Odd Harald Hauge

"The major rescue operation was set to happen on Wednesday, February 21, six days after the first uneventful grounding. Now, they could not afford to fail. Therefore, they brought in all available rescue personnel, the ship's crew, and pollution experts. The large tugboat "Arild Viking" arrived at the site, and by 4:30 PM, the powerful Norwegian tug had twelve other tugboats with it. Two pilots were sent aboard to direct the attempt to get the "Sea Empress" off the ground. At 5:35 PM, the boat began to slowly turn, and after repeated attempts, the main engine onboard started. By 6 PM, the "Sea Empress" came off the ground, and well aided by the tremendous forces of "Arild Viking," the battered supertanker was moved to the middle of the channel. Finally, a controlled towing could be started up the channel, and after three hours the moorings could be fastened at the Texaco refinery on the north side of Milton Haven."

"Anyone who after this could think of becoming a shipowner, can console themselves with the fact that it is easier than becoming a nuclear scientist. Perhaps it is easier than running a kiosk as well. Money is necessary to have, but not so much. Knowing something about financing is important, probably the most important. After a crash course in financing, one could try with a mix of ordinary mortgage debt, convertible loan, and shares at a premium, then the need for own money soon disappears. Finding a ship to buy is the easiest thing, they are traded daily. Shipbrokers will get the boat, they will keep calling you with offers. You will be invited to dinner over and over again. Ship inspectors inspect the ship to check that it is in proper condition based on the price and description (just don't choose the same ones who inspected the Latsis fleet for John Fredriksen back in 1996.) Then, one can outsource all operations to one of the many companies that specialize in this. V. Ships, Wallem, and Thome are three that are all good enough for Fredriksen. They take care of everything; they provide crew – (V. Ships alone has access to 22,000 sailors), they train them, pay them and replace them. They procure supplies, fuel, handle all formalities in ports, they have technical inspections and maintenance, they keep accounts and make reports. Whatever problem one can imagine; these companies deliver the solution. If financing turns out to be a tough nut to crack, V. Ships offers this too. Everything from writing prospectuses, making presentations, securing documentation, to meeting banks, investors, and others with money. Shipbrokers get the shipping company cargoes – unless you want V. Ships to handle that too – they will work hard for you, they are on commission, and a new shipowner without an established connection is valuable. Expect many dinners there too. As a shipowner, you get a picture to hang on the wall, that is probably as close to the ship as you will ever come. If you want to be a modern shipowner, it would be completely wrong to go on board. That is just for romantics."