
An in depth article with Matrix Ship Management Managing Director Peter Jordan is featured in this months Shipping & Marine publication.
The article contents can be found below:
With a team that boasts a wealth of expertise in the maritime industry, Matrix Ship Management is an innovative, reliable and versatile company that strives to lead the way in offering professional and bespoke management services to clients....
The article contents can be found below:
With a team that boasts a wealth of expertise in the maritime industry, Matrix Ship Management is an innovative, reliable and versatile company that strives to lead the way in offering professional and bespoke management services to clients....
....Founded in 2011 from the re-formation of an older company, Matrix has quickly developed a strong reputation, with independent surveyor Simon Groves stating: ‘The company must be among the top two per cent in the world for passenger ferry safety standards’ following a machinery risk
assessment survey.
Matrix’s core management activities are within the highly regulated passenger ship industry, where it pledges to provide the best possible services by offering quality, safety, security and flexibility, as
Peter Jordan, managing director of Matrix Ship Management elaborates: “We dedicate and match resources to the needs of clients, and will, if needed or at the clients request, set up a sub office within the client’s offices, or within a short distance from them, so owners/clients can be briefed on
any potential issues on an on-going face-to-face basis with the ships superintendent. This ensures owners do not feel removed from the daily operations of their assets.”
Viewing its customers more as partners, Matrix manages clients’ vessels with the same care as it would its own; a philosophy that is taken on by the company as a whole, which ensures every detail and cost is consistently monitored. Specialists in the managing of ferries and cruise ships, the progressive young firm is keen to develop business over time with high-achieving clients that are cost-conscious and share similar ideals.
“Matrix ship management have, in general, focused on the passenger ship industry, such as cruise and ferries,” says Peter. “Although we currently have specialist crewing contracts in place for other shipping industry segments, such as a fleet of tankers and supply crews for bulkers, reefers and general cargo ships, our expertise is in directly managing and crewing passenger ships.” Its carefully selected senior management team, all of which have a wide range of experience in working for large and small companies in senior management roles, currently manages the fleet of ships owned by Irish Ferries. This expertise has been instrumental in Irish Ferries, considered to be one of the best ferry
companies in the competitive Western European market, winning national and international awards for its service. On top of this, Matrix also supplies senior crew to two award winning cruise lines.
Following the downturn in shipping due to the economic climate Matrix understands the increased pressure on ship owners to cut costs, which is why its costs are completely transparent; based on a straight forward management fee, plus costs, without any supplementary hidden extras. “A lot of ship
managers will initially budget a low management fee, which on first appearances may look to be better value, but they will then add commissions or service fees on all costs and purchases. Matrix costs are transparent, with all management fees discussed and agreed at the contract stage,” highlights Peter.
Aware that crew retention is paramount to vessel safety and operational standards, Matrix is proud
that its staff/crew retention rate averaged at 94 per cent over the past few years, which benefits both the company and the client, as Peter says: “New hires lead to additional training costs and also has
a bearing on the maintenance costs of vessels, such as breakdown/failure costs, which in many cases is due to the crews unfamiliarity with the particular vessels machinery and past history.”
To ensure its crews are fully certified, trained and vetted prior to joining vessels, Matrix owns and
operates certified crewing agencies in Latvia and Poland. It has also developed partnership agreements with certified crewing agencies in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Furthermore, Matrix’s HR department and QSMS department have worked closely with the classification societies and flag
states throughout the last 12 months to ensure all of its managed ships, crew contracts, SMS, crewing agencies and crew terms & conditions fully comply with MLC 2006 regulations that are coming into force in August 2013.
On top of its own supply of crew, Matrix has a large database of highly skilled engineers, coded welders/metal fabricators and fitters that are used as a riding squad for activities such as main machinery overhauls and refurbishments. This is hugely beneficial for owners, as a Matrix riding squad
can be mobilised and on-site anywhere in the world within 48 hours to fix major breakdowns and incidents, without any additional fees; a far more attractive option to contracting expensive makers service engineers.
Matrix also owns and operates a fully bonded and IATA accredited travel agency, Henley Travel Ltd, which gives Matrix total control over all crew scheduling, rostering and movements. Most importantly it allows Matrix to control the costs of crew travel to and from the vessels with forward planning and the savings associated with the earlier booking of flights. With the implementation of MLC 2006 in August and the knock-on implications for crew travel/luggage allowances, Matrix can book (refundable) marine fares, which include additional luggage allowances, with most of the major
airlines, this results in further substantial savings for owners.
