Danish Embassy News

On August 1, 2016, Ulf Hahnemann, current Vice President for Strategic Programs at Mars Inc. will join Maersk Line as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and be part of the management board of Maersk Line. Maersk Line’s current Chief Human Resources Officer, Michael Chivers, resigned in January 2016 to explore opportunities outside of the Maersk Group. He will leave by the end of May 2016. As of August 1, 2016, Maersk Line’s management board will consist of Søren Skou, Chief Executive Officer; Vincent Clerc, Chief Commercial Officer; Pierre Danet, Chief Financial Officer; Ulf Hahnemann, Chief Human Resources Officer; Jakob Stausholm, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer; and Søren Toft, Chief Operating Officer.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) was in Ghana January 18-21 to identify potential areas of cooperation that may promote maritime growth in Ghana and, simultaneously, be of benefit to the Danish business sector. The purpose of the cooperation between the Danish and Ghanian authorities is to use the Danish experiences and positions of strength to build a framework for sustainable growth and employment in the Ghanian maritime sector. Ghana is one of the countries where the DMA…

Boosting Sri Lanka’s international investment profile, the world’s largest shipper Maersk Line is moving for Sri Lanka entry. The Danish multinational Maersk Line has been the world’s largest container shipping company since 1996. It operates 604 container vessels across the world and calls on 343 ports in 121 countries. New Delhi based Danish Ambassador for Sri Lanka Peter Taksøe-Jensen revealed the Maersk Line's breakthrough entry plans for Sri Lanka when he paid a courtesy call on Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. He was joined by the Leading Lankan Businessman and Danish Honorary Consul General in Colombo Harold (Harry) Jayawardena and a visiting New Delhi based Danish embassy official.

Brazil continues to be an important area for Danish shipping interests and, with the signing of a new agreement on cooperation with the Brazilian authority ANTAQ under the Brazilian Ministry of Transport, relations are being strengthened. The agreement was signed by Director General Andreas Nordseth of the Danish Maritime Authority and Director Mario Povia of the Brazilian National Agency for Waterway Transportation (ANTAQ) in Brasilia at a shipping policy seminar held between ANTAQ, the Danish Embassy and the Danish Maritime Authority. The agreement strengthens the already good maritime cooperation between Denmark and Brazil. The agreement sets the framework for, inter alia, the exchange of experts and a shipping policy dialogue between the countries.

U.S. Navy ships started accompanying U.S.-flagged commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, seeking to ensure freedom of navigation two days after Iran seized a cargo ship, U.S. defense officials said. The officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, described the decision as incremental, saying it was a precautionary move expected to be for a limited time involving Navy ships already deployed to the area. They also stressed that the Navy would not be "escorting" ships, which would involve moving in much closer proximity. One noted the Navy ships would be in communication with the U.S.-flagged vessels and somewhat nearby but not necessarily closely trailing them.

The Danish Export Association’s Diploma, and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s Medal of Honor, was awarded to VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s Korean representative, J.W. Lee, for close to thirty years’ of successful business partnership. The recipient of the Danish Export Association’s Diploma, and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s Medal of Honor is J.W. Lee, a successful Korean businessman who, over many years, has built a successful agency business based around the products of VIKING Lifesaving Equipment, the Esbjerg-based global company in marine and fire safety equipment.

Denmark's Mermaid Maritime (Vietnam) Ltd. has opened its office in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province under a cooperation agreement between Vietnamese and Danish firms in the oil and gas industry. The event took place early this week on the occasion of a Vietnam visit by eight Danish offshore industry companies from October 9-13 to explore business opportunities. Mermaid Maritime (Vietnam) is located in Dong Xuyen Industrial Park. Though it was set up in October 2004, it has already become a market leader in marine and offshore safety equipment in Vietnam. The visit also takes in Hanoi and HCMC. The delegation is scheduled to join seminars aimed at looking into the prospects-for cooperation in the oil and gas industry. The seminars are arranged by the Danish embassy in cooperation with PetroVietnam.

Reports indicate that the contract on building a 2,500-ton vessel, worth $4.5M, will be carried out over 15 months by the Saigon Shipbuilding Industry Company, a member of Vinashin. Representatives also signed a $90,000 contract for engine testing services. Danish Fabricius and ISC Consulting Engineers signed the bulk of the agreements. The Saigon Shipbuilding will begin building the 2,500-tonne ship in early 2006. Fifteen Danish shipbuilding companies, three large financial institutions and the Danish Embassy in Hanoi have joined forces with Vinashin and Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) to organise a workshop on cooperation and development in shipbuilding industries in Vietnam and Denmark.