Ernest G. Melville, more popularly known as "Ernie", started his shipping career in 1930 with Geo. F. Huggins & Co. Ltd. In June 1937 Ernie accepted an appointment to be the Assistant to WB Phillips, the Alcoa Steamship Company's representative in Trinidad.

In 1941, with World War II raging and Trinidad becoming a major convoy staging post, Alcoa consolidated all their shipping services, and appointed Melville as their operations manager.

The friendships that Ernie developed throughout his stay at Alcoa, those tumultuous war years and thereafter, proved to be long lasting and very helpful to his future business endeavours - Mr. Dan Colsworthy, later to become President of the New York Shipowners and Shipbrokers Association and Mr. Torvald Klaveness who built the largest Norwegian bulk carrier fleet of over one hundred owned or managed vessels, to name a few.

In 1960 Alcoa's New York's office advised that their Port of Spain office was slated for closure. Ernie then visited the Federal Commerce and Navigation Company in Montreal, Canada who agreed to support him in his new business venture as a Shipping Agent.

The new company, Melville Shipping and Trading, opened its offices in October 1960, at JJ Ribeiro's building, South Quay, Port of Spain, with its first agency being the FEDNAV vessel M/V "Federal Haven" transporting bauxite from the Guianas, and calling at Trinidad for bunkers.

From the inception, in addition to the traditional ship husbandry activity, ship brokerage was to be an important revenue earner. Over the following 19 years, the company became profitable, grew, expanded and diversified with a staff of 129 employees and represented over 125 valued principals, and attended to over 900 vessels calling annually to its agency.

Some other notable principals first represented during Ernie's management are The W.R. Grace Co. Inc., Memphis, with their first vessel LPG "WILLIAM R. GRACE" calling in June 1964 at their ammonia plant (Fedchem, Pt Lisas). This production plant was to be acquired by the Norsk Hydro Group, Oslo, which the company continues to represent.

W.R. Grace and Co. Inc. awarded Melville Shipping a five year contract for the carriage of urea and sulphate of ammonia and which allowed Ernie to use this contract as collateral for the purchase of the M/V SAVONETTA, thus introducing the Company to vessel ownership and management.

Amoco Transport Company, Chicago, through Captain William Phillips, appointed Melville Shipping their agent for the chartered vessel M/T MARIONGA in February 1972 to handle the first crude oil exports from Trinidad's East Coast offshore fields.

The involvement of the Klaveness Group (Bulkhandling) with the Guyana Bauxite Company led to a shipment of alumina on the M/V BIAKH in December 1971, to a Black Sea port, Russia. This account averaged over 30 ships monthly, trans-shipping bauxite ore through the Alcan Terminal at Chaguaramas.

In 1969 the Agency for the Booker Group (London), a Liner break-bulk and bulk operator, was transferred to Melville Shipping on the closure of booker's local office. It was with deep regret that Ernie had to relinquish this Liner agency due to an upcoming conflict of interest.

In 1977, Melville Shipping was offered the Liner agency of a Dutch Company, KNSM. This principal was later to become our largest Liner principal as a result of various Dutch shipping consolidations and acquisitions by Nedlloyd Lines, B.V., and in 1996 their merger with the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company has become today P&O Nedlloyd Lines.

As he approached retirement he sold his interests in Melville Shipping & Trading Limited in 1977 to the Neal & Massy Group. To ensure a smooth transition he stayed on with the company as non-executive chairman until January 1980.

"Ernie still watches over the operations, through from the vantage point of his portrait in the Boardroom".

In his own words, "The Ernie Melville Story is principally one of acknowledging the good fortune of obtaining the services of many efficient and loyal people."

The years 1996 and 1997 were significant for Melville Shipping as we embraced the demands of ISO 9002 Certification.

The implementation of ISO 9002 was difficult and time consuming but rewarding. We emerged from it stronger and better equipped to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.

The benefits of ISO may be summarized as follows:-

• Recognition locally and internationally as a quality company.
• Allows for a system of continuous improvement.
• Fostering greater team spirit in the organization.
• Trapping and correcting errors and focusing on the root cause of problems.
• ISO has taught us to look at problems and not the people.

The journey to ISO certification was a challenge that tested every fibre of both management and staff.

After the implementation process, Melville Shipping considered various certifying bodies and selected the leader in the field, Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

As the audit approached many confessed to sleepless nights and anxious moments.

However, there was no need for fear, as the audit was a success. Melville Shipping beat the odds by achieving certification on the first audit. (We understand only 35-40% of companies achieve certification in their first audit).

This achievement was only possible due to the hard work of our employees, with the support of their families, whom we know had to endure some of the pressures from time to time. We thank our employees and their families for their support.

We also recognize and thank our Audit Team led by Susan Soo Ting-Ayoung for an excellent job.

Their work was very thorough and the findings of the external auditors were few.

Our consultants BRI/IOB must be also congratulated for their support and encouragement. More particularly thanks to IOB consultant Rudy Moore for going the extra mile.

Our achievement is just the beginning. We are committed to Continuous Improvement and Enhanced Customer Satisfaction.

While standards are seen as benchmarks, the ISO 9002 series is actually an ongoing process of quality management which our customers, suppliers and business partners can look to as a clear statement of our commitment to quality.

Above all we are very proud of our Quality Customer Culture at Melville Shipping.

Melville Shipping thanks its many customers for their support and encouragement during the implementation and looks forward to their continued support.

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