With a myriad of experience and a commitment to quality, the future looks bright for this progressive
company, which has taken a step away from seafaring tradition to promote a female deck officer to captain and also promote a female engineer to chief engineer. It is this dedication to offering its customers ‘a new generation of ship manager’ through a personal, transparent and forward-thinking approach that will ensure Matrix’s on-going success.
assessment survey.
Matrix’s core management activities are within the highly regulated passenger ship industry, where it pledges to provide the best possible services by offering quality, safety, security and flexibility, as
Peter Jordan, managing director of Matrix Ship Management elaborates: “We dedicate and match resources to the needs of clients, and will, if needed or at the clients request, set up a sub office within the client’s offices, or within a short distance from them, so owners/clients can be briefed on
any potential issues on an on-going face-to-face basis with the ships superintendent. This ensures owners do not feel removed from the daily operations of their assets.”
Viewing its customers more as partners, Matrix manages clients’ vessels with the same care as it would its own; a philosophy that is taken on by the company as a whole, which ensures every detail and cost is consistently monitored. Specialists in the managing of ferries and cruise ships, the progressive young firm is keen to develop business over time with high-achieving clients that are cost-conscious and share similar ideals.
“Matrix ship management have, in general, focused on the passenger ship industry, such as cruise and ferries,” says Peter. “Although we currently have specialist crewing contracts in place for other shipping industry segments, such as a fleet of tankers and supply crews for bulkers, reefers and general cargo ships, our expertise is in directly managing and crewing passenger ships.” Its carefully selected senior management team, all of which have a wide range of experience in working for large and small companies in senior management roles, currently manages the fleet of ships owned by Irish Ferries. This expertise has been instrumental in Irish Ferries, considered to be one of the best ferry
companies in the competitive Western European market, winning national and international awards for its service. On top of this, Matrix also supplies senior crew to two award winning cruise lines.
Following the downturn in shipping due to the economic climate Matrix understands the increased pressure on ship owners to cut costs, which is why its costs are completely transparent; based on a straight forward management fee, plus costs, without any supplementary hidden extras. “A lot of ship
managers will initially budget a low management fee, which on first appearances may look to be better value, but they will then add commissions or service fees on all costs and purchases. Matrix costs are transparent, with all management fees discussed and agreed at the contract stage,” highlights Peter.
Aware that crew retention is paramount to vessel safety and operational standards, Matrix is proud
that its staff/crew retention rate averaged at 94 per cent over the past few years, which benefits both the company and the client, as Peter says: “New hires lead to additional training costs and also has
a bearing on the maintenance costs of vessels, such as breakdown/failure costs, which in many cases is due to the crews unfamiliarity with the particular vessels machinery and past history.”
To ensure its crews are fully certified, trained and vetted prior to joining vessels, Matrix owns and
operates certified crewing agencies in Latvia and Poland. It has also developed partnership agreements with certified crewing agencies in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Furthermore, Matrix’s HR department and QSMS department have worked closely with the classification societies and flag
states throughout the last 12 months to ensure all of its managed ships, crew contracts, SMS, crewing agencies and crew terms & conditions fully comply with MLC 2006 regulations that are coming into force in August 2013.
On top of its own supply of crew, Matrix has a large database of highly skilled engineers, coded welders/metal fabricators and fitters that are used as a riding squad for activities such as main machinery overhauls and refurbishments. This is hugely beneficial for owners, as a Matrix riding squad
can be mobilised and on-site anywhere in the world within 48 hours to fix major breakdowns and incidents, without any additional fees; a far more attractive option to contracting expensive makers service engineers.
Matrix also owns and operates a fully bonded and IATA accredited travel agency, Henley Travel Ltd, which gives Matrix total control over all crew scheduling, rostering and movements. Most importantly it allows Matrix to control the costs of crew travel to and from the vessels with forward planning and the savings associated with the earlier booking of flights. With the implementation of MLC 2006 in August and the knock-on implications for crew travel/luggage allowances, Matrix can book (refundable) marine fares, which include additional luggage allowances, with most of the major
airlines, this results in further substantial savings for owners.
With a myriad of experience and a commitment to quality, the future looks bright for this progressive
company, which has taken a step away from seafaring tradition to promote a female deck officer to captain and also promote a female engineer to chief engineer. It is this dedication to offering its customers ‘a new generation of ship manager’ through a personal, transparent and forward-thinking approach that will ensure Matrix’s on-going success.