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Supership Maintenance Seen As Missing Link In Profit Projections Traditional systems of vessel maintenance and repair have proved to be inadequate in today's age of jumbo-sized ships, a leading British shipping expert stated re- cently in New York. John W. Common, chairman of the board of Sir Joseph W. Isher- wood & Co., Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne, told a luncheon press con- ference at the Whitehall Club: "What with vessel "costs in the neighborhood of $25,000 per day and a worldwide shortage of yard facilities, a badly timed VLCC (very large crude carrier) break- down can easily mean a quarter- million dollar loss, which in turn can upset profit projections in the worst possible way." To provide "financial preventive medicine" against this kind of ex- pensive disaster, Mr. Common, who is also president of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, announced the devel- opment of a special Isherwood ma- rine service "designed to improve profitability of ships by systematic control of maintenance, repairs, and spare gear." The service is titled A-MAR-Z, Mr. Common said, "sig- nifying its A to Z comprehensive nature," and is being represented in the United States by Common Brothers U.S.A. Ltd., 61 Broadway, New York, N.Y. A-MAR-Z, according to Mr. Common, has four main objectives: (1) to provide comprehensive planned maintenance and spares Our man in Savannah is your man in Savannah. Meet Jack Harrison, one of our ship superintendents. His job is your job. We pay his salary, but he works for you. He sees to it that the rest of our people stay on the ball and on your job. It doesn't matter if it's a major conversion or a voyage repair. He makes commitments to your port engineer and keeps them. He doesn't like apologizing or explaining. So he makes sure he doesn't have to do a whole lot of it. We do good work. This is a good town. We have a good climate. And we've got good men like Jack Harrison working for us. Come on down and let us show you why they ought to be working for you. Savannah Machine and Shipyard Co. P.O. Box 787, Savannah, Ga. 31402 Tele. (912) 233-6621 5 World Trade Center, Room 6237 New York, N.Y. 10048, Tele.(212) 432-0350 Your man in Savannah. control systems; (2) to provide a working service to monitor the to- tal repair and maintenance func- tions ; (3) to offer a full range of support services to maximize sav- ings, and (4) to ensure that vessel owners obtain maximum benefits from modern management meth- ods. "This is decidedly an idea whose time has come," Mr. Common said. In noting that the A-MAR-Z sys- tem is applicable to the new gen- eration of cargo-carrying ships as well as supertankers, Mr. Common mentioned that the system is pres- ently operational or in the installa- tion or planning stage for 28 ves- sels ranging in type from cellular containerships, product tankers, VLCCs, offshore supply and serv- ice vessels and bulk carriers. Total value of the vessels being equipped with A-MAR-Z is approximately $250 million and includes such companies as Conoco, Blandford Shipping, Trinidad Corporation, Federal Commerce and Navigation, Sea Containers and Common Brothers. "Nonetheless, maintenance and repair programs often remain the missing links when new multi- million dollar, jumbo-scale marine ventures are projected." Recent corporate austerity programs re- sulting in staff reductions, plus the shortage of experienced manage- ment and the higher frequency of crew turnover are contributors to the lack of continuity and break- down Of the maintenance and re- pair function when the fact is that unexpected costs in these function- al areas can severely disrupt the cash flow forecasts. Mr. Common said that Common Brothers U.S.A. would provide full technical staff backing to the A- MAR-Z system, including design and installation, a working bureau service to administer and monitor the system, and the capability to recommend and provide specialist work squads when they prove to be necessary. In addition, he said, Common Brothers U.S.A. would represent and market the .full line of other Isherwood services, which include ship design, plan approv- al, supervision of construction, drydocking management, vessel surveys and preparation of ten- ders for newbuildings. Stuart S. Danoff, who has had a wide and varied career in the mari- time industry, is president of Com- mon Brothers U.S.A. Limited. F.J. Franco loins Fumess Withy T.J. Cassidy, president of Fur- ness Withy Agencies (USA), New York, N.Y., has announced the ap- pointment of F.J. Franco as vice president, finance. A graduate of St. John's Univer- sity, Mr. Franco joins Furness, having 'been associated with Has- kins and Sells and most recently, with Norton, Lilly as vice presi- dent, finance. 10 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
