Shipshave opens new Athens office as springboard to make splash in Mediterranean with in-demand ITCH solution
Shipshave is expanding its global reach by opening a new regional office for the Mediterranean in Athens to better serve clients at the strategic maritime hub in response to growing demand for its innovative in-transit cleaning of hulls (ITCH) solution.
The Norwegian technology company has established a local presence to be close to this important market as Greek ship owners operate a large part of the world fleet and have vessels that are in the ideal operational segment for the ITCH system, according to Shipshave CEO Aage Hoejmark.
The Athens office will be led by newly appointed Sales & Marketing Director for the Mediterranean, Argyris Michaletos, who boasts a strong maritime background along with a well-established and extensive contact network in the region.
Boots on the ground for local interaction
“We are confident Argyris will be a valuable addition to our team who will help to boost our interaction with both the Greek and wider Mediterranean markets,” Hoejmark says.
“By establishing an office in Athens with our own staff, rather than acting through an agent, we are signalling that we are here for the long term and that we want to work closely with local owners and operators to help them enhance the operational efficiency and environmental performance of their fleets.”
Shipshave has documented significant fuel savings from successful trials of its cutting-edge technology on several ships for major shipping clients including Stolt Tankers, Teekay Tankers and Klaveness Combination Carriers.
The ITCH solution comprises a semi-autonomous hull-cleaning robot that is deployed from a portable winch on deck by the crew and uses soft brushes that swipe up and down the hull underwater to remove fouling during the voyage in an operation that takes about five hours for a Handysize.
Proactive cleaning of the hull reduces drag in the water and thereby improves hull performance to cut fuel consumption and emissions, while also avoiding offhire for hull cleaning and saving time on port turnarounds to expand the operational window of a vessel.
Conference slot on voyage optimization
“This makes the tool an enabler for voyage optimization, which is a hot topic as ship owners and operators pursue operational measures to increase fuel efficiency to meet the requirements of CII as well as the EU ETS set to be implemented for shipping from 2024,” Hoejmark says.
The Shipshave CEO will be highlighting the benefits of this technology in a presentation at the Ship Navigation and Voyage Optimization Summit in Athens on 1-2 November to coincide with the opening of the new office.*
Hoejmark says being located in the Greek capital can give Shipshave increased business development potential through access to a vast network of shipping companies, suppliers and professionals.
“The proximity to key players in the industry facilitates stronger partnerships, streamlined logistics and faster decision-making processes. Additionally, being in the heart of the shipping industry fosters market intelligence, enabling Shipshave to stay ahead of trends and competitors,” he says.
“Moreover, the physical presence in Athens enhances the company’s credibility and trust among local and international clients. This hub provides an invaluable platform for networking, collaboration and expanding the client base.”
Strategic ramp-up
Hoejmark believes the move positions Shipshave for substantial growth and success in the maritime sector as the company has seen a surge of industry interest for the ITCH solution in the Mediterranean and elsewhere that underscores its market appeal and potential. “Its innovative features and adaptability have captured the attention of businesses and individuals alike,” he says.
The establishment of the Greek office is seen by Shipshave as a platform for a wider strategic ramp-up to be present in the world’s major shipping centres in line with the growth ambitions of the Stavanger-based start-up, which also has a Singapore office covering Asia Pacific.
“In order to grow fast, we need to be able to recruit global talent. We are also aware it is important to be close to both new and existing customers by having a local market presence. Optimal deployment of our technology to deliver our clients’ objectives depends on close cooperation with the customer,” Hoejmark concludes.
Simpson Spence Young opens Athens office
Simpson Spence Young (SSY) announced the opening of a new office in Athens, Greece.
As part of SSY’s continued growth and expansion plans, the new office, which is based in Glyfada, is being managed by SSY Dry Cargo broker Nicholas Vamvakaris and currently includes teams from the Dry Cargo division who focus on Cape, Panamax and the Handy Supra markets.
Seen as one of the key hubs for shipping, SSY also has plans to expand the remit of this office in the near future to include other departments.
Mark Richardson, Chairman of SSY commented:
“We are very pleased to open SSY Hellas, and to have our brokers present in Athens. It has long been part of our plans to have local representation in one of the most significant shipping locations in the world, and we look forward to hopefully seeing more of our clients in 2022.”
Stanko Jekov, Global Head of Dry Cargo commented:
“This is a very exciting time for us. As we continue to grow, we are always looking for new opportunities to develop and expand into new territories and markets. Being in Athens not only provides us with the ability to better support our clients there, but also enables us to be part of a community that has been at the core of shipping throughout history.”
BIMCO Hires Elena Tassioula as Manager For Athens Office
BIMCO has signed a contract with Elena Tassioula as manager of BIMCO’s new office in Athens, Greece. Elena will be engaging BIMCO’s current members in Athens and work to grow the membership in Greece.
“I’m very pleased that Elena will be joining our team. She has worked in shipping, but she also has experience from other industries, and that will enable her to look at how we do things with fresh eyes,” says Erik Jensby, BIMCO Head of Business Development.
BIMCO’s goal with an office in Athens is to have a stronger presence in Greece and a much closer dialogue with BIMCO’s existing and potential members.
BIMCO sees the services offered to members, such as the Support & Advice hotline, Shipping KPI and SmartCon as very valuable because of the increase in regulation, a very competitive market and – in general – a more complex shipping environment.
Elena will start her work at BIMCO in June.
At this point – BIMCO has not settled on an office location in Athens.