'We can’t be the poor relatives': Dry bulk industry must evolve to promote safety

This was one of the key takeaways from the Dry Bulk Safety Conference, hosted by Japanese shipping giant NYK in Greece on 22 January. The event brought together some of the most prominent companies in the Greek shipowning community.

NYK established a presence in Greece in 2023 under the leadership of NYK Bulkship (Atlantic) NV, the Group’s European representative. This office focuses on chartering business for bulk carriers, drawing significant interest from the Greek shipping community.

"Be pragmatic and move forward"

The dry bulk sector must move away from being seen as the ’poor relative’ of the maritime industry, said Intercargo technical committee chair, Dimitris Monioudis, during a panel discussion that concluded the conference.

Echoing this sentiment, Maran Dry HSQE manager, DPA/CSO, Capt Panagiotis Nikiteas emphasised that safety has not been a priority for many stakeholders over the years. "There’s still much work to be done to change this narrative. We need to be pragmatic, understand where we stand, and take action," he stressed.

Rightship head of operations EMEA, Taner Umac acknowledged the many challenges facing the global shipping industry, but urged the sector to focus on actionable solutions. We must not dwell solely on the challenges but instead concentrate on how to address them and move forward, he said.

Owners, charterers take action

The panel recognised the Dry Bulk Management Standard (DryBMS) launched by Intercargo and Rightship’s Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence as a significant step toward promoting best practices in the dry bulk industry.

Unlike similar standards in the tanker industry, DryBMS brings shipowners and charterers together at the discussion table to shape policies collaboratively.

The standard comprises four levels: basic, intermediate, advanced and excellence. While the Basic Level ensures compliance with legal requirements, the higher levels encourage practices beyond compliance to foster safer, more sustainable operations.

However, the panellists cautioned against a superficial approach to meeting safety standards. Simply “ticking the boxes” will not bring meaningful safety improvements.

Comprehensive training: a critical factor

Another key issue raised was the need for better training and upskilling of seafarers to meet modern safety requirements. With younger and more technologically advanced vessels entering the market, a robust training framework is essential.

Mr Monioudis emphasised that training should extend beyond the crew to include all personnel, from executives to onboard staff. "We, at the office, are not exempt from this process," he noted.

He also cited research indicating that many seafarers find nearly half of their current training irrelevant or outdated. The panellists agreed that new practices must be introduced thoughtfully to avoid overburdening crew members, particularly in a labour-intensive sector like dry bulk shipping.

Inspections and vessel age

The discussion also addressed vessel inspections conducted by Rightship, with a focus on compliance. This topic arose in light of Rightship’s new policy on age-triggered inspection timelines.

Mr Umac presented data showing that vessel age is not necessarily a key determinant of inspection outcomes. Interestingly, vessels aged 17–30 years performed better in inspections compared with those aged 6–13 years.

The discussion concluded that a vessel’s rating is more influenced by the company’s commitment and familiarity with the process than by its age.