Hong Kong: The rise of private equity in shipping is a boon for shipmanagers, explains the ceo of Anglo-Eastern in today’s Maritime CEO profile. Peter Cremers, the veteran ceo of one of the world’s largest shipmanagers, observes that growth in his sector is coming from America.
“Money in shipping is coming from the US,” he says. “Private equity is geared towards using shipmanagers.”
Anglo-Eastern is also “riding on a wave” of existing clients who are investing again, Cremers says.
Excluding the 60 ships Anglo-Eastern has in partnership with Teekay, the Anglo-Eastern fleet under full technical management today stands at 460 vessels. It will take another 12 months or so before the firm celebrates the 500 mark, Cremers says.
This year Anglo-Eastern can boast fully 20,000 seafarers on its books. Training centres in New Delhi, Manila and Ukraine are being expanded accordingly with Cremers insisting: “We are absolutely convinced of the requirement for training.” While he might have 20,000 seafarers today, Cremers muses, “In five to ten years time we have to make sure we still have a queue.”
A key plea from clients these days visiting the Wan Chai offices of Anglo-Eastern is over bunker bills. “Owners want us to take much more control of fuel consumption,” Cremers reports.
The Belgian national has been one of shipmanagement’s greatest champions for a long time, and he feels the sector is now viewed as an essential ingredient within shipping.
“We think third party management is here to stay and here to grow, especially with private equity,” he maintains, before concluding: “Shipmanagement is a proper business with a proper place within the industry.” [02/10/13]
Great news! Oceanmanager which provide providing marine software
applications to both AESM & Univan ship management companies, Wishes them good luck for new venture and hope they will together increase the scale, breadth and capabilities to compete more effectively and profitably in the global marketplace.