Former executives of Q88 have launched Vessel Fact, a maritime compliance and vessel data platform built on a single trusted vessel record.
The company is led by Chief Executive Stephen Dudzic, who spent 15 years as Q88's Chief Technology Officer, alongside Chief Operations Officer Catherine Mancuso, whose experience spans almost 20 years both at sea and ashore, including 16 years at Q88; Chief Sales Officer Jeroen de Man, a veteran professional of more than 40 years including Jo Tankers, Odin Marine Europe and ShipNet before almost ten years at Q88; and Fotis Georgakopoulos, Chief Customer Officer, who ran Q88's office serving the Greek market for close to nine years.
Jeroen de Man, Chief Sales Officer, Vessel Fact
The team has launched Vessel Fact in response to a common and costly issue in ship operations. Vessel particulars need to be re-entered across dozens of questionnaire formats, from HVPQ to SIRE 2.0 and CDI workflows to a charterers’ own templates, and these copies drift apart as certificates and particulars are updated in a non-centralised way.
The resulting gaps can obscure the true picture, only coming to light during a vetting inspection or flagged by a charterer's compliance desk resulting in costly delays or a failed fixture.
Fotis Georgakopoulos, Chief Customer Officer, Vessel Fact
Vessel Fact allows owners and operators to enter vessel data once and holds certificates, questionnaire data, officer matrix, load line particulars and inspection records together within one source environment. The system can populate questionnaire templates and tailor multiple individualised compliance packages from a single record, keeping charterers, brokers, suppliers and other counterparties working from the same current information.
"We created Vessel Fact to help commercial shipping companies simplify and strengthen the vetting and compliance process," says Stephen Dudzic, Chief Executive and Co-Founder. "Our vision is to combine modern technology with responsive, personal service to give our customers confidence in the information they rely on every day. Vessel Fact provides a single, trusted source for managing 'vessel facts', helping ensure that the particulars, reports, and supporting evidence submitted to customers, vetting organisations, and other stakeholders are accurate, consistent, and readily available when critical operational decisions need to be made."
Stephen Dudzic, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Vessel Fact
The company’s approach blends a streamlined syndicating workflow with a human touch. “Vessel Fact keeps owners and operators ahead of vetting and gives them the confidence that changes and updates are reflected accurately across every reporting stream” says Catherine Mancuso, Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder. “But it’s more than just another platform. Our customers will be supported by our own people, the same experienced people they’ve come to know and trust in the industry—not an automated system or an outsourced ticket queue.”
Catherine Manusco, Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder, Vessel Fact
Catherine, who started her career as an officer at sea, adds; “Vessel Fact has taken no outside investment and is entirely funded by its partners. That independence allows us to stay focused on what matters most, and that’s delivering meaningful improvements for our customers. We understand the risks and frustrations they face because we’ve lived them ourselves.”
Vessel Fact was soft launched on 2 September and will be supported by a dedicated marketing campaign in the coming months.
Robban Assafina is now on WhatsApp channel. Click Here
