Thirty of our Captains and Chief Engineers came from near and far to meet and greet each other and office colleagues from Bergen, Singapore, São Paulo and Manila mid-September. Four Chief Officers and one 2nd Engineer kicked off the week by attending Ship Management’s internship program.
This program is established to ensure that the officers are closely acquainted with the procedures and expectations of the various departments, and includes sessions with fleet management, purchasing and superintendents, the MSG group and the performance team at Odfjell Tankers.
The Tankers Day on September 13 was opened by VP Special Project Knut Holsen with an overview of the market situation, our position and how Odfjell differentiates from others, commercial strategy and environmental regulations.
“We can never rest; we must make sure we have good routines and always be alert. Our success is our responsibility, and the teamwork between sea and shore personnel is essential.”
The Tankers Day continued with workshops where sea and shore colleagues discussed best case solutions of selected cases, led by Project Manager Port Performance Thor Erik Haugland:
“The workshop format has proven very valuable, we had a lot of fruitful talks and got a lot of input. The discussions simmered into the breaks and evening, and the opportunity to meet in person and spend time together strengthens the bond between sea and shore colleagues.”
In the room next door, the Ship Management team gathered for a day of operational updates at the SM Summit on Wednesday, followed by the OP Tech program together with the Captains and Chief Engineers on September 14. Safety was as always a top priority, this time with special focus on lifting and harassment.
In his status overview, VP Fleet Management Knut Erik Fredriksen highlighted that the results and deliverables are very strong. He encouraged everyone to keep up the good work, always have safety focus in everything we do – and “remember to have fun!”
Slide deck:
In addition to the presentation and workshops by Odfjell’ers, the SM Summit also included a specially invited speaker:
Anja Hammerseng-Edin is well-known among sports interested Norwegians as one of the best handball players on the national team from 2006 to 2013. Since then, she has specialized as a mindset coach and was invited to the SM Summit to share her top tools.
Selected quotes:
If you are distracted, use the WIN technique. It is simply asking yourself: What’s Important Now? At this moment, what’s the most important step to take, thing to do?
A central part of the program covered recruitment and retention. VP Maritime Personnel presented ‘Project Summer’, a strategic initiative to ensure that Odfjell maintains its position as an attractive employer for seafarers in the future. The competition is rough, and we have a challenge not only to recruit but also to retain through a career lifetime.
It was especially fitting, then, that the Fleet Week was concluded by celebrating four accomplished, loyal and experienced maritime professionals.
“As our devoted and esteemed seafarers, you have carried on your skills and our culture to the next generation of seafarers for many years. Your loyalty to the company has been an intangible value that is so appreciated. You are the ambassador of the quality culture we have.”
- Svend Foyn-Bruun
