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Henrik Uhd Christensen News

26 Feb 2024

Helsinghof to Take the Helm at Viking in June

Henrik Helsinghof will return to VIKING as CEO in June 2024. Image courtesy Viking Life-Saving Equipment

Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S appointed Henrik Helsinghof as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from June 1, 2024.The appointment follows the death of former CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen in January following a short illness. Helsinghof had previously been identified by Christensen and the VIKING Board of Directors as a possible successor.Helsinghof began his career in VIKING in 2006 as student assistant and remained with the company for 14 years, holding various positions, including Managing Director of VIKING Nadiro.

14 Mar 2019

VIKING Sees Growth After Norsafe Acquisition

After two years of slightly declining revenue, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S is seeing growth once more, said the global market leader in maritime and offshore safety.In 2018, VIKING acquired the Norwegian manufacturer of lifeboats Norsafe AS. Adjusting for the costs of integrating this business and the impact on revenue in the last quarter of the year, the results show growth in both revenue and earnings.“We were able to deliver growth in activities and earnings in the original VIKING business, and we expect that the picture will remain the same for both areas of business in 2019," says CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen.Norsafe’s lifeboat…

05 Mar 2019

“Liferaft Man” Takes the ISSETA Helm

Erik Søndergaard (Photo: ISSETA)

The Inflatable Safety & Survival Equipment Technical Association (ISSETA) has elected the Danish self-proclaimed “liferaft man”, Erik Søndergaard, Secretary.Søndergaard has held various leading management positions for both Survitec and VIKING Life-Saving Equipment and comes with extensive knowledge about the maritime industry. He retired a few years ago and looks forward to again being a part of the industry he loves so much.Since 2000, Ian Brindle has served as Secretary of ISSETA.

05 Sep 2018

VIKING Acquires Norsafe

Norsafe free-fall lifeboat (Photo: VIKING Life-Saving Equipment)

Maritime safety equipment manufacturer and global service provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has acquired Norsafe, the Norwegian boatbuilder whose lifeboats are used throughout the world. The parties have not disclosed the sales price, and closing is expected October 1, 2018.Established in 1903, Norsafe produces a full range of free-fall lifeboats and fast rescue boats with davits and have supplied over 28,000 lifeboats to the global ship market over the years. Its lifeboat…

20 Mar 2018

VIKING Expects Steady Growth

For the second consecutive year, revenue and earnings remained stagnant for 2017 at VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S. Signs of a slight improvement in the economy are encouraging, as well as VIKING’s gain in market share. Two of the largest customer segments, the cargo ship market and offshore industry, remain in turmoil and continue to impact the top and bottom lines. "We find ourselves in a market with extremely complex demands that vary significantly between segments - a market driven by a multitude of factors, including technology, growth in the global economy, trade policy, geopolitical stabilty, among others. Overall, however, I believe we will benefit in the coming period from growth in the global economy.

16 Mar 2018

Cargo, Offshore Gaining Ground: Viking

For the second consecutive year, revenue and earnings remained stagnant for 2017 at Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S. Two of the largest customer segments, the cargo ship market and offshore industry, remain in turmoil and continue to impact the top and bottom lines. Signs of a slight improvement in the economy are encouraging, as well as  Viking's gain in market share. “We find ourselves in a market with extremely complex demands that vary significantly between segments – a market driven by a multitude of factors, including technology, growth in the global economy, trade policy, geopolitical stability, among others. Overall, however, I believe we will benefit in the coming period from growth in the global economy.

21 Mar 2016

VIKING's Profit Run Continues

The 2015 financial year saw VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S continue its unbroken, 12-year run of revenue and profit increases. Revenues were up nine percent at DKK 1.891 billion, while profits before tax also grew nine percent to reach DKK 200.5 million. The impressive results were achieved despite difficult market conditions, and CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen is predicting 2016 and 2017 to be even more challenging. “We performed well during 2015, and we’re aiming for continued growth in revenue and profits as our next strategic phase culminates in 2020,” he states. “That said, we’re operating in markets that have entered a decisive phase, particularly when it comes to the offshore and cargo segments. VIKING operates in three key market segments: Cargo, passenger and offshore.

