Wilhelmsen Maritime Services News

Wilhelmsen and Thyssenkrupp announced on September 29 their joint venture company, Pelagus 3D, marking the entry of a new player into global maritime and offshore services market."Pelagus 3D envisions to be the largest one-stop, on-demand digital manufacturing partner for the maritime and offshore industries. It uses Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing to deliver maritime spare parts more efficiently in terms of time and cost, allowing customers to ensure their vessels’ seaworthiness and keep their operations moving on schedule…

A US District Court for the District of Columbia announced that it will grant the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) motion for an injunction to block Wilhelmsen’s acquisition of Drew Marine Technical Services.Consequently, Wilhelmsen and Drew have agreed to abandon the transaction.“We disagree with the views of the US competition authorities. This would have been an important strategic investment for our group, which we believe would have meant better services and better prices for our customer. We are therefore disappointed that we will not be able to bring the deal to a close,” says Thomas Wilhelmsen, group CEO in Wilhelmsen.Wilhelmsen and Drew have agreed on a termination fee of USD 20 million.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Friday it would challenge in court the Norwegian company Wilhelmsen Maritime Services' plan to buy smaller U.S. rival Drew Marine Group. The FTC said the $400 million proposed deal would reduce competition in the market for marine water treatment chemicals, used in a ship's boiler water and engine cooling water systems. If Wilhelmsen closed the deal with New Jersey's Drew Marine, the FTC said the company would have 60 percent of the market for marine water treatment chemicals, while its closest competitor would have 5 percent. "We disagree with the FTC's evaluation and will continue to work towards a positive outcome," Wilhelmsen spokeswoman Benedicte Teigen Gude told Reuters.

Survitec Group, a provider of critical safety and survival technology to the marine and defence markets, has announced the completion of its merger with Wilhelmsen’s marine safety business. The deal includes the transfer of all Wilhelmsen Maritime Services AS (WMS)’ safety related systems, products, services and competence to Survitec. The combined business will operate under the name Survitec Group. Survitec Group will have access to a £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion)  addressable global market and will have over 3,000 employees in more than 35 countries. The combined group will have a revenue of ~c.£400m and will create value for customers as a result of the cost and revenue synergies and the end-to-end marine safety offering.

Trident Maritime Systems (Trident), a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO), signed a definitive agreement to acquire Callenberg Technology Group (Callenberg) from Wilhelmsen Maritime Services AS. Callenberg designs, assembles, integrates, and supports HVAC, electrical energy management, and insulation systems for commercial and government vessels around the world.  It is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and employs approximately 900 employees in 14 countries. Trident is an independent provider of turnkey marine joiner, distributed, electro-mechanical, and power, propulsion and control systems and solutions for government and commercial customers both in the U.S. and internationally.  Completion of the sale is expected to take place later in 2016.

Wilhelmsen Maritime Services AS (WMS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding ASA, said it has signed an agreement whereby technology subsidiary Callenberg Technology Group will be acquired by Trident Maritime Systems. "We have in Trident and their principal, J. F. Lehman & Company, found a strong new owner of Callenberg. Having a new owner that operates within the same technology areas creates a perfect environment for employees, customers and future growth of Callenberg with Trident," said Dag Schjerven, president and CEO of WMS. "Through this natural combination, we will significantly expand our technical capabilities and geographic reach," said Tom Eccles, CEO of Trident.

Survitec Group announced a transformational deal with the Marine Safety business of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services AS (WMS), in which WMS will transfer into Survitec all related safety products and services, including Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions, WSS Technical Services and WSS Safety Products. The combined business will operate under the Survitec Group name. “Upon completion of the merger, WMS will hold a 20 percent stake in Survitec, which will cement the long-term relationship between our two organizations and ensure Wilhelmsen’s continued and significant involvement in the future success of the combined group,” said Dag Schjerven, President and CEO of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, who will take a position on the Survitec Group Board of Directors.

