CISR gets Hong Kong Rep.

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman - In a recent move to further expand its global network, the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR) has named Mr. Martin Chu as its first representative in Hong Kong, opening up a new location for the CISR. He joins the Registry as CISR Business and Technical Consultant Far East. Hong Kong marks the ninth location in the world to have CISR representation, and brings to a total of three representatives to the Far East for the CISR, a division of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI).

Last year Ms. Evelyn Soon was named as the first CISR representative in Singapore. And also in the Far East is Mr. Yoshinori Uno, who has been the CISR representative in Tokyo for several years, attracting a number of large commercial vessels to the Cayman flag.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Chu stated, "It is widely acknowledged that the Cayman fleet quality is benchmarked as a leading industry standard and I am delighted to be given the opportunity to join the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry to contribute to its continued success. I also look forward to working with the CISR global team to build upon our existing portfolio and consolidate the Registry's leadership profile in the Far East Region."

MACI CEO, Mr. A. Joel Walton, welcomed the announcement of Chu's appointment. "Mr. Chu has impeccable credentials in the maritime industry and we had been wanting to establish a CISR presence in Hong Kong for some time now," Mr. Walton explained. "Mr. Chu is a Senior Surveyor at the highest level who will complement the rest of our very professional global survey staff and provide our excellent client services to owners of all types of vessels," he added confidently. "He has a sterling and extensive background across a wide spectrum of maritime disciplines and greatly adds to our organisation's broad range of nautical expertise."

Mr. Chu, who is both a British and Chinese national, was lastly the Senior Surveyor in Charge and Hong Kong District Manager for Lloyd's Register, managing the entire operation of the Hong Kong district. In that position, he managed a team of surveyors and administrative staff, and he also carried out vessel surveys on visiting cargo ships, passenger ships and mega-yachts, in accordance with Classification Rules, International Conventions on SOLAS, MARPOL, LL, Tonnage, COLREG, STCW and ILO, and also ISM audits. With Lloyd's for nearly 20 years, Mr. Chu also mentored less experienced surveyors and carried out complex surveys, such as damage and investigative surveys.

Prior to his assignment to Hong Kong, Mr. Chu also spent a couple of years as an Engineer Surveyor for a major repair shipyard in Guangzhour, P.R., China, and was a Project Manager for the new building of an oil tanker for Singapore. Prior to China, he had also been working in Lloyd's New Orleans, La., U.S.A, London Headquarters, and other offices in the U.K. Additionally, in the U.K., Mr. Chu has been associated with two London-based firms, John Brown Engineering, and Babcock Energy Ltd.

Mr. Chu's professional qualifications include, in the United Kingdom, a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MI.Mech.E), and a Chartered Engineer (C. Eng.), and in Hong Kong SAR, a Member of the Institute of Engineers (Ir.), Mechanical, Marine, Naval Architecture & Chemical Division, a Registered Professional Engineer (R.P.E.), a Member of the Hong Kong Government Local Vessel Advisory Committee, and is retired from the Hong Kong Government Boilers and Pressure Vessels Advisory Committee after serving the maximum term of eight years.

For more information regarding the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry and the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands, please visit www.cishipping.com.