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Confidence. That is the word to which I would like to pay special attention in this opportunity that Industrias Pesqueras magazine has given me on its 94^th anniversary. I think about confidence in this turbulent environment in which we are caught up. However, I would like this concept to be taken beyond this context and seen in our activity as a whole: the confidence needed to carry out our everyday job, but also the trust that our customers put in us; the confidence that we all create together.

In the years that I have looked after Ibercisa I have seen in first person what this confidence means, and how in this last year it has been reinforced; fruit of years of work based on constant communication between our staff and our customers (owners, shipyards, captains, chiefs). Our motto “custom built” began this flow of constant relation when commercial relationships had been just a simple transaction. We wanted to go further and value listening; having an active position, because listening is the most difficult part of a dialogue. We listen to our customers that trusted in us to develop their projects. We transferred this attitude of listening over to our internal philosophy and, nowadays, our teams are solid, cooperative, and integrated. 

Being surrounded by a great team to deal with situations that were not in the management manuals is an additional plus that I want to personally highlight. Continually identifying and enhancing what we do best, giving value to fostering alliances, developing our talent, collaborating with and showing respect for our environment; without any doubt we will be able to adapt to big changes and we will come out stronger.

The digitalization strategy that Ibercisa initiated some years ago is another that has been proven by the pandemic. It has become a tool that not only allows us to continue working, keeping social distancing, but it also helps us remotely assist our customers and better understand their needs, whilst getting feedback on and improving our designs, and increasing our product range. Our team of ‘Skipper’s Mates’ continue doing excellent work, sometimes on endless journeys with harsh quarantines and routes that were unimaginable one year ago, and other times continue their remote assistance without interruption.

With the premises of quality, customization of our designs, respect for our environment and continuous innovation, this situation will not be an impediment for us to keep working on new developments. 

This crisis has brought to light the best in people, but it has also emphasised the disorder. We have observed, perplexed, a spectacle of criticism and convulsion in the political sector, at the time we most need to be unified. Attacking institutions and confronting society has less chance of helping overcome the difficulties we face than promoting alliances, creating value, and giving of our best, although it is true that this requires a great effort. We shouldn’t waste our time waiting for others to solve our problems; doing it is in our hands, and it is called “adaptation”. 

It is necessary to keep working hand in hand, creating confidence and synergies, putting faith in teamwork and cooperation, both internal and external. Demonstrating and giving value to the powerful auxiliary industry that we have with our consolidated ‘know-how’. The environment will change; the virus will lose its power, or we will become immune. But we cannot become immune to the defence of our industry.

Article by Roberto Rodríguez Orro, General Manager of Ibercisa Deck Machinery, published in Industrias Pesqueras fishing magazine.