07 Jan 2016

VIKING, Daemyung Marine Invest in Korea

Marine safety equipment manufacturer and servicing provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S is to establish a local presence in Korea through a joint venture agreement with leading Korean marine safety equipment and servicing company Daemyung Marine Co. Ltd. The new joint venture, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment Korea LLC, has VIKING as the majority shareholder. The venture aims to bring faster access for Korean-based and foreign-flag ship managers in the cargo, passenger and offshore segments to the full range of VIKING products and service concepts. It is also the logical next step for a highly successful partnership that has extended over more than 30 years.

02 Sep 2015

Offshore Operators Can Simplify Safety Equipment Logistics

(Photo: VIKING)

Safety equipment manufacturer VIKING Life-Saving Equipment said its Offshore Safety Agreements are providing relief for offshore operators seeking to ensure compliance for their safety equipment with minimal in-house administrative overheads in a new, cost-focused paradigm. VIKING, a manufacturer of marine safety equipment and provider of servicing worldwide, will be on hand at Offshore Europe, September 8-11, to help offshore operators and drilling rig owners optimize safety equipment logistics.

27 Aug 2015

VIKING Expanding Australasian Activities

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has acquired a part of Australia-based Wiltrading Pty Ltd.’s maritime safety equipment activities effective 1 September. The move strengthens VIKING’s offering in Australasia, adding 4 locations to the company’s global network of wholly-owned servicing stations as well as several products and services, bringing new advantages for shipowners and offshore operators in the region. A subsidiary of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Investments (WWI), Wiltrading offers integrated activities in marine safety, fire fighting and protection, equipment and servicing, serving the offshore, oil and gas, shipping, military and cruise industries. The company is an authorised representative and service partner for a wide variety of maritime and offshore equipment producers.

21 Aug 2015

Viking Acquires Nadiro from Maersk Group

(Photo: VIKING)

Marine and fire safety equipment and servicing provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S announced the acquisition of Nadiro A/S, a company owned by maritime and energy conglomerate Maersk Group and SH Group. Established in 2009, Svendborg, Denmark-based Nadiro manufactures lifeboat and rescue craft systems, developing and promoting its Drop-in-Ball technology to help ensure crew safety. VIKING has had the status of Preferred Distributor and Service Provider, supplying the company’s…

21 Aug 2015

Viking Acquires Hook Retrofit leader

Leading marine and fire safety equipment and servicing provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has today announced the acquisition of Nadiro A/S, a company owned by maritime and energy conglomerate Maersk Group and SH Group. Established in 2009, Svendborg, Denmark-based Nadiro manufactures high-quality lifeboat and rescue craft systems, developing and promoting its Drop-in-BallTM technology to help ensure crew safety. VIKING has had the status of Preferred Distributor and Service Provider, supplying the company’s LRRSs (lifeboat release and retrieval systems) to enable the world’s shipowners to comply with new SOLAS regulations by or before 2019. Hook retrofitting is necessary to prevent serious accidents resulting from unsafe lifeboat deployment systems.

28 May 2015

VIKING’s Top Safety Offerings at Nor-Shipping

Marine safety equipment leader VIKING Life-Saving Equipment will appear in force at Nor-Shipping 2015, displaying both innovative products and services that are proving popular with shipowners around the world. Few innovations in the safety equipment servicing arena have caught on as strongly as VIKING’s Shipowner Agreements. Based on the concept of fixed prices and centralized, single-source servicing for multi-brand safety equipment, these agreements have been rapidly adopted by forward-thinking shipowners across the globe. VIKING’s stand at Nor-Shipping will be manned by experts ready to discuss the options available and explain the popularity of this type of servicing contract.

23 Mar 2015

VIKING Extends Liferaft Exchange Program to Japan

Photo courtesy of VIKING

Leading marine and fire safety equipment and service provider, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment (VIKING) is stocking ready-packaged liferafts to provide fixed-price liferaft exchange to vessels calling Japanese ports. “The world of shipping is dominated by a small group of countries,” says Henrik Uhd Christensen, CEO of VIKING Life-Saving Equipment. “Japan rates in the top three in terms of deadweight tonnage and newbuilding, so locally based shipowners have a broad set of needs for marine safety.

20 Mar 2015

VIKING All set to Meet Global Challenges

For the 2014 financial year, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has again managed to lift both its top and bottom line to record levels. Turnover grew 7 percent to DKK 1.728 billion, and pre-tax profits reached DKK 183.7 million – an increase of 30 percent. “The market continues to embrace the new products we’ve introduced in recent years, and our growth is broadly distributed across geographies” says VIKING’s CEO, Henrik Uhd Christensen. “But we’re operating in a global market that is still under pressure in passenger and cargo shipping, marked by low newbuilding activity, over-capacity and ship decommissioning. Again, the offshore market has achieved higher growth rates during 2014 than other segments, but its growth is decelerating.

