Hellespont Expands into Singapore
The Hamburg-based Hellespont group has expanded its operations by opening a new company in Singapore. Hellespont Singapore Pte Ltd is responsible for developing relationships with key offshore charterers in Singapore, sourcing crews for the Hellespont-managed PSV fleet and establishing Hellespont as operators of offshore vessels in Singapore. Phrixos Papachristidis, Managing Director of Hellespont AG & Co KG, the parent company of the German-based Hellespont ship management and marine services group, said, “We have a growing fleet of offshore vessels and we wanted to place the management and operation close to key charterers. Singapore is a key hub for offshore operations and ideal for operating our new fleet of PSVs.
Hellespont Launches Chemical Tanker Pool
Hamburg-based Hellespont has launched a pool for modern IMO 2 chemical/product tankers. The Seatramp Intermediate Tanker Pool will initially consist of three KG-financed and Hellespont-operated 13,000 dwt vessels, and Hellespont has committed a further eight 17,000 dwt newbuildings due between now and 2011 to the pool. Talks with other owners are at an advanced stage and the aim is to bring the pool to around thirty vessels by the end of 2010. Christian van Oldershausen, managing director of Hellespont AG, said, “In the current market consolidation of fleets into pools makes a lot of sense. It smoothes earnings, allows the pool to develop long term relationships with large charterers and balance tonnage against cargo commitments and overall increases returns as tonnage utilization rises.
