SIMIC

Bob Jaques | Jan 06, 2021

Kingdon has taken up the post from his base in Shanghai where he also heads up the Asia operation of marine inspection and project management firm IDWAL. He will join IOMSR’s existing network of overseas representatives in Greece, Japan and Singapore.

IOMSR director Cameron Mitchell said he was delighted by the appointment since China is a key market for the flag state with many of its clients drydocking and building ships there, especially “tanker and bulk carrier owners and operators from Greece”. Some two thirds of the IOMSR fleet is now managed from Asia, he added.

Related: Isle of Man registry ramps up flag promotion in Asia

“In addition, we expect to be working more closely with the China Classification Society (CCS) which is seeing massive growth, both in numbers and quality and diversity within its fleet,” Mitchell added.

“I am really pleased to join the Isle of Man team and build the profile of such a well-respected flag here in China,” said Kingdon, adding that a key message he will be taking to the Chinese market is IOMSR’s ability to offer indefinite ‘favoured nation status’ to Chinese ship-owners offering preferential Tonnage Dues. The latter equates to a 28% saving which in the case of Newcastlemax vessels represents a saving of some $90,000 per year.

IOMSR also offers low fees with one annual payment and no hidden stealth charges, Kingdon added, as well as a discount for multi-ship fleets and fee incentives for environmentally friendly vessels.

The registry currently has around 400 ships and 15m tonnes sailing under its flag and has previously held top spot on the Paris MoU Port State Control whitelist, as well as being firmly on the whitelist in the Tokyo MoU rankings and being part of the US Coast Guard’s Qualship 21 scheme.