Oslo: Today we are in Norway to meet up with one of Scandinavia’s richest men, Arne Blystad, a grand name in Norwegian shipping that has learnt from previous downturns how to get through tough times.
Blystad currently has 12 chemical tankers and four semi-sub heavylift ships and no vessels under order. Indeed, despite cheap tempting prices on offer at yards across Asia Blystad is not rushing to put pen to paper on new ship orders. “Our medium term plans,” he tells Maritime CEO, “ are to hold on to the present fleet and try to achieve better earnings and better performance with the fleet we have in hand.”
That said, Blystad, whose father started the shipowning tradition some 70 years ago, does maintain that the worst is over for the segments he is involved in. What he has learnt from the depression still afflicting much of the industry is worth noting. “This downturn,” he says, “has taught us that it is important to have control over your own destiny without too much debt.”
Blystad’s involvement in the heavylift sector via OHT has been the focus of a much read previous Maritime CEO which readers can access HERE. [02/07/13]
NEED TO KNOW: Blystad Group
Tracing its roots back to the late 1940s Norway’s Blystad Group has a variety of investments in the shipping and offshore sectors, as well as significant real estate holdings. As well as 12 chemical tankers the group has invested in 4 heavylift vessels.