Dry bulk shipping company Diana Shipping and Wilhelmsen Ship Management (WSM) have joined forces in a new 50/50 joint venture named Diana Wilhelmsen Management Limited (DWM). DWM, to be based in Limassol, Cyprus, and will commence operations by the end of June. It will begin operations by providing management services to "a limited number of vessels of Diana Shipping's fleet" and ultimately plans to provide management services to unaffiliated third-party vessel operators. “With our joint venture we see the best from two well established organisations. WSM’s excellent quality and proven experience within ship management, coupled with Diana’s global ship operating experience, truly brings forward an exciting new formula.

Reducing accidents depends on knowledge, skill and just as importantly, attitude, says the Indian Maritime Administration. And, human error is not always just seafarer error. As the government of India strives to raise India’s share of the global seafaring community from 7 to 15 percent by 2020, at the same time, it struggles with the reality of an escalating death rate attributed to accidents and suicides among Indian mariners. According to the casualty figures released by the Directorate General of Shipping, government of India (the Indian administration) there were 25 accidental deaths, 2 cases of suicide and 8 sailors reported missing during 2012. Year to date data in 2013 suggests a similar and perhaps even slightly elevated pattern.

OW Bunker, a physical distributor and reseller of marine fuels, today announced that it has acquired marine fuel broker Wilhelmsen Marine Fuels, a subsidiary of Norwegian Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, for an undisclosed sum. Wilhelmsen Marine Fuels’ main activity is broking services from offices in Oslo, London and Singapore, servicing customers on a global basis, but with a key presence in Singapore and the ARA-region (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp). Executive Vice President, Götz Lehsten, OW Bunker, commented, “Wilhelmsen Marine Fuels has a strong team and an interesting customer base that fits well into OW Bunker’s integrated business model.

Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (WMS) says it has signed a letter of intent with the Nordic private equity fund FSN Capital to establish a joint venture within engineered solutions, equipment and services to the maritime and offshore markets currently trading under the business area Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions. The new company, to be owned 50% each by Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (WMS) and FSN Capital, comprises the business within HVAC, insulation, electrical and automation including the brands Callenberg, TI Marine Contracting and newly acquired IES Ltd. The new company, to be established on book value, had an annual revenue of USD 203 million in 2013 and will employ some 1 000 people in 15 countries.

The Directors' report 2013 (extracted here) states that shipowners & technical services firm Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding group (WWH) delivered lower results for 2013 when compared with a very strong 2012. The fallback in results was due to a 7% reduction in shipping volumes and substantial sales gains impacting previous year accounts. The accounts show that operating profit slipped from $562-million in 2012 to $325-million in 2013. Wilh. Experienced lower demand for transportation of high and heavy cargoes, while auto volumes for the year were stable.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) says it is expanding its network of supply points across Asia as it responds to an increasing level of offshore oil and gas exploration and production. The first new WSS supply point, at Songkhla, southern Thailand opened in January 2014 and other locations have been identified to enable WSS to work closer to areas of emerging demand. New supply sites are under consideration in Kemaman, Malaysia, Balikpapan, Indonesia and in Myanmar. Countries including Malaysia…

DA-Desk, an independent provider of port cost management services, today announced the promotion of Anna Zhurbenko to Agency Relationship Manager, replacing the retiring head of the department, Bert Hoogenboom. Zhurbenko, who has been with DA-Desk since 2011, was formerly Assistant Operations Manager. In her new capacity, Zhurbenko will focus foremost on developing new services designed to provide value to agents and owners/operators alike. As such, she will build on the recently introduced TRACEcertification program…

Wilhelmsen Ship Management (WSM) has opened a new ship management office in Bergen to serve the offshore sector. The largest growth in Norwegian shipping takes place in the offshore segment. Other ship owners in the region have also grown significantly. The new operation in Bergen is a consequence of this growth. We wish to be closer to these customers to offer our experience in vessel operation and manning service,” says Haakon Lenz, regional manager WSM Europe. The new office will be collocated with Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) at Skoltegrunnskaien 1, Bergen.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) awarded 'Freight Forwarder of the Year' prize at the Dubai Trade awards ceremony. The awards recognise the achievements of the region’s most active online performers and were attended by representatives from DP World and Dubai Trade as well as key dignitaries from the government and private sector and executives from manufacturing and trading companies and supply chain service providers. Wilhelmsen Ships Service AS is part of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, a Wilh. Wilhelmsen Group Company.

