Mr. Ambrose Rajadurai

Mr. Rajadurai is a practising marine lawyer and highly accredited marine consultant operating from Melbourne, Australia.

He started his sea going career with Blue Funnel/Ocean Fleets , U.K sailing on British and Dutch flagged vessels.

His long career in the marine industry has seen him graduate from a sea going officer to numerous positions in the marine logistics, operations and commercial divisions of shipping companies, port authorities, oil majors etc and finally into private practice as follows:

• Harbour Pilot in Penang, Malaysia
• Shipyard Dock Master
• Marine Superintendent / Pilot, Shell Refinery, Port Dickson, Malaysia
• ULCC Berthing Master, Shell Refinery, Pulau Bukom
• Oil Movements Department, Shell Refinery, Pulau Bukom, Singapore
• Chartering Department, Shell Eastern Petroleum Limited
• Shell International Marine, London - Chartering, Offshore Operations in the North Sea, seconded to specialist London ship broking firm James Burness
• Shipping Operations Manager, Shell Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
• BHP Ltd, Melbourne, Australia - Petroleum & Gas Tanker Chartering & Operations; Operations Standards (ship and management vetting)
• Chief Operating Officer, Global Carriers Berhad, Malaysia
• Marine Lawyer and Consultant, Melbourne, Australia

Experience Highlights

• Actively involved in various working groups in OCIMF relating to improving operational and safety systems in marine activities in the petroleum industry, from 1984 through to 1997. Was founder member of the Task Force instituted to create and implement the OCIMF Ship Vetting System and the Ship Inspection Report Exchange. This program is recognised as a major initiative in improving safety in global shipping and arguably inspired and lent much to implementation of the Port State Control regime initiated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
  
  
• Member of the Intertanko Pilotage Working Group (PWG). The PWG is concerned with reforming pilotage practices worldwide, to improve safety and risk management.
  
  
• Held a succession of management and leadership positions, in the public and private sectors, in major corporations in various locations worldwide. These range from operational leadership shipboard and in oil refinery and terminal operations to executive leadership as Chief Operating Officer of a public-listed shipowning and operating company employing in excess of 800 staff with worldwide operations and turnover of approximately USD 75 million per annum.
  
  
• As Operations Standards Manager at BHP, was responsible for developing and implementing the Ship Vetting program. A fundamental aspect of this program was rejecting substandard and unsafe vessels proposed for shipping BHP cargoes or for loading/discharging at BHP operated terminals.
  
  
• In addition to experience in negotiating voyage and time charter contracts for crude, product and chemical tankers and gas carriers (Shell, James Burness, BHP etc) and bulk carriers, general cargo ships and containerships, also participated in the drafting and/or negotiation of shipbuilding, sale and purchase and repair contracts for ships. Assisted clients with the drafting of shipbuilding contracts for three tankers to be built in Indonesia on behalf of owners based in Hong Kong and Australia, financed by interests based in Switzerland.
  
  
• Hands-on experience in shiphandling as shipmaster, shipyard dockmaster conducting sea trials, and as a pilot at Penang, Port Dickson, Singapore and the North Sea. This included handling a range of vessels from general cargo vessels to containerships and tugs and tows to experience as an oil major berthing master handling tankers ranging from coastal tankers to ultra large crude carriers and gas carriers, berthing at wharves, single point moorings and carrying out ship to ship transfers.
  
  
• Implemented a coastal tanker vetting program for vessels and a terminal safety program which included training for shore personnel to improve safety and environmental protection in marine operations at 13 marine terminals.
  
  
• Introduced “Management Vetting” to scrutinise the management systems of operators of vessels chartered by the company. This program was introduced well before the ISM Code was implemented and the concept of managing safety through effective systems gained widespread acceptance.
  
  
• Advise and/or manage for clients insurance claims for cargo damage, loss and contamination. Using his prior operational, technical and commercial experience most claims were settled amicably at minimum cost to the parties.
  
  
• Protection of the marine environment from pollution through vessel or shore based outflows as well as other operational activity through being a part of the Regional Oil Spill response teams at Shell Malaysia. At BHP was part of the oil spill response team and was actively involved in the “Iron Baron” (a major ship grounding and oil spill in Tasmania) clean up operation. Managed the exposure of the company to risk of pollution damage as a consequence of casualty involving chartered tonnage.
  
  
• Worked closely with the Victorian Channels Authority/Port of Melbourne Corporation on a project to implement a Dynamic Underkeel Clearance Predicting system for the ports of Melbourne and Geelong.
  
  
• Assisted with a project to replace an existing SBM with a new version capable of handling larger vessels. This included participating in all aspects of the planning, design and eventual change out of the facilities. During this project was also exposed to design work relating to the marine facilities for the Woodside LNG project in NW Australia, including considerations to install an SBM capable of handling LNG exports.
  
  
• Actively involved in projects to build a new product export jetty at Port Dickson and the refurbishment and upgrading of 14 tanker berths at Shell Pulau Bukom refinery at Singapore. In operational roles was involved in management of routine maintenance work for the SBM’s (including floating and submarine hoses and pipelines), jetty facilities and marine terminal infrastructure including fire fighting and oil pollution contingency equipment.
  
  
• Assisted in providing advice to Victorian Channels Authority, Melbourne Port Corporation and Gippsland Ports on various relevant issues. His legal essay analysing risk management subsequent to revision of Victorian legislation on pilotage, won the Morella Calder Prize awarded by the Maritime Law Association of Australia & New Zealand (MLAANZ) in 2002.

Accreditation

• Elected Member – Royal Institute of Navigation (U.K.)


• Diploma in Nautical Science (Riversdale TC, Liverpool, U.K.)


• Master Foreign Going Class 1 (U.K.)


• Licensed Harbour Pilot – Penang, Malaysia


• Elected Member – Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (U.K.)


• Elected Member – Institute of Petroleum (U.K.)


• Master of Business Administration (University of Melbourne)


• Independent Tanker Owners Association (Intertanko) – Pilotage Working Group


• Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – Education Officer & Administrator of Distance Learning Centre (ANZ Branch)


• LLB (Hons) Monash University


• LLM (Maritime Law) University of Queensland


• Admitted as a Solicitor & Barrister of the Supreme Court, Victoria, Australia


• Appointed as one of about 5 Marine Incident Investigators by Marine Safety Victoria (Australia), the State Regulatory Authority
  
  

Capt Ramu Naidu Sanasi

Capt. Ramu Naidu’s 35 years of shipping experience has centred on Oil and Chemical Tanker Operations. Though his initial years were spent training on General Cargo and Bulk Carriers he started accumulating Palm Oil, Crude Oil, Clean Products and Chemical carriage experience at a very early age. One of his early specialities was Type 2/3 Chemical Tankers sailing as Master as well as taking senior management roles ashore with companies operating these vessels.

Today he is acknowledged as a world renown expert in the carriage of chemical cargoes.

He has been involved extensively with Chemical Tanker and New Building programs and OPA 90 studies for tankers trading to USA as well as in documentation preparation and compliance for major fleet owners like Malaysian International Shipping Corp and Aurora Tankers ( part of the IMC Group of Hong Kong). Through these programs he accumulated extensive design experience for new building programs at shipyards.

In his capacity as Master he has sailed as Special task Force Master with IMCSC carrying out operational audits on board, preparing vessels for oil major approval and carrying out renewal of cargo Pipelines, railings and steel renewal with Riding Crews.

He joined Aurora Tankers, Singapore as Assistant Manager of Operations and was promoted to Operations Manager in 1997. He has participated in various meetings at IMO MEPC/BLG subcommittee, Intertanko Chemical Tanker Owners Advisory Group [now CTC], and Malaysian MPOB BLG working group. He has also been actively involved with IMO BLG, Intertanko, USCG and Classification Society on Equivalency matters for Type 2 Chemical Tankers and Upcoming revision of Marpol Annex II.

In 2003 he assumed the role of Fleet Operations Manager with Aurora tankers managing commercial operations of 12 chemical /product tankers of 45000 dwt trading to Europe and USA carrying petroleum products and also chemicals.

Capt. Ramu became an independent international consultant in 2004 and has been travelling the globe consulting for Chemical and Product Tanker Operators on Crew training, Cargo loading/ discharging planning and supervision, tank cleaning and new buildings cargo system specifications for chemical tankers. He regularly carries out cargo superintending jobs for Petronas (chemicals), Aurora Tankers Malaysia, Team Tankers-USA, Westfal Larsen-Norway, East Wind Carriers-USA, Jo Tankers Norway, Maersk Tankers Denmark and Handy Tankers Singapore. He has also conducted crew training on Tanker safety familiarisation, ISM code awareness and Bridge Team Management awareness courses on board Malaysian Tanker vessels. He has worked with Malaysian, Indian, Filipino, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, British, Dutch , Danish and Italian Officers and ratings on board Chemical Tankers during Cargo operations supervision.

He has conducted on-board Commercial Operations Efficiency training for Chemical Tanker Officers. This training included efficient Tank Cleaning and Port Operations, chartering, Cargo Documentation, efficient port operations, Stowage and Maximisation of cargo uplift.

Being exceptionally familiar with equipments and reagent requirements he has carried out wall wash tests on board for loading chemicals such as methanol, Acetone, MEG.

Besides this Capt. Ramu also conducts pre-purchase inspections of Chemical and Product Tankers for fleet operators who value his expertise on the viability of purchasing these specialised vessels before investing millions of dollars on each.

Accreditation

• Obtained Master Class 1 certificate (Unlimited) from Sydney, Australia


• Trained on ISO 9000, ISM and OPA by ABS Singapore and Gallagher Marine USA


• Trained on Emergency Response table top drills for oil and chemical tankers as per OPA 90 by Gallagher Marine Services USA


• Participated in Malaysian Palm Oil Board discussion on impact of Revised Marpol Annex II Palm Oil carriage and freight


• Attended MEPC meetings on the revision of Marpol Annex II and impact on tonnage availability based on recategorisation


• Attended train the trainer programme by Ripple Skills


• Trained on ISO 9000,ISM and OPA 90 by ABS Singapore and Gallagher Marine USA


• Participated in various US OPA 90 Oil pollution drills


• Participated at IMO BLG and MEPC meetings as part of Malaysian delegation on revision of Marpol Annex II


• Valid STCW 95 Master Class I (unlimited) certificate for sailing as master on Chemical and Oil tankers


• Underwent Chemical tanker training from Pan Ocean Anco UK


• Attended Chemical tanker operations course at Warsash, UK


• Trained as Company and Ship security officers as ISPS code requirement


• Involved in new building programme for Type 2 chemical Tankers at Pusan, South Korea for 5 vessels and Dalian Shipyard for 5 Type 2 Chemical Tankers


• Member of Intertanko Chemical Tanker Committee from 1995 to 2003


• Prepared Chemical vessels for USCG and Oil majors inspections


• Completed revalidation course for Master Class I at Sydney, Australia


• Carried out pre-purchase inspections of Chemical tankers and Palm oil tankers


• Developed ISO and ISM for Wawasan Bulk Carriers


• Completed UNCTAD ship commercial operations course


• Passed NACE CIP Level 1 and 2 examinations


• Passed OCIMF Vetting inspectors course for Oil and Chemical Tankers


• Awaiting vessel attendance under supervision prior accreditation


• Conducted Revised Marpol Annex II and Tank Cleaning familiarisation programmes for Norwegian Owners at Bergen, Norway, Riga, Latvia and in Singapore

Expertise

• Preparations of vessels for CDI and SIRE vettings and training of crew for vetting


• Familiar with the Revised Marpol Annex I, Annex II and Recategorisation of noxious liquid substances due to enter into force in January 2007


• Tank Cleaning supervision and guidance to vessels


• On board training for Officers and ratings on tankers Safety and Commercial operations


• Third party attendance of tankers during loading and discharging as required by Oil Majors


• Recommendation of tank cleaning chemicals, wallwash reagents and equipment requirements to ship operators based on last and next cargoes


• Loading, discharging and tank cleaning supervision for Palm Oil, Fish Oil, Soya Bean Oil, Rape Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Petroleum Products, Methanol and other Chemicals and VCM