• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Regional Focus: Gibraltar GIBRALTAR ROCKS Europe’s number one bunkering port, a pivotal link between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, a favourite stopping-off point for superyachts and a tiny city port with a burgeoning infrastructure base. Gibraltar has never been busier spectacular landmark for passing ships? A UK Royal Navy base? Or an outcrop of southern Spain? TheA British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar has been all three of these at one time or another. However, its pivotal position on a major sea route has given it a far more modern role as Europe’s number one bunkering port and a favourite stopping off point for an almost unending procession of superyachts. and But its importance internationally has been highlighted population of extraordinarily as it looks set to become entwined in the 32,000. Gibraltar shares a 1.2km- negotiations between the UK, the European Union and now Spain long land border with Spain and lies 14km over Britain’s exit from the EU. north of the African coast of Morocco. Strategically perched on the route that links the Mediterranean, The numbers and volumes of projects in Gibraltar in the the Atlantic and the Caribbean and overlooking the Strait of last 12 months have exceeded every previous year. It is generally Gibraltar, the Rock is a vibrant and dynamic port city with a acknowledged in the region that the main reasons for this current bulging infrastructure that belies its tiny 6.7 square kilometre size upsurge in activity are greater global appreciation of its pretty 38 Ship Management International Issue 66 March/April 2017 Regional Focus: Gibraltar and unique location, a Health, Safety and Environmental Management). While some dynamic and interdependent shipyards may be tempted to seek work based on aggressive pricing shipping sector and the alone, we know that safety and the environment in particular are key hands-on stewardship concerns for offshore owners and operators,” said Mr Beards. of Commodore Bob However, the offshore industry’s bleaker side – caused by Sanguinetti, the CEO the sector’s five-year trough in global trading – was reflected in an and Captain of the Gibraltar increase in local lay-ups of offshore supply and support vessels Port Authority (GPA). including the demise of one of the world’s largest and most futuristic Many of the sector’s pipelaying vessels which is worth an estimated €400m. companies are involved in One of Gibdock’s other specialities is repairing and refitting Gibraltar’s primary industry cruise ships – the shipyard is very close to Gibraltar’s cruise terminal – bunkering – which is – and it recently carried out a two-week repair and renewal project also the factor that has on Louis Cruises’ 41,000gt Thompson Majesty. “It is especially helped forge one of its satisfying when Gibdock’s capabilities for on-schedule high quality biggest success stories work are vindicated by a high-profile owner in the luxury cruise – the exponential growth market,” said Mr Beards. of Peninsular Petroleum, the In another sign of Gibdock’s year of prosperity, the company bunker supply and resale company has recruited 16 new trainees to its apprenticeship scheme. “We founded by John Bassadone, son are strongly committed to the programme so we can develop a of the founder and joint owner of succession plan to foster the ship repair technicians and managers of Gibunco. The younger Bassadone was the future,” added Mr Beards. a junior trader in London when he Like Gibraltar’s repair market, there are exciting changes planned started the company in 1996 with at Gibraltar’s Ship and Yacht Registries. The number of ships 75,000 tonnes of bunkered fuel registered at the Ship Registry in the last 14 months was 290 – a 2% oil from the Gibraltar refinery. Since increase on the previous year. The Yacht Registry, meanwhile, has then he has overseen recent average annual been through a near-revolution with almost 900 superyachts on its growth of 22%. Peninsula now supplies 13.1 million books. For owners and operators, one of the Registry’s unique selling metric tonnes of fuel and has a network of 20 global propositions (USPs) is its almost blemish-free white-listed record at offices including such global maritime hubs as Singapore, the Paris Mou and the US Coast Guard inspection regimes – and 18 Shanghai, ARA, Houston, Hong Kong and Tokyo (See months ago it was also elevated to the Tokyo MoU white list. ‘How I Work’ article on John Bassadone on p52). On a more political note, Britain’s decision to leave the EU could Another local sector that has continued to prosper have a profound impact on the Registry. Richard Montado, Maritime despite the global downturn is ship repair. Among recent Administrator at the Gibraltar Maritime Administration (GMA), contracts at Gibraltar repair specialist