Growth in shipping earnings & rebound by maritime services segment lift operating profit in second quarter 2012. Operating profit for the second quarter was USD 139 million (USD 71 million), an increase of 94% compared with the second quarter of 2011 and up 31% from the first quarter of 2012. Total income amounted to USD 972 million (USD 836 million), representing an increase of 16% compared with the similar period last year and an increase of 3% from the first quarter of 2012. Profit after tax and minority interests ended at USD 64 million (18 million), a reduction of USD 5 million from the first quarter. “With continued increase in volumes combined with sound cargo and trade mix…

“Some have criticised the IMO for acting too slowly and it has been suggested local regulation might be more effective. Whilst we agree that regional initiatives have made an important contribution to the cause, exclusively-local regulation would make it very difficult for international ship owners to operate effectively. Mr Schjerven discussed how the combination of engineering and global network capabilities has made it possible to develop environmental solutions for Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) customers worldwide: “By offering the best available technologies in the market we can help our customers stay compliant and reduce their vessel operating costs. The less energy a ship consumes the less fuel it will burn, resulting in reduced pollution and cost savings.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nalfleet, the marine division of Nalco, the world's largest sustainability services company. Together with its Unitor chemical range, this will further strengthen and enhance Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s marine chemicals portfolio. Nalfleet provides marine water treatment chemicals and is a sales and technical service organisation supported by an international manufacturing and distribution system operating in more than 500 major ports around the world. Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s own global network is already capable of servicing 2200 ports in 125 countries. This capacity was built upon the Wilhelmsen Maritime Services acquisition of Unitor in 2005 and the subsequent merger with Barwil Agencies.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service is underlining its commitment to the protection of the environment by appointing a new Head of Environment, Thea Corwin. Thea, who takes up the position on 1st January 2011, will be dedicated to developing a vision, policy, strategy and related plans for the implementation of environmental safeguards throughout the organisation in relation to the marine market. Wilhelmsen Ship Service’s Central Management Team considers the new position to be vital in its aim to develop the company’s position on aspects of environmental concern.

ShipX (www.shipx.org) is the new Internet auction site for shipping. With increased ship breaking and a new focus on liquidation of surplus stock to improve cash flow, ShipX offers the opportunity of maximizing asset value in a competitive bidding environment. ShipX allows sellers to expand their market and maximise the price at a reasonable cost. A maximum cost of sale is assured with the no sale, no fee policy. The auction fee is 3%, to a maximum of $990, only if the auction is successful. There is no membership fee for either sellers or buyers. Sellers enjoy the benefits of a listing on a website with global reach, visited by more than 84.000 unique shipping users each month, and active online marketing.

The Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA (WW) maritime industry group achieved an operating income of USD 3.4 billion in 2008, up by more than 25% compared with 2007. The shipping and maritime services segments are the main contributors to the improved top line. The operating income for the year totalled USD 3 434.2 million, compared with USD 2 727.6 million in 2007. Net operating profit came to USD 351.6 million, compared with USD 265.7 million. Operating income for the fourth quarter amounted to USD 853.4 million, up from USD 740.1 million for the same period in 2007. Operating profit came to USD 134.0 million, compared with USD 58.9 million. A booming world economy…

More than 190 participants at the 5th annual Green Ship Technology conference in Rotterdam on March 11-12 explored the latest tide of ‘stick and carrot’ options for making shipping environmentally sustainable. Eco-friendly solutions aired at the forum ranged from legislative compulsion to commercially beneficial inducements. On the one hand, there were stark warnings that politicians are preparing to impose mandatory emissions rules if there is no firm outcome to meetings of the International Maritime Organization marine environment protection committee (MEPC) scheduled between now and mid-2009. But delegates also heard how a voluntary…