WSS Forecasts Increase in SARD Contracts
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS), is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of Asian owners who are signing up for the Ships Agency Re-Defined (SARD) global service.
SARD enables owners to integrate all of their ship agency requirements through a single point of contact and access to the WSS global network, which provides local support at more than 300 sites around the world.
“We launched the services globally at the beginning of 2011 and the idea of a fixed fee, speaking the same language as the customer in every port call and global support, has been very well received by the shipowning community,” said Sean Neilan, Sales Director WSS, Asia Pacific Region.
“With the contracts received today, we are forecasting growth of 22 percent in new SARD customers during 2011 and very good prospects for 2012, as the industry becomes aware of that SARD provides them with a competitive advantage.”
“ As shipowners look to streamline operations and reduce costs in this highly competitive market, SARD provides them with a single global solution to all of their ship agency requirements,“ he added.
Key features of the service include a single bank account for pre-funding and balance settlements for all port calls worldwide and a dedicated portal in the WSS operational software solutions that provides owners with online real-time access to their port calls worldwide.