40% less emissions from existing ships by 2030. Is this target of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) unfeasible? Not if it is up to Thomas van Tol, co-founder of The Synergy partner (TSP): ‘The maritime sector faces an enormous challenge to make the existing fleet more sustainable and to meet these targets of the IMO. If we continue with the current retrofit model, we will definitely not meet this target. We were so fascinated by this that we have set up a new service, named TSP Projects, to do everything we can to meet these targets. The aim is to make complex sustainability projects faster, more efficient and cheaper. I will be happy to tell you more about it.’
Current retrofit model in the maritime sector is untenable
The current retrofit model stands in the way of the sustainability targets. Van Tol: ‘The current model in the maritime sector is expensive, unsustainable and untenable. It usually works like this: an owner contacts an equipment supplier and at a later stage an engineering company. With this limited technical information, the owner issues a tender and yards prepare a quote. When the tender is eventually awarded to a yard, the first problems in the chain often follow, which subsequently lead to delays and additional work costs, also because there are so many parties involved in a project like that. Poor interface management and preparation between, for example, engineering offices, equipment suppliers, inspection agencies and shipyards result in major risks. The owner spends many hours supervising such a project, which usually also turns out to be (much) more expensive.’
Unique: unburdening from A to Z
Van Tol continues: ‘That's why we started TSP Projects. A service where we supervise maritime sustainability projects from A to Z and unburden ship owners during the retrofit. We are involved from the start by an owner or buyer and operate as their independent Project Managers. We ensure that the entire chain is properly managed, so that no interface issues arise, without overlooking the commercial position of the ship owner.
At the start of a project, we provide a clear proposal with prices from various providers, from engineering firms to personnel services. These providers are in our broad maritime network. Step by step, we lead our client through the process in a transparent way. They are in the lead, we take over all the work! Because we have years of experience in supervising maritime projects and know exactly how to join all parties, resulting in cheaper, more sustainable projects that are completed on time.’
Contracts are complied with
In the maritime sector contract management is often secondary, with many associated risks. Van Tol: ‘We alert as much as we can that this attitude cannot be taken in a changing maritime world, where the contract is increasingly leading. A contract can easily contain 1000 requirements. If you do not meet one requirement, you may lose millions of euros. As we also have a lot of experience in contract management, we can fully include the owner in the status. We have all the required expertise to ensure that all partners work in accordance with the contract. This avoids considerable risks for the ship owner and they get what has been agreed.’
Greenport – independent & unlimited possibilities
The Synergy Partner is located at Greenport. Van Tol says: ‘We have our office at Greenport, a growing maritime operational knowledge centre in Rotterdam port area with its own large quay with fully equipped quay facilities. It includes space for storage, cranes and equally important: an open connection to the sea. Project offices are also available. When we start a project, we can get to work right here at Greenport. Greenport is independent, which considerably brings down project costs. Another advantage.’
Aims of TSP Projects: More Sustainable, Cheaper and Delivered on Time
Van Tol is clear about the aim of TSP Projects: ‘We mainly focus on complex projects in which sustainability plays an important role, such as measures that reduce emissions from ships. We feel completely comfortable with such complex projects. At the same time, we see that a lot of money is now being lost within these types of projects, because everyone in the chain protects their own area, which does not result in the best projects. With this service everything is centralised, and you prevent that. It automatically ensures cheaper and more sustainable projects that we deliver on time.’