Gibdock last year were the government body that runs it, said: “Brexit has had a similar scrubber retrofits for five Vroon Offshore Services-operated psychological impact on the Registry to the UK Registry. It looks as if offshore support vessels and, backed by a favourable, post-Brexit one-third of the fleet who have registered here for domestic taxation exchange rate, repairs to a range of German-owned general advantages could be looking to flag out.” cargo ships, container ships, reefers and bulk carriers. “We are More encouragingly, the Gibraltar government has provisionally maintaining a strong ferry and ro-ro business, have started new approved the formation of a new ‘post-Brexit’ Registry, as Mr cluster work from the UK Ministry of Defence, are getting more Montado describes it. “The idea is to operate the Registry 24/7 ballast water appliance work and pipework contracts, while Dutch- and in different time zones. We also aim to increase the size of the owned dredgers have proved a good source of repairwork too,” said Registry and maintain our same high standards. We’re looking to Gibdock’s enthusiastic Managing Director, Richard Beards. offer products to Far East owners and also owners in the US where The weekSMI visited Gibdock in February this year the yard we are recognised as a white-listed, high performing flag,” he said. was technically full with eight vessels berthed at the quayside Two other structural improvements that will appeal to ship including the multifunctional subsea vessel (MSV) Olympic owners and managers is a recent decision to move the two Registries Intervention and several ferries and offshore vessels. online – a project that is due to be completed in the autumn of this Gibdock’s recently opened specialised prefabrication area, Pad 1, year. It means that all registering and other services offered by the has enabled the company to take on more complex offshore projects, Registries such as seafarers’ certificates will be computerised. On the many of them from repeat customers. “In line with our offshore new Registries, owners will be able to register ships while they are successes, we are also continually improving our QHSE (Quality, still being constructed. Issue 66 March/April 2017 Ship Management International 39 Regional Focus: Gibraltar “One of the advantages of registering in Gibraltar is that Cruises – than in previous years and 238 cruise liners were everything is close by. You can walk to the post office or the hospital scheduled to call in 2017, said Mr Dyke. Two new cruise liner and when you are fed up with going local you can go across the berths are also planned for the port. Although it had all the right border to Spain. Most of our customers live in Gibraltar and as a service facilities, Gibraltar needed more accommodation for the region it feels very safe. Education is paid for by the Government, crews of longer-staying ships, said Mr Dyke. Although a Holiday buses are free, there is no inheritance tax or VAT and in 2011 Express hotel is opening in 2017, Mr Dyke said the region corporation tax fell from 30% to 10%. If somebody gets mugged needed more beds “to compete with Algeciras where you can here it is headline news,” said Jens Sorensen, Managing Director of stay for €70-a-night while it is much more expensive here.” ships’ registrations provider Sorek Group. The Algeciras question was raised by Ian Penfold, Director From registering to refuelling. The number of bunkering visits of Gibraltar’s largest port agency, MH Bland, which was founded by commercial vessels to Gibraltar hit record levels in 2016-2017. in 1810. Mr Penfold, who was a member of the Government- The number of superyachts visiting to refuel has also risen to led marketing groups who recently visited Singapore and Hong unprecedented levels matched by newly opened and expanded Kong, said the initiative had attracted a lot of new business to anchorages in Gibraltar’s Mid-Harbour Marina, the Ocean Village Gibraltar. “We have had to do it as we have been getting so much Marina and Marina Bay giving visiting vessels up to 90m-long competition from Algeciras which runs its own marketing trips,” some 600m of berthing facilities. Albert Isola, Gibraltar’s Minister he said. MH Bland handles an average of 140 to 150 ships a of Commerce, said it was “fantastic to be doing that well in the month and is aiming to top 200. It has also expanded its agency current economic climate”. Many yachts were staying longer after and support services to 13 overseas offices – the latest will be in refuelling and enjoying Gibraltar’s hotels and restaurants and such Casablanca this spring. Because of the recent surge in superyacht tourist attractions as cable car rides, scenic tours of the Rock as well visits, the company plans to open a separate department to as exploring its intriguing underground cave network.

Load more

  15

Copy Link