Industry Insight from BLUE Communications – April 2015

April 2015

The recent months have been times of change. In shipping, the long awaited 0.1% sulphur emission control areas have come into force in the US, Canada and North Europe. How this affects ship owners’ operations and profitability will become clearer over the course of the year. In energy markets, we have seen oil prices drop to the lowest levels in years, presenting a welcome respite for ship operators’ but creating volatility and uncertainty around upstream exploration projects.

The articles below highlight some of these developments both in industry and closer to home at BLUE. We’re also delighted to receive a guest contribution from our friend, client and former President of Costa Rica, José María Figueres.

Guest article “Why I’m proud of our work with BLUE” José María Figueres, president of BLUE client, the Carbon War Room and its partner organisation the Rocky Mountain Institute, highlights how true consultancy can provide valuable support to achieve progress in tackling one of the world’s biggest issues – climate change. Read more GST 2015 Reflections In many ways the success of Informa’s Green Ship Technology conference has mirrored the growing importance of ‘eco-environment’ in shipping over an eleven-year period. Stealing the show this year (unashamedly given that it is a long-standing BLUE client!) was air lubrication technology company Silversteam Technologies. Like many small, entrepreneurial companies in shipping proliferating “environmental solutions”, it’s been a long journey – in fact as far back the first GST.However, the results of its verified sea trial, funded by Shell and in conjunction with Lloyds Register was the talk of the conference. IMarEST urges shipping to embrace social media The shipping industry was encouraged to further professional development through the use of digital and social media at the 112th annual reception of The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), held in March at London’s Guildhall.Addressing hundreds of industry professionals, Martin Murphy, president of IMarEST, highlighted You Tube and other social channels as integral tools for sharing knowledge and key learnings across the maritime industry. His words came following IMarEST’s successful adoption of digital and social media channels, which saw a video about the institute receive more than 400 global views within hours of being posted on YouTube. Sink or sail? Fuel-efficiency solutions in an era of cheap oil. The fall in bunker prices is welcome relief for ship owners, but poses more challenging questions for fuel-efficiency pioneers that have built their pitch around the fuel savings their solutions can deliver. When the received wisdom around the inevitable rise of bunker prices no longer holds, the technology pioneers that will thrive will be those with a solution that’s versatile enough to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and a market proposition that is fit for all seasons. BLUE’s senior consultant, Simon Phillips shares his views on this challenge Read more Four months, four new clients Since our last newsletter in November, four new clients have appointed BLUE in as many months.In November we started working with HPi Verification Services to lead and manage its international PR activity. HPi VS is an accredited body and leading global supplier of CE certification services. Also in November,  AALappointed BLUE, one of the world’s leading global breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift shipping operators with services throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.In January,  ShipServ, the $3 billion per annum trading marketplace for the marine and offshore industries, enlisted our services. And keeping up a good batting average for BLUE over the past four months, BLUE was chosen in January by fuel emulsion innovator SulNOx Fuel Fusions Plc to provide public relations and network engagement services. Knowledge is power? The old adage ‘knowledge is power’, has never been truer than when it comes to building brands and reputation. Being able to effectively influence and engage audiences whether they are customers, employees, regulators or partners requires an understanding of what makes them tick; their priorities, pressures, goals and concerns. Similarly, the success or failure of critical commercial decisions can arguably rest upon information, rather than intuition.Find out more about how our research division, In-depth Insight, is helping clients to inform marketing and business development strategies, compete more effectively and build their reputation amongst the people that matter.

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