Maritime Services

As one of the largest and most complex industries in the world, the movement of cargos internationally by sea is a fundamental ‘backbone’ to a myriad of industries across a huge spectrum of corporate endeavour. Stone Falcon offers a range of integrated services within the maritime sector – perfectly complementing our other business and leveraging our global network of specialists and contacts.

Provision of Ships’ Masters’ (FPSO’s and VLCC’S)
Mooring/loading
Project management of FPSO conversions; maintenance
FPSO operations management
3PL provider

Maritime Sanctions Compliance

There is little doubt that maritime trade represents the majority of international business trade contracted 24/7 globally. Cargos of every conceivable type are in continuous movement; providing the lifeblood for the beating heart of commercial commerce. Some actors upon this global stage however, may be governments and regimes that are considered unethical in their policies or behaviours and as a result, face sanctions as a punitive mechanism from the wider international community in an attempt to change such policies and behaviour. International criminal interests and terrorists may utilise the flow of maritime trade to further their own ends – perhaps by laundering money or to raise capital for funding. The sheer volume of maritime trade poses a double-sided conundrum. On one hand, like-minded governments may draft and ratify international sanctions, whilst on the other the implementation and enforcement of them is another matter wholly. This problem is further exacerbated for those who must ensure that they do not fall foul of sanction compliance requirements, whilst there are others who will seek to circumvent and avoid any such sanction measures.

Stone Falcon works internationally within this arena providing both in depth training as well as consultancy to help create organisational resilience and ensure that both knowledge and competency exists within the company to deal with this complex area. Issues such as ‘Red Flags’ and examining complex corporate structures to identify beneficial owners, conducting due diligence and working closely with clients- helping to develop a sanctions compliance programme are just some of the ways that we can help.

Marine Biosecurity

International maritime trade is truly a global activity. A plethora of different vessels ply the world’s oceans and seas on a 24/7 basis carrying every conceivable type of cargo across all points of the compass. Herein lies one of the most serious environmental threats facing the planet today – the disruption, invasion or complete destruction of a local marine ecosystem due to the introduction and establishment of aggressive, non-indigenous species. Maritime vessels act as the prime vectors for this occurrence. Foreign species may be contained within ballast water or may simply ‘hitch’ a lift on a vessel’s hull. When ballast water is vented, an exchange will take place between the flora and fauna present from the previous destination(s) and that present at the current location. ‘Biofouling’ on ship hulls allows carriage of foreign organisms that may simply ‘drop off’ a hull or enter into some form of reproductive stage once within a different location. As port congestion continues to increase around the world – there is ever greater scope of transference and ‘cross-contamination’ inter-vessel with ships laying at anchor in queues awaiting their turn to load and discharge cargoes. Many communities and commercial enterprises within coastal regions rely on their local marine habitat – from fishing and diving to tourism and aquaculture, the threat of contamination is serious in terms of the longer-term prognosis for loss or damage – livelihoods can be lost and there is a significant economic/cost factor to consider in attempting to combat and control these intruders. Governments around the world are recognising the seriousness of this and there is a growing body of legislation, rules and regulations evolving.

Stone Falcon is well positioned to help. We are one of the few organisations that conduct training courses within this area. We are able to provide consultancy services to help clients address this issue and formulate biosecurity plans and surveying methodologies, whilst ensuring that stakeholder engagement is optimised.