“Our ships are amongst the youngest in the world, and the average age of our fleet is 4 years. “ Capt. Nicola Dicarlo is upbeat when he adds, “By next September we will improve it further to 2 years”.

Capt. Nicola Dicarlo has been in Mumbai to drive his company’s expansion plans in association with their Indian manning agent, IMS Ship Management. Capt. Nicola Dicarlo is Crew Manager at Navigazione Montanari S. p. A., Fano, Italy.

Navigazione Montanari, a family enterprise which dates back four generations, was founded by Captain Giovanni Montanari in 1889. He started with a small sailing ship for the innovative transport of wood and building materials between Mediterranean ports.

Montanari & Co. S.p.A., the holding company of the group, in a continuous and steady business expansion and growth of the fleet has acquired the majority stake of Navigazione Alta Italia S. p. A., company established in 1906 in Genoa and listed in the italian stock exchange since 1932. At the same time it has set out a restructuring operation in the ship owning sector. Following the merger of the four companies of the group and after having changed its name into Navigazione Montanari S.p.A., the company can now boast a very active fleet in the crude oil, gas, chemical and product carrier sector.

Capt. Nicola Dicarlo spiritedly said, “We would not like to poach on officers belonging to other companies. But we would wholeheartedly welcome persons to collaborate with us and work as a family, sharing common values.” Capt. Dicarlo thus set the tone of an exclusive interview with The Marine World in the office of its manning collaborator, IMS Ship Management at Mumbai.

Excerpts of the interview with Capt. Nicola Dicarlo

What is your strategic focus?

You are aware that our company is over 100 years old and it has relentlessly grown over the decades. We have an ambitious expansion plan and have now invested over 700 million dollars to grow our fleet size and also to develop high quality facilities. We have begun building vessels in China and Korea; some of them are 38000 dwt while others are 50,000 dwt and Aframax. We wish to keep pace with our expansions by adopting a methodic manning approach so that all our vessels run with optimum effectiveness.

What makes India the destination for your growth strategy?

We have a very happy and productive relationship with our Indian manning collaborator, IMS Ship Management under Captain S.C Sood. We have obtained wonderful service from IMS Ship Management in our association of nearly 3 years with them. IMS mans five of our vessels with full Indian crew complement. The performance of these officers and crew in turn has been to our complete satisfaction. We are looking forward to transfer more responsibilities to Captain Sood.

How would you ensure quality of officers and crew?

I agree there is a dearth of good officers and crew. And without the requisite number of young crew and officers today, we cannot hope to have sufficient shipmasters and senior engineers to lead our expansion plans tomorrow. We are keeping our strategy simple by laying an emphasis on grooming and preparing the junior officers to take charge as senior officers in the future.


How are you proposing to train your officers?

In addition to our in-house as well as on-board training, we are looking forward to collaboration with a good training institution to help us with our training requirements. In this regard I have been to L.B.S. Institute of Nautical sciences at Mumbai to check out. I am quite impressed of the fact that the principal is a very good former chief engineer and the instructors are highly skilled masters and captains. They also have very good facilities. I am quite confident that this training center will be very effective.


What has been your experience with Indian officers?

Personally I have had a long association with Indian seafarers in various capacities ever since I began my career in 1976. I must say I have experienced the resourcefulness of a typical Indian sailor for a long time now. Indian officers are superior for their professional abilities. They have been found to be quite adept with our company’s as well as the international requirements. A lot of the officers I know have been very particular about following norms to the letter and spirit, and this I believe is a very important quality for a seafarer to have. You will agree with me that efficiency and safety is of prime importance in this industry.


How compatible do you find the Indians with respect to your organization in particular and in general to the Italian way?

As said before, our organization very much appreciates the work ethic of an Indian officer. He is quite knowledgeable as well as meticulous. And he is extremely reliable where his responsibilities are concerned. If you talk about the Italian way, I would like to say that we certainly work very well together.

What are the human resources management and motivational policies and practices of your organization?

Our firm belief is that a company can grow only if employees are happy working there. We are trying our utmost by providing a safe work environment on board ships. The environment on our ships allows a cordial relationship with everyone. You will also find that we are doing everything of the best order for the recreation, food, relaxation, and maintaining the health of the officers and crew. The company considers all employees as part of its family. Of particular importance to our company is the welfare of the families of our employees. We are concerned for the families’ living conditions, their well-being and their health. We are endeavouring to give an opportunity to each of our employees to good care of his near and dear ones. And to enable officers and crew be in regular touch with their families we are modernizing our communication system on top priority. As a past seaman, I know how frustrating it is when you can’t reach out to your parents or spouse. To the employees, I would like to say that this company offers a safe and stable career, and every facility to grow further. We wish them all the very best.


Excerpts of the interview with Capt. S.C. Sood

A veteran in the ship manning sector, Capt. S.C. Sood is all praise for the understanding and cooperation he has received from Navigazione Montanari group. Capt. Sood says that his company’s relationship with their clients have been win-win all through. He swells with pride while saying that Indian sailors are considered as the best in the world.

INTERACTION WITH CAPT. S.C. SOOD

What would you like to say about your company’s association with Navigazione Montanari S.p.A.?

I am glad to say that we have enjoyed a very cordial and happy professional relationship with Navigazione Montanari. It has always been a win-win relationship.

How are your day-to-day dealings with this company?

It is a real pleasure to work with the Montanari group and we highly appreciate them for their understanding of the challenges a manning agent faces. We have always got full cooperation from Navigazione Montanari in every respect.

What is your approach to this company’s assignments?
I must say their approach makes our job a lot easier. And it becomes easy for us to understand their situation and to strive to give them complete satisfaction by doing everything possible.

What would you consider as your major achievement with this company?

Prior to our associating with this company, no Indian officers were employed with them. In the nearly 3 years of our association with them, the number of Indian officers on Motanari ships has grown to one third of their total strength of employees. I am glad and proud to say that today, Indian crew and officers are rated as amongst the best in the world.


What is your company’s approach with regard to dealings with officers and crew who come to your office for various on shore assistance?

I have been in this profession for over 3 decades. We have manned for over 700 vessels during these 30 years. In all these years our company has followed a practice whereby a crew or officer has been allowed a free access to meet me when he desires. We would not want our men at sea to wait even for a minute in our office. We are happy to see each of our employees going with a satisfaction that their company and the bosses are always available to listen to their concerns, and address them in the best way possible.