09 Mar 2015

VIKING Steps Up at Cruise Shipping Miami

Photo courtesy of VIKING

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s product developers have been adding to the company’s range of products and service offerings. VIKING’s new super-sized, flexible evacuation system is a revolutionary hybrid that brings together the best of lifeboats and liferafts in one. The VIKING LifeCraft  system combines all of the advantages of modern lifeboats - such as self-propelled maneuverability - with the flexibility, comfort and smaller footprint of today’s liferafts. “This is a product that completely changes the lifeboat vs.

01 Sep 2014

VIKING Steps Up Pace of Innovation at SMM

This year’s SMM in Hamburg will see VIKING release more innovations than at any other point in its 50-year history, including new developments in PPE clothing, safety equipment outsourcing, onboard training solutions, and evacuation systems, as well as a catalogue that almost doubles the number of maritime products. Esbjerg, Denmark, September 2014 – Riding high on market successes, marine safety equipment manufacturer VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s product developers have been adding innovation after innovation to the company’s already impressive range of products and service offerings. Highlights from these new additions will be on display at the VIKING stand #504 at SMM in Hamburg.

02 Jun 2014

Viking to Upgrade, Service Topaz Life Rafts

Caspian Protector

Topaz Energy and Marine, an offshore support vessel (OSV) company, and marine and fire safety equipment company VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has jointly announced the signing of a multimillion dollar, 10-year life-raft servicing agreement. Under the terms of the contract, Viking will upgrade all of Topaz’s current life rafts and manage the ongoing servicing and certification of Topaz’s life raft fleet. “This agreement significantly enhances our ability to operate safely which is a top priority for Topaz and for our clients” says Topaz CEO, René Kofod-Olsen.

30 May 2013

Viking Spotlights In-Demand Products

Viking Life-Saving Equipment said it will take advantage of Nor-Shipping 2013 to help shipowners make safety equipment and servicing a smooth and problem-free experience. Having revolutionized the safety equipment servicing world with far-reaching, customizable agreements that have reduced unpredictable, fluctuating costs, Viking is now focusing its attention on further fine-tuning its workflows and providing even faster response times fromservicing under the company’s highly popular Shipowner Agreements.

08 Oct 2013

VIKING Expands Global Safety with Onboard Training

Kim Baarsøe and Henrik Uhd Christensen (Photo: VIKING)

A group of IT entrepreneurs with a background in marine and crew training and a unique product caught the attention of leading marine and fire safety equipment manufacturer VIKING Life-saving Equipment A/S. This is the latest addition to VIKING’s growth strategy. SAATSEA, now renamed as VIKING Saatsea, addresses the need of shipowners and operators to continuously train their crew by offering a combined solution that manages planning and implementation of onboard training as well as the documentation.

02 Dec 2013

VIKING and MOLTECH Enter Strategic Alliance

Marine and fire safety equipment leader VIKING Life-Saving Equipment (VIKING) and MOL Techno-Trade Ltd. (MOLTECH) have entered a strategic alliance and sole agency agreement, establishing MOLTECH as the exclusive agent for VIKING in Japan. MOLTECH will be offering the full range of VIKING’s safety solutions including the industry leading Shipowner Agreements (SOA) - agreements that combine global product availability and servicing with financing in fixed price structures and the convenience of VIKING’s management of the service schedules. The Shipowner Agreements are planned and monitored from a single point of contact and were an industry game-changer, when first introduced back in 2009.

10 Mar 2014

Lee Recognized with Royal Danish Award

The award was presented to Lee (center) by the Danish Minister for Trade and Development, Mogens Jensen (left), and CEO of the Danish Export Association, Ulrik Dahl (right).

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.

13 Mar 2014

VIKING Reports 10 Years of Profit Growth

Henrik Uhd Christensen

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S announced its 2013 financial results, reporting growth in both turnover and profits for 10 straight years. Adjusted for falls in the U.S. dollar exchange rate, currencies pegged to the dollar, and European member state non-euro currencies, the company’s turnover for 2013 increased 6 percent to DKK 1.612 billion, VIKING said. Profit before tax grew more than 20 percent to a record DKK 141.2 million. “Our earnings have now reached an appropriate level for a healthy manufacturing company,” says VIKING CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen.