Columbia Cruises Services' Olaf Groeger explains the benefits of cruise ship management providers
By
Rebecca Gibson |
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Managing a fleet of passenger ships is tricky. Operators must continuously improve onboard hospitality services, ensure vessels are well maintained, plan new itineraries, find ways to minimise costs, train crew and much more, all while remaining compliant with stringent industry regulations.
Often, operators outsource this responsibility to specialised cruise ship management companies like Columbia Cruise Services, which was founded as an independent Columbia affiliate company in January 2015. Currently, the company provides crew management services to 11 cruise vessels and full management services for five ships, including two that were acquired in 2015. This summer, it will take responsibility for another Thomson Cruises’ ship, Thomson Discovery. All services are customised to meet the varied needs of each client.
“We can just provide one type of management service, or we can take responsibility for all operational, crew training, hospitality, technical and legislative services,” explains Groeger, adding that each client is assigned a dedicated Columbia Cruises Services team.
Enlisting the help of a management company that is solely focused on passenger shipping offers multiple benefits, according to Groeger.
“Our key advantage is that we’re part of the Schoeller Holdings group, which has a worldwide supply chain network in both the maritime and hospitality industry so we can purchase anything our clients need – from engines to bed linen – at a discounted price,” he remarks. “Providing competitive insurance policies is another of our strong points.”
Columbia Cruise Services also has close links to all major class societies and its own in-house legal team, placing it in an ideal position to help shipowners remain compliant with industry regulations.
“Requirements are constantly changing, so it can be difficult for shipowners to keep up,” says Groeger. “Our team continuously tracks upcoming changes to industry regulations and carries out risk assessments to determine how each individual client will be affected. Working with an expert like us helps our clients to find solutions or adapt their operations long before regulations enter force, ensuring they’re always compliant.”
Groeger adds that Columbia Cruise Services can also provide crisis management services to help crew prepare for, or handle, an onboard emergency.
“The current European migrant crisis and the growing threat of terror attacks are increasing security risks, not only onshore but also at sea, so its more important than ever that crew know how to respond to and manage an incident,” he says. “Our in-house emergency team continuously monitors threat risks around the world and we also work with Kenyon International Services to carry out twice-yearly disaster response exercises.”
This year, Groeger aims to more widely promote the benefits of working with Columbia Cruise Services. However, he plans to do so with professional caution.
“We’re a young company and quality comes before anything else, so we don’t want to explode vertically and then immediately collapse because we don’t have the resources to serve our clients to the best of our ability,” Groeger says. “Our top priority for 2016 will be to ensure that we become known for as a company that provides first-rate services and always delivers on, and exceeds, the promises we make to our clients.”