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CRUISE SHIPPING REVIEW • Ship Management extends to that of a fiduciary. From establishing operating budgets and negotiating contracts, to mon- itoring expenses and performing detailed cost analyses; the ship manager remains focused on con- taining costs and enhancing prof- itability. Monthly operating bud- gets are prepared and scrutinized to ensure that the cruise ship owner/operator's fiscal objectives are being met. Dispelling the Myths For cruise ship owner/operators who have established a 'partner- ship' with a high quality ship man- agement firm, any previous mis- Circle 305 on Reader Service Card conceptions have been replaced by measurable advantages. For those who haven't, the myths still per- sist. Some owner/operators mis- takenly believe the costs for third- party management are too high. They fail to recognize that effec- tive ship managers know how to operate a vessel at the lowest pos- sible costs, without any sacrifice to quality. Others fear a loss of con- trol and don't understand that the best ship managers give their clients all the tools and informa- tion they need to stay in complete control. Still others believe they can manage their cruise ship bet- ter and more cost-competitively. If, in fact, this latter group had a fully-dedicated, equally-experi- enced management resource on- board, then perhaps their belief would be well-founded. Unfortunately however, many new cruise ship owner/operators now enterering the market, who attempt to manage their vessels themselves, have neither a dedi- cated team for the task nor the level of experience that third-party ship managers have. Ultimately, the operation becomes unwieldy and ineffective, resulting in a loss of quality both in the cruise ship's operation and related core rev- enue-producing functions. Outsourcing services to qualified third parties is an accepted and widely used practice across numer- ous categories of business and industry and for good reason. Cruise ship owner/operators reluc- tant to outsource their vessel's ship management should focus on the benefits of outsourcing in gen- eral and apply them in their con- sideration of third-party ship man- agement. One Ship Manager For All A final caveat to cruise ship owner/operators regarding ship management: when seeking out the most qualified and experienced ship manager based on the afore- mentioned qualifications, don't make the mistake of hiring two managers; one for hotel services and another for deck and engine services. The optimum 'partner- ship' reflects a one-stop shopping concept. It allows a qualified ship manager to assume full responsi- bility for all facets of operation. This partnership keep sub-con- tractors to a minimum so that accountability is firmly placed with the ship manager. The on- board Management benefits from direct lines of communication enabling them to concentrate on product delivery and passenger service. Mr. Barreiro de Leon is Manager Hotel Operations & Passenger Services for V. Ships Marine, Ltd. (Mineola, N.Y.). The Leader for over 50 Years SLIDING WATERTIGHT DOORS & CUSTOM CLOSURES /I u nc At St* ! Walz & Krenzer slid- ing W.T. doors fully comply with SOLAS, ABS, U.S.C.G. Subpart 163.001 Class II and Class III, and ASTM F1196 and F1197 requirements. Also available to Lloyds, DNV and all other regulatory bodies. Custom closures designed to meet your specifications. Recent installations include: • "TAKU" Stern Doors & Sideports • W-AGB 20 Icebreaker Cargo & Machinery Space Hatches •T-AKR 301 Vertical Sliding Cargo Doors • "KENNIC0TT" Stern Door, Sideports, Hinged Deck Sections Sliding Doors 1390 Mt. Read Blvd. Rochester, NY 14606 Phone 716-254-6670 Fax 716-254-6178 Email: wk3000@aol.com Walz & Krenzer, Inc. PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS & NUMBERS FOR CUSTOM CLOSURE OFFICE Custom Closures 91 Willenbrock Rd., Unit B4 Oxford, CT 06478 Phone 203-267-5712 Fax 203-267-5716 Email: wk2000@aol.com DONN' Marine Bulkhead System An attractive, affordable, and efficient alternative to conventional joiner bulkheads. Meets structural, safety and budget considerations while contributing to the quality of life at sea. Distributed By King Wholesale Supply Co., Inc. 727 South Cortez Street New Orleans, LA 70019 For information, call 1 (800) 299-9888 and ask for our Marine Division. U.S. Coast Guard approved for use in B-15 rated bulkheads in A-60 construction applications 100% accessible Complete, integrated system Smooth, monolithic appearance STC rating of 40 Abuse resistant panels Long-term rust protection Low maintenance on matched finishes Affordable alternative to conventional joiner bulkheads Circle 250 on Reader Service Card