Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and Columbia Shipmanagement have combined their global buying power to create an independent procurement company amid the rampant consolidation seen within the sector.
GP General Procurement Company Limited (GenPro) will negotiate framework supply agreements with international ship suppliers on behalf of its members’ clients – who total some 800 managed ships – with a view to securing the lowest prices achievable on all consumables.
Ian Beveridge, CEO of BSM, commented: “We believe GenPro will change the way global procurement is delivered to shipowners on an international scale and will in time become a compelling new force in the industry. Both companies are leveraging their industry links and relationships to owners and we believe this is something owners will welcome.”
Mark O’Neil, CEO and president of Columbia, stated: “GenPro represents optimisation of the procurement process in its purest form – a veritable win-win for owners and suppliers alike.”
The scope and reach of the procurement effort will not be limited to maritime products and consumables but will include all products and consumables associated with the operation of the maritime business, onshore and offshore.
GenPro will derive its income from a brokerage fee agreed with, and paid to it, by the ship supplier. It will also negotiate and agree volume-related discounts with the suppliers which shall be returned to GenPro members’ clients in full.
……and suppliers Wrist and Klevenberg are merging.