictate the management of a variety of major accident hazards. Consequently, the successful delivery of a robust and comprehensive risk management programme is a critical business performance indicator.
Safeguarding the pioneering spirit
New projects need new technology. To stay a world-class oil and gas company, Statoil's executive vice president, technology, Terje Overvik actively encourages the spirit of innovation that has been a Norwegian tradition for centuries. Statoil's corporate technology strategy has been designed to ensure that Statoil achieves a 40 percent share of international production by 2012.
Windpower set for offshore boom
Windpower development is gaining momentum across Europe - both on land and at sea. Determined to establish a strong market position, a British company, Mayflower Energy, has built a special ship for installing wind turbines at sea.
Reaching for the Top
China is beginning to flex its shipbuilding muscles. The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC), the conglomerates in charge of most of the country's shipyards, plan to reach the summit of world shipbuilding by 2015 through shipyard modernisation and increased efficiency and rationalisation.
Excerpt from 'China shipbuilding: the emerging giant'
A study from Matthew Flynn and Poten & Partners
NITC: Making waves in China
The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) has recently taken delivery of the first VLCC vessels to be built in China. Chairman and managing director Mohammad Souri gives "thumbs up" to the Dalian New Shipyard, describing the vessels' quality and performance as "highly satisfactory and exceeding our expectations".
Graig: The Chinese connection
With about 40 ships ordered at Chinese yards, no other Western company has as much experience of building in this country as the UK's Graig Group.
Five on China
During a recent visit to China, editors of some leading shipping publications got a closer look at China's dynamic shipbuilding market. Here are some of their remarks.
Prestigious award for the SOHO team
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has presented the SOHO spacecraft team with the prestigious Laurels for Team Achievement Award. The award recognises both the outstanding achievements in designing and building the spacecraft, operating the mission, as well as the science it has performed.
Stena newbuilding orders
Sweden's Stena Bulk has contracted with Hyundai for two 116,000-dwt ice-class tankers.
UN standardises regional names
While the United Nations (UN) is chiefly recognized for its efforts to resolve conflicts and manage the distribution of international aid, representatives have also worked hard to establish international standards to avoid confusion between nations.
DNV certifies Italian restaurants outside Italy
In the future, Italian restaurants have to fulfil defined standards to be able to call themselves "Italian". Strangely enough, up to now, there has been no form of protection or classification of "brand Italy" in the restaurant business.
DNV to class seafarers
In a further expansion of classification business, DNV is targeting maritime colleagues and seafarers
Time to appreciate quality of Chinese built ships
Are Chinese shipbuilders painted in an unfair light that allows shipowners to scramble all over them? Sure, the yards are desperate to increase both their repertoire as well as volumes and will naturally offer tempting incentives to build a new ship type, but are they going too far?