World Shipping Council Board Elects Soren Toft as Chair; Randy Chen as Vice Chair

December 30, 2024 - The World Shipping Council (WSC) Board of Directors has elected Soren Toft, CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, as the new Chair of the World Shipping Council Board. Randy Chen, Vice Chairman of Wan Hai Lines, has been elected Vice Chair.

Toft and Chen will serve a two-year term, effective immediately.

The new Chair and Vice Chair succeed Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG, and Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE, who have served as co-Chairs of the WSC Board for two terms, starting November 2020.

WSC President and CEO Joe Kramek highlights the extensive expertise that Toft and Chen will bring, and their contributions to the global shipping industry.

"I am looking forward to working with Soren Toft and Randy Chen in their new roles. Both are esteemed leaders with a proven track record of driving innovation and sustainability in the global shipping industry. Their experience and expertise will be instrumental in continuing to develop the World Shipping Council as the united voice of liner shipping,” Kramek said.

“I also extend my sincere gratitude to Rolf Habben Jansen and Jeremy Nixon for their exceptional leadership over the past four years, during a critical time for the industry and WSC. Their commitment has been instrumental in the Council’s growth and development, strengthening its representation internationally and extending its scope of work,” Kramek added.

Toft commented, “It is an honor to step into the role of Chair for the World Shipping Council and to represent the global liner shipping industry alongside our members. WSC is today a respected voice of liner shipping, engaging with governments and organizations globally.”

The World Shipping Council is the united voice of liner shipping, working with policymakers and industry groups to shape the future growth of a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, safe, and secure shipping industry. It is a non-profit trade association with offices in Brussels, London, Singapore and Washington, D.C.

SOURCE: World Shipping Council

Grieg Star Announces Promotions of Ann-Kristin Eidsvik and Heine Hallaråker

Dec. 16, 2024 - Grieg Star recently announced the promotion of Ann-Kristin Eidsvik to Head of Operations.

Eidsvik joined Grieg Star in 2011 as Port Captain and most recently held the position of Marine Manager.

According to the company, Eidsvik has been an invaluable member of its team for many years. Her systematic approach and immense knowledge related to cargo operations make her a perfect Head of Operations, Grieg Star said.

Grieg Star has also promoted Heine Hallaråker to Planned Maintenance Manager. Hallaråker joined the company in 2020 and most recently served as Fleet Maintenance coordinator.

Grieg Star stated that Hallaråker has been instrumental in its planned maintenance structure, leading the cloud journey for the company’s planned maintenance system.

SOURCE: Grieg Star

Marubeni Corporation Acquires 28% in Gearbulk

Oct. 8, 2024 - Gearbulk today announced that Kristian Jebsen and his family will sell their remaining 28% stake in Gearbulk Holding AG to Marubeni Corporation of Japan.

Mr. Jebsen is Chair of the G2 Ocean Board of Directors and Chairman and CEO of Gearbulk.

The transaction is expected to be concluded soon.

Marubeni is a major integrated Japanese trading and investment conglomerate, which will bring additional financial strength and extensive business experience — important for Gearbulk’s continued growth.

The transaction will further strengthen Gearbulk’s investment capacity and reinforce its commitment to G2 Ocean, a joint venture between Gearbulk and the Grieg Maritime Group, that operates more than 120 ships.

“I am pleased that Marubeni has decided to invest in and support the development of Gearbulk. This, together with MOL’s 72% holding, gives a strong continuity of the company for all stakeholders. Marubeni has had a close business relationship with Gearbulk for more than thirty years and the investment is a natural next step,” says Jebsen.

The company’s operations will remain the same and relations with customers and other stakeholders will continue as before.

Mr. Jebsen will continue as Gearbulk’s Chairman and CEO and as Chairman of G2 Ocean.

Gearbulk is an integrated international shipping company providing high quality shipping and terminal services for various industrial sectors. Gearbulk is one of the owners of G2 Ocean, holding 65% of the company’s shares, while Grieg Maritime Group holds the remaining 35%. The majority of the Gearbulk fleet operates under G2 Ocean.

SOURCE: Gearbulk

NORDEN Closes Its Acquisition of Norlat Shipping

Oct. 4, 2024 - NORDEN on Sept. 3 closed the acquisition of Nordic dry bulk operator Norlat Shipping.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

NORDEN first announced the agreement to acquire Norlat in July 2024.

“We are delighted to have received the green light for the acquisition last week and with the closing of the acquisition [on Sept. 3] we look forward to welcoming the Norlat Shipping team and customers,” says NORDEN CEO Jan Rindbo. “Norlat is a skilled niche operator and a great addition to our growing projects and parcelling activities, allowing us to offer our customers fully flexible solutions, as a global provider of ocean-based freight services for bulk and project cargo of all sizes.”

Norlat Shipping specialises in the shipment of forest products and other bulk commodities, with main trading routes from Northern Europe to North Africa and North America. Norlat’s offices in Norway and Stockholm, Sweden join the growing NORDEN global office network servicing customers across the world.

Paal Henrik Boehaugen, Managing Director, Norlat, stated, “The Norlat team is very excited to join NORDEN. NORDEN’s success and growth has been an inspiration to Norlat, and we are confident that there are a lot of synergies that can be exploited. Our operations have many similarities, but almost no overlaps. Joining NORDEN will help us bring out the untapped potential that our team possesses. We are looking forward to starting this new adventure.”

Privately owned Norlat was founded in 1986 and has since developed a core business focusing on the shipment of sawn timber from Baltic and Continental ports to North Africa and North America.

Norlat has offices in Sarpsborg and Bergen in Norway and in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, from where the company’s eight employees operate the asset light business, based on chartered vessels with four to five monthly shipments on predominately Handysize ships.

Founded in 1871, NORDEN is one of Denmark’s oldest internationally operating shipping companies. The company is a global provider of ocean-based freight services for bulk and project cargo of all sizes.

SOURCE: